(The Center Square) – The cousin of Gov. J.B. Pritzker is named in recently released documents related to the child sex trafficking case around the late Jeffery Epstein.
Wednesday evening’s release of nearly 1,000 pages spanning over 40 different documents in a defamation case related to the Epstein child sex trafficking saga includes deposition transcripts.
The documents released out of the Southern District Court of New York Wednesday evening were filed by Epstein accuser Virginia Giuffre against Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s close associate and partner.
In one deposition with Epstein victims Virginia Giuffre, she said she had sexual relations one time with Tom Pritzker, the executive director of the Hyatt Hotels Corporation, CEO of the Pritzker Organization and cousin to Illinois’ governor.
“If I were to ask you the question how many times you have had sex with Tom Pritzker, do you know what that question means?” asked Laura Menninger.
“I believe so,” Giuffre said.
“All right. And what is the answer to that question?” Menninger asked.
“I believe I was with Tom once,” Giuffre said.
A spokesperson for Tom Pritzker told the Daily Mail he “vehemently” denies the allegations.
In a separate deposition transcript released Wednesday also dated May 3, 2016, Giuffre is asked a different set of questions about sexual relations with “the owner of a large hotel chain.”
“Where were you sent to have sex with the owner of a large hotel chain by Ghislaine Maxwell?” Menninger asked.
“I believe that was one time in France,” Giuffre said. “I believe it was around the same time that Naomi Campbell had a birthday party.”
“Where did you have sex with the owner of a large hotel chain in France around the time of Naomi Campbell’s birthday party?” Menninger asked.
“In his own cabana townhouse thing,” Giuffre said. “It was part of a hotel, but I wouldn’t call it a hotel. Jeffrey was staying there. Ghislaine was staying there … I was staying there. This other guy was staying there. I don’t know his name.”
Messages seeking comment from Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s office were not returned. Asked in 2019 about his cousin’s relationship with Epstein, Pritzker said he was unaware they knew each other.
“First of all, I was unaware if [Thomas Pritzker] knew Jeffrey Epstein at all,” the governor said. “And as you know, I did not, do not. At this moment, I would just say that justice needs to be pursued here. There, of course, are some terrible things that were alleged here that Jeffrey Epstein seems to have done and so I hope that the justice system will pursue the allegations that were made to the fullest extent of the law and make sure the victims get the justice that they deserve.”
In a separate deposition with a different victim released Wednesday, the victim said they had not met Tom Pritzker.
In addition to Epstein’s relationship with former President Bill Clinton, the documents reveal a cadre of who’s who of the rich and powerful identified as Epstein’s associates, including Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, Harvard law professor Alan Dershowitz, former New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, scientist Stephen Hawkings, famed magician David Copperfield, among others.
Epstein died in custody of the Metropolitan Correctional Center in New York, New York, in August 2019.
