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Epstein files email disclosure
Newly released US Department of Justice documents in the Jeffrey Epstein files include a January 2015 email sent from an account labeled "G Maxwell" that appears to confirm the authenticity of a long-disputed photograph showing Prince Andrew with his arm around Virginia Giuffre.
“a photograph was taken.”
The message, headed "draft statement," says that in 2001 the (redacted) person "met a number of friends of mine including Prince Andrew" and that "a photograph was taken."
Multiple outlets report that this language undercuts Prince Andrew's repeated denials about the image.
The email also includes wording indicating Maxwell said she was not aware of "anything improper."
Epstein and Maxwell documents
The released message is a 2015 draft statement sent from a "G Maxwell" account to Jeffrey Epstein; although parts are redacted, its context and related communications point to Virginia Giuffre as the subject.
Several outlets point to an earlier 2011 Epstein email that referenced having her picture taken with Andrew.
Some publications reproduce or describe images from the file, and India Today notes newly published images showing Andrew barefoot in jeans and a white polo, at times with his hand on the woman's stomach.
Other reports highlight Maxwell's attempts in that same exchange to distance herself, including draft wording denying she asked the woman for a massage or was aware of sexual activity on her premises.
Reactions and case updates
Reactions to the disclosure are mixed but pointed.
“Giuffre’s family told BBC Newsnight the new email “vindicates” her, and said they hope Andrew will face criminal charges.”
Giuffre's family told BBC Newsnight the email release vindicated her account.
Reporting across outlets reiterates that Prince Andrew has consistently denied meeting Giuffre and previously questioned whether the picture was doctored.
He settled a 2022 civil claim with her for millions without admitting liability.
Maxwell is identified as serving a 20-year federal sentence.
Several outlets note that Giuffre died in April 2025 and that the newly published notes have intensified public scrutiny of the core figures.
Legal impact of photo evidence
What remains unclear and emphasized differently across outlets is the practical legal impact and what the release actually changes.
Several reports note that this email 'tightens the documentary context' around the widely circulated image but do not claim it creates new criminal charges.
FilmoGaz and Meyka point to wider institutional and reputational consequences and warn that documentary confirmation can shift litigation and risk assessments, while news outlets report that police and authorities will evaluate any new information under established procedures.
The coverage therefore mixes confirmation of the photo’s authenticity with explicit caveats about remaining unknowns and limits to immediate legal effect.