Amid the release of explosive court documents, Tom Pritzker, Hyatt Hotels’ billionaire executive and cousin to Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, has denied allegations by Virginia Giuffre that he was one of the men she was forced to have sex with in the sprawling Jeffrey Epstein scandal.
While the documents shed light on the dark corners of Epstein’s world, Pritzker vehemently denies the Giuffre’s claims. Read the unsealed Epstein documents in full here.
The unsealing of Giuffre’s defamation lawsuit against Ghislaine Maxwell has rippled through the echelons of power, implicating a roster of high-profile individuals, including hotel magnate Pritzker. As the legal documents become public, they reveal a web of accusations and denials that reach into the highest tiers of global influence.
Pritzker, with an estimated net worth of $6.2 billion and plenty of philanthropic ties, stands in his denial, with a spokesperson for The Pritzker Organization telling Newsweek that “this is the same false and isolated allegation that was published and vehemently denied more than four years ago. Mr. Pritzker continues to vehemently deny it.”
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It is important to note that while Pritzker has been implicated in the documents, he has not faced any formal charges in connection with the Epstein case. The Pritzker Organization has reiterated its denial consistently, mirroring their initial response to the Miami Herald’s report in 2019.
In a deposition, Giuffre was asked directly about her interactions with Pritzker, to which she responded, “I believe I was with Tom once,” suggesting a single encounter. However, the documents do not indicate she was compelled by Epstein or Maxwell in that particular instance.
The deposition references a scenario involving the “owner of a large hotel chain” in France, though it does not name Pritzker directly in that context. Giuffre indicated she was directed by Maxwell to engage in an encounter at this individual’s “cabana townhouse thing.”
The allegations have yet to elicit a public response from the wider Pritzker family, who are notable for deep roots in American business and Chicago’s political landscape.
The spokesperson explained to Newsweek in a telephone call Thursday that the resurfacing of the allegation in newly public documents doesn’t constitute fresh evidence or alter Pritzker’s denial.
As of now, no definitive records or documents have been disclosed that conclusively establish Pritzker’s whereabouts at the time of the incident mentioned in Giuffre’s deposition.
Additionally, the spokesperson was unable to confirm or deny any past meetings between Pritzker and either Epstein or Maxwell.
Newsweek has reached out to multiple Hyatt Hotels communications team members for comment via email.
The broader implications of Giuffre’s legal actions against Maxwell continue to unravel, with more documents expected to be released. The revelations place renewed focus on the connections between Epstein’s alleged criminal network and the powerful figures it reportedly entangled.
The disclosure has also reignited conversations about the power dynamics in high-profile sexual abuse cases and the mechanisms for accountability.
Epstein, a financier who mingled with the elite and powerful, faced allegations of sex trafficking and abuse. His arrest in July 2019 and subsequent death a month later in a New York jail cell, officially ruled a suicide, sent shockwaves through the international community.
The circumstances of his death have been the subject of speculation and controversy, casting a long shadow over the ongoing investigations and legal proceedings.
The unsealed documents from Giuffre’s defamation lawsuit against Maxwell, Epstein’s close associate, continue to expose the web of relationships and alleged illicit activities within Epstein’s circle.
Maxwell, 62, who played a central role in the scandal, was sentenced to 20 years in prison in June 2022 for her involvement in facilitating Epstein’s criminal activities.
She is currently serving her sentence at FCI Tallahassee in Florida, and will be eligible for release in July of 2037.
Uncommon Knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.