Our reporters throughout the United States have compiled the most recent news updates, which will be delivered directly to your email inbox every weekday.
Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US
Newly released documents regarding the disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein have brought renewed allegations against Jean-Luc Brunel, a Parisian model agent who is accused of providing depraved gifts to Epstein.
Last year, Brunel committed suicide at La Santé prison in Paris, where he was accused of trafficking many women and girls to Epstein. He was discovered deceased in his cell while awaiting trial for the rape of a minor.
The 76-year-old, who was previously known as the king of the catwalk, attended court after being detained in December 2020 due to accusations made by Virginia Giuffre, a victim of Epstein. Giuffre claimed that she was used as a sex slave by the prince when she was underage. The prince has consistently denied these claims, but shortly after Giuffre reached a multi-million dollar settlement outside of court for her allegations of sexual abuse, he committed suicide.
It marked the demise of a man who some have claimed was even more morally corrupt than his wealthy American acquaintance.
According to reports, Brunel allegedly committed repeated acts of rape against girls and women for a period of thirty years.
Due to his immense wealth, he seemed untouchable, earning him the nickname “the ghost” from French detectives who were frustrated in their attempts to catch him.
Brunel with Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell on the billionaire’s private jet
The office of the US District Attorney.
Who is Jean-Luc Brunel?
Brunel, who was born in Paris, became a successful talent scout and eventually became the head of Karin Models agency in the 1970s.
He is acknowledged for his role in transforming the company into a dominant force in the fashion industry and for discovering several notable models such as Christy Turlington and Milla Jovovich.
Jean-Luc Brunel’s reputation for creating stars was so widely recognized that in 1988, model Desiree Gruber allegedly stated that young women would “deprive themselves [of food] to audition for him.”
Celebrities such as Jerry Hall, Sharon Stone, and Monica Bellucci have collaborated with him in the past.
In the 1980s, he crossed paths with Ghislaine Maxwell. She then introduced him to her partner at the time, Epstein.
According to legal papers, the duo connected over their shared enjoyment of luxurious living and a fascination with underage females.
It seems that they agreed that Brunel, while traveling the fashion world, would search each city for girls to prepare for Epstein.
Despite being removed from the agency in 1999 due to a BBC investigation on industry abuse, Brunel and his partner persisted and established MC2 Model Management to carry on with their practices.
Shortly after Epstein passed away in July 2019, a French legal investigation into Brunel’s behavior was initiated.
The collected evidence resulted in a warrant being issued for his arrest. The warrant was then carried out when he tried to escape to Dakar, the main city of Senegal.
Jean-Luc Brunel
Past accusations directed at Brunel
Numerous individuals had accused Brunel of committing rape and engaging in sexual harassment prior to his passing. According to allegations in legal papers filed in the United States, MC2 was allegedly used as a cover for the trafficking of underage and young adult females.
According to a journalist, the late Jerome Bonnouvrier, a renowned French modeling agent, once stated that Jean-Luc was a threat.
However, nearly all of the allegations were made after the 20-year statute of limitations for prosecuting sexual crimes in France had passed. Brunel, who had been married and divorced twice, consistently denied any misconduct. Even if he had admitted to wrongdoing, he could not have faced legal consequences.
In 2019, Ms Giuffre spoke out. In response to a call for victims of Brunel to come forward, she reported to authorities.
This was the initial instance where investigators had credible allegations that could result in prosecution, ultimately leading to Brunel’s arrest at Charles de Gaulle Airport.
In 2006, Ghislaine Maxwell is seen with Jean Luc Brunel in a photo provided by the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.
In 2015, the Miami US Attorney’s Office filed a lawsuit that included allegations from Ms. Giuffre. She claimed that Brunel had given Epstein “12-year-old French triplets” as a gift for his birthday. The lawsuit aimed to overturn Epstein’s lenient deal with Florida prosecutors, which resulted in only 13 months in jail after he confessed to having sexual relations with a minor during the initial investigation of his sex trafficking operation.
According to Ms Giuffre, Epstein boasted about sexually assaulting minors.
“He proceeded to inform me of Brunel’s acquisition of them in Paris, enticing them with the typical offerings of money, visas, and opportunities in the modeling industry,” stated the documents obtained by Daily Mail.com. “Amused by the situation, Jeffrey found it quite clever how money could sway individuals of all backgrounds, leaving no one immune to its allure.”
Additional accusations surface in recently revealed documents.
Newly released records pertaining to Epstein originated from a legal case in 2015, where Ms. Giuffre sued Maxwell for defamation. The case was resolved in 2017, but many documents were kept confidential until the present time.
The lawyers representing two victims have submitted a motion revealing that Epstein allegedly trafficked Jane Doe 3 to Brunel on multiple occasions.
“According to the motion, Brunel has worked as a model scout for multiple agencies for an extended period of time and allegedly obtained passports for underage girls to “work” as models. He reportedly brought these girls, some as young as twelve, to the United States for sexual purposes and would also arrange for them to be exploited by his acquaintances, particularly Epstein.”
The accusation stated that Brunel specifically sought out girls from underprivileged backgrounds and enticed them with offers of modeling contracts. Jane Doe 3 also reported witnessing Brunel participating in unlawful sexual activities with numerous underage girls.
“Epstein also forced Jane Doe #3 to have sex with Brunel on numerous occasions, at places including Epstein’s mansion in West Palm Beach, Little St. James Island in the US Virgin Islands … New York City, New Mexico, Paris, the south of France, and California,” the filing added.
The lifeless body of Brunel was discovered in his prison cell.
On February 19, 2022 at 1am, authorities discovered that Brunel had passed away at La Santé prison in Paris. He was in custody and facing allegations of rape and trafficking minors.
According to an official source, a body was discovered by a night patrol. A legal investigation has been initiated and initial indications suggest that it was a case of suicide.
His legal team have already supported this contention but insisted his action was not prompted by remorse or the fear of repercussions for what he is accused of doing.
They informed Le Monde newspaper that his choice was not motivated by remorse, but rather a strong feeling of unfairness.
If you are feeling distressed or isolated, or having trouble coping, The Samaritans can offer support. You can confidentially speak to someone for free by calling 116 123 (UK and ROI), emailing [email protected], or visiting their website for information on their nearest branch. For those in the USA seeking immediate mental health assistance, the National Suicide Prevention Helpline is available at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). This free and confidential crisis hotline is open 24/7. For those in other countries, you can visit www.befrienders.org to find a helpline in your area.
Source: independent.co.uk
