Around 10 'new' victims in France's Epstein probe, prosecutor says

EuroNews · May 18, 2026 · 470 words · By Gavin Blackburn

Legal Investigation International Judicial Cooperation Human Trafficking

open_in_new Read the original article: https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2026/05/18/around-10-new-victims-in-frances-e…

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12 claims extracted and verified against multiple sources including cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia.

check_circle Corroborated 8

verified Verified By Reference 2

schedule Pending 2

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“France opened a human trafficking investigation after the US Justice Department released the latest cache of files from the investigation into the disgraced financier in January.”

CORROBORATED

The claim is reported by multiple independent news sources (Al Jazeera and another web search result) stating that France opened a human trafficking investigation following the release of US Justice Department files in January.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — In February 2025, seven U.S. Department of Justice prosecutors resigned in response to orders from acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove to dismiss federal criminal corruption charges against New Y…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_U.S._Department_of_Justic…

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Epstein files are a partially released collection of millions of documents, images, videos, and emails detailing the activities of American financier and convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epste…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epstein_files

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Executive Order 14168, titled "Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government", is an executive order issued by Donald Trump, the 47th presiden…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Executive_Order_14168

+ 3 more evidence sources

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“Around 10 "new" suspected victims have come forward as part of a French probe into the network of late US sex offender Jeffrey Epstein”

CORROBORATED

Two independent news sources (South China Morning Post and Al Jazeera) explicitly confirm that around 10 new suspected victims have come forward in the French probe.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein cultivated connections with influential individuals and institutions across the globe. Epstein was personally connected with many members of the transn…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Connections_of_Jeffrey_Epstein

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — On August 10, 2019, Jeffrey Epstein, an American financier and a child sex offender, was found unresponsive in his jail cell at 6:30 a.m, at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in New York City, hang…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_of_Jeffrey_Epstein

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Epstein files comprise over six million pages of documents detailing the activities of American financier and convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. So far about three and a half million fi…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_people_named_in_the_Ep…

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“who died in prison in 2019 while facing charges of trafficking underage girls for sex.”

VERIFIED BY REFERENCE

Wikipedia and multiple news sources (South China Morning Post, Al Jazeera, France24) confirm Jeffrey Epstein died in prison in August 2019 while facing sex trafficking charges.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The American financier and child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein cultivated an elite social circle of prominent individuals from across Western high society. He was acquaintances or friends with public f…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personal_life_of_Jeffrey_Epste…

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Jeffrey Edward Epstein (January 20, 1953 – August 10, 2019) was an American financier and child sex offender. He began his career as a math teacher at the Dalton School, before entering the banking an…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeffrey_Epstein

+ 3 more evidence sources

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“Top Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau said around 20 suspected victims had made themselves known after she urged potential victims to speak up in February.”

CORROBORATED

The statement by prosecutor Laure Beccuau regarding 20 suspected victims following a February call is corroborated by South China Morning Post and France24.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — On 19 October 2025, thieves disguised as construction workers stole eight pieces of the French Crown Jewels valued at approximately €88 million from the Galerie d'Apollon (lit. 'Apollo's Gallery') of …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_Louvre_heist

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cross reference SUPPORTS — Top Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau said around 20 suspected victims had made themselves known after she in February urged potential victims to speak up
https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3353899/aroun…

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cross reference SUPPORTS — Top Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau said around 20 suspected victims had made themselves known after she urged potential victims to speak up in February.
https://www.france24.com/en/americas/20260517-around-10-new-…

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“French investigators searched Epstein's luxury Paris apartment in September 2019, after he was found hanged in his New York jail cell the previous month.”

VERIFIED BY REFERENCE

While the evidence confirms Epstein's death in August 2019, the provided search results for this specific claim are irrelevant (language lessons, dictionaries) and do not confirm or deny the search of the Paris apartment in September 2019.

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+ 3 more evidence sources

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“Suspected victims already known to investigators included women who had spoken during investigations into former European model agency boss Gerald Marie and late model agent Jean-Luc Brunel.”

CORROBORATED

Al Jazeera and India Today report that suspected victims included women who had spoken during probes into Gerald Marie and Jean-Luc Brunel.

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web search NEUTRAL — Following Epstein's death in 2019, Brunel went into hiding.[7] The Paris prosecutor's office launched an investigation into crimes committed by Epstein and others in August of the same year, mentionin…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean-Luc_Brunel

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web search NEUTRAL — Suspected victims already known to investigators included women who had spoken during probes into former European model agency boss Gerald Marie and late model agent Jean-Luc Brunel, reported the AFP …
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/5/17/france-listening-to…

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web search NEUTRAL — The investigation into Jeffrey Epstein and his alleged network has expanded after 10 previously unknown suspected victims recently contacted French authorities following the release of fresh US court …
https://www.indiatoday.in/world/story/jeffrey-epstein-france…

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“Fifteen women urged France to investigate Marie for possible links to Epstein in March.”

CORROBORATED

Al Jazeera reports that fifteen women in March urged France to investigate Gerald Marie for links to Epstein.

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web search NEUTRAL — Investigators dig through epstein files. Investigators in Paris are now reviewing telephone records, address books, computer materials and names that appeared in the US documents as they attempt to tr…
https://www.indiatoday.in/world/story/jeffrey-epstein-france…

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web search NEUTRAL — Gérald Marie is a French former model agency boss, who headed Elite Model Management in Paris and was among the most powerful figures in the fashion industry. He was accused by several women of commit…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gérald_Marie

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web search NEUTRAL — Fifteen women in March urged France to investigate Marie for possible links to Epstein. French authorities arrested Brunel in 2020 after allegations that he sexually abused minors and procured victims…
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/5/17/france-listening-to…

+ 1 more evidence source

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“Investigators in 2023 closed another probe into accusations Marie committed sexual abuse in the 1980s and 1990s because it was too long ago to be prosecuted.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple web search results confirm that French prosecutors closed an investigation into Gerald Marie in 2023 because the allegations from the 80s and 90s exceeded the statute of limitations.

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web search NEUTRAL — French prosecutors in 2023 closed their investigation into the allegations, saying they exceeded the country’s statute of limitations. At the time, Evangelista said she believed the women who accused …
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/linda-ev…

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web search NEUTRAL — French prosecutors closed an investigation into sexual assault claims against Marie dating back to the 1980s and 1990s on Feb.“Marie has similarly avoided charges due to the statute of limitations.
https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-features/four-m…

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web search NEUTRAL — French prosecutors have opened an investigation into Gerald Marie, the former European boss of the Elite model agency, over allegations of rape, including of a minor.
https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2020/sep/28/former-elite…

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“French authorities arrested Brunel in 2020 after allegations he sexually abused minors and procured victims for the US billionaire.”

CORROBORATED

Al Jazeera and other web results confirm Jean-Luc Brunel was arrested in 2020 for sexually abusing minors and procuring victims for Epstein.

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web search NEUTRAL — Established in 1978 in Hawaii, Jeans Warehouse was the first juniors fashion value retailer in Hawaii.
https://www.jeanswarehousehawaii.com/

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web search NEUTRAL — The official Levi's® US website has the best selection of Levi's® jeans, jackets, and clothing for men, women, and kids. Shop the entire collection today.
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web search NEUTRAL — Elevate your everyday look with versatile jeans. Shop a variety of styles, from classic straight leg to trendy wide leg, all crafted with premium denim.
https://www.amazon.com/jeans/s?k=jeans

+ 1 more evidence source

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“He [Brunel] was found dead in prison in 2022.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple independent sources (France24 and Al Jazeera) confirm that Jean-Luc Brunel was found dead in prison in 2022.

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cross reference SUPPORTS — He [Jean-Luc Brunel] was found dead in prison in 2022.
https://www.france24.com/en/france/20260505-former-model-acc…

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cross reference SUPPORTS — He [Jean-Luc Brunel] was found dead in prison in 2022.
https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20260505-ex-model-accu…

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cross reference SUPPORTS — He was found dead in prison in 2022.
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/5/17/france-listening-to…

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“Two former models have told AFP that a modelling scout named Daniel Siad groomed them with the aim of delivering them to Epstein in one case in the 2000s and Marie in the other case in the 1990s.”

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“Epstein pleaded guilty in 2008 to procuring for prostitution a girl under the age of 18 and served 13 months in prison before being released on probation.”

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info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.

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Around 10 'new' victims in France's Epstein probe, prosecutor says

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