(CNN) A federal judge ruled on Thursday to publicly release documents that have been kept under seal in a case involving Ghislaine Maxwell, Jeffrey Epstein's one-time girlfriend and alleged accomplice. US District Judge Loretta Preska verbally unsealed the documents in a ruling held via teleconference. The documents are connected to a 2015 defamation case brought by Virginia Roberts Giuffre , who claimed Epstein sexually abused her while she was a minor and that Maxwell aided in the abuse. Included in the now unsealed documents are Maxwell's 2016 deposition related to the lawsuit in which she denies knowing if Epstein had a scheme to recruit underage girls for sex. Other documents include emails and depositions by others, including Giuffre and anonymous women who also claim to have been abused by Epstein.

Source: CNN July 23, 2020 16:30 UTC