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Virginia Roberts Giuffre claims she had sex with billionaire Hyatt hotels heir Tom Pritzker, court documents claim: His cousins are Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and Harvard board member behind Claudine Gay appointment

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Virginia Roberts Giuffre claims she had sex with billionaire Hyatt hotels heir Tom Pritzker, court documents claim: His cousins are Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and Harvard board member behind Claudine Gay appointment


Virginia Roberts Giuffre, who claims she was trafficked by Jeffrey Epstein and had sex with Prince Andrew at age 17, said in a just released deposition that she had sex with billionaire Hyatt hotel heir Tom Pritzker.

Pritzker is Hyatt Hotels’ executive chairman and the cousin of Illinois’ Democrat Governor JB Pritzker and chairman and CEO of the Pritzker Organization. 

Newly released documents show a deposition given by Giuffre where attorney Laura Meninger – representing notorious Epstein madam Ghislaine Maxwell – asked if she’d slept with Pritzker, who is worth $5.3billion.

Giuffre said – and affirmed multiple times under oath – that she believed she’d been ‘with Tom once’ when asked if they’d had sex – a claim he has angrily denied.

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Pritzker’s other cousin – JB’s sister – is former Obama official Penny Pritzker, who now sits on Harvard’s oversight board, and who was instrumental in the appointment of Claudine Gay, who resigned as college president Tuesday over anti-Semitism and plagiarism allegations. 

Penny faced calls to stand down over the incident, but has announced plans to remain in her posiiton.  

In March, he was among three billionaires issued with subpoenas in relation to JPMorgan’s ties to Epstein.  

Virginia Giuffre , who claims she was trafficked by Jeffrey Epstein and had sex with Prince Andrew at age 17, said in a just released deposition that she had sex with billionaire Hyatt hotel heir Tom Pritzker (pictured)

Giuffre said - and affirmed multiple times under oath - that she believed she'd been 'with Tom once' when asked if they'd had sex

Giuffre said – and affirmed multiple times under oath – that she believed she’d been ‘with Tom once’ when asked if they’d had sex

At no point did Giuffre suggest that she’d slept with Pritzker on the urgings of Epstein or Maxwell, though later she said she’d had sex with the ‘owner of a large hotel chain’ at ‘his own cabana townhouse thing’ in France.

She didn’t specifically say who she’d slept with in that instance but said she was sent to him by Maxwell. 

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In a statement to The Messenger, a spokesperson for Pritzker – who has not been charged in connection with the Epstein case – denied Giuffre’s claims. 

‘This is the same false and isolated allegation that was published and vehemently denied more than four years ago,’ the spokesperson said. 

‘Mr. Pritzker continues to vehemently deny it.’

Giuffre sued Maxwell for defamation in 2016 and while the case was settled, The Miami Herald – which published a bombshell expose of Epstein that led to his arrest in 2019 – sued to get the documents made public. 

Some of the Does are identified in the ruling through links to interviews they have given to the media, which the judge cited as a reason why they should not stay private.

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They include the housekeepers on Epstein’s private island in the Caribbean where some of the worst abuse that he perpetrated was carried out.

Newly released documents show a deposition given by Giuffre where attorney Laura Meninger - representing notorious Epstein madam Ghislaine Maxwell - asked if she'd slept with Pritzker, who is worth $5.3billion

Newly released documents show a deposition given by Giuffre where attorney Laura Meninger – representing notorious Epstein madam Ghislaine Maxwell – asked if she’d slept with Pritzker, who is worth $5.3billion

Pritzker is Hyatt Hotels' executive chairman and the cousin of Illinois ' Democrat Governor JB Pritzker and chairman and CEO of the Pritzker Organization

Pritzker is Hyatt Hotels’ executive chairman and the cousin of Illinois ‘ Democrat Governor JB Pritzker and chairman and CEO of the Pritzker Organization

Tom Pritzker's other cousin - JB's sister - is Penny Pritzker, pictured right. The former Obama Administration's Secretary of Commerce now sits on Harvard's oversight board, known as the Harvard Corporation, and was instrumental in the appointment of President Claudine Gay, who's just resigned from her post over plagiarism and anti-Semitism scandals

Tom Pritzker’s other cousin – JB’s sister – is Penny Pritzker, pictured right. The former Obama Administration’s Secretary of Commerce now sits on Harvard’s oversight board, known as the Harvard Corporation, and was instrumental in the appointment of President Claudine Gay, who’s just resigned from her post over plagiarism and anti-Semitism scandals 

At no point did Giuffre suggest that she'd slept with Pritzker on the urgings of Epstein or Maxwell

At no point did Giuffre suggest that she’d slept with Pritzker on the urgings of Epstein or Maxwell

In her ruling Judge Preska gave 14 days for any Does who objected to their documents being made public to object, after which they would be unsealed.

The documents in the case have been released on a rolling basis since 2019 when the first batch were made public days before Epstein also hanged himself in prison while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.

Among the revelations in previous batches of documents were emails between Andrew and Epstein in 2015 when Roberts made allegations about him.

Maxwell, who is currently serving a 20 year prison sentence for sex trafficking, was questioned under oath about her relationship with Epstein and his associates in the document release.

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The long-anticipated ‘list’ of 187 previously unknown Jeffrey Epstein associates was finally revealed on Wednesday. 

The files were made public by the Southern District of New York after the deadline for appeals passed, around 6:30pm Wednesday night.

Investor Glenn Dubin is the first name to appear, in a transcript of a taped depostion with Ghislaine Maxwell where Maxwell was asked if Epstein accuser Johanna Sjoberg had ever been asked to massage Dubin.

Maxwell answered: ‘I don’t believe, I have no recollection of it.’  

Jeffrey Epstein pictured in 2019, months before he died in prison. The long-awaited list of his associates and friends named in a 2015 lawsuit was today partially released

Jeffrey Epstein pictured in 2019, months before he died in prison. The long-awaited list of his associates and friends named in a 2015 lawsuit was today partially released 

For years, many have speculated over who else could have been involved in Epstein and Maxwell group. While he took his secrets to the grave, she maintains she has never been involved in any sex trafficking

For years, many have speculated over who else could have been involved in Epstein and Maxwell group. While he took his secrets to the grave, she maintains she has never been involved in any sex trafficking 

Many were already linked to Epstein and some are the names of previously identified victims.  

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Three people filed appeals and one has been granted – that of Jane Doe 107. Another – filed by John Doe 110 – is under review. 

Doe 110 is said to have been widely associated with Epstein in the past, but filed a last minute request to stay anonymous. 

They are described in court documents as an ‘alleged Epstein affiliate’.  

The names were all redacted in a 2015 lawsuit filed by Virginia Giuffre against Ghislaine Maxwell. 

The case was settled in 2017 but the names remained secret until now. 

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Judge Loretta Preska finally agreed to unseal the documents in December last year, ruling there was no longer a legal need to keep the names hidden. 

Some have been calling for their release for months. 

Among them is Alan Dershowitz, a former Epstein associate who says releasing the documents puts all the information into the public forum and ‘proves’ he did nothing wrong. 

Ghislaine Maxwell, who in June 2022 was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for her role in the sex trafficking ring, has ‘nothing to say’ about the files, according to her attorney, Arthur Aidala. 

Aidala however said the papers may disappoint many, who think they will reveal a conspiracy or previously-unknown names. 

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Virginia Tech women overcome slow start to rally past Georgia Tech in ACC Tournament opener

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Virginia Tech women overcome slow start to rally past Georgia Tech in ACC Tournament opener


DULUTH, Ga. (WDBJ/Hokie Sports) – Sixth-seeded Virginia Tech fought back from a 14-point deficit late in the first quarter, rallying for a 62-54 victory over No. 11 seed Georgia Tech in the second round of the 2026 Ally ACC Women’s Tournament Thursday evening.

The Hokies, who move to 23-8 overall on the season, earned their first ACC Tournament victory in the Megan Duffy era. Tech moves on to the quarterfinal round for the first time since 2024.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Virginia Tech faced a four-point deficit until Leila Wells (7:15) stepped up for a three-pointer to keep the Hokies within reach early. Her triple would be Tech’s only field goal until the final 40 seconds of the opening quarter. Carleigh Wenzel provided a late spark for the Hokies, getting down the lane (0:40) and hitting a basket (0:18) in the final minute to stop the run, but Georgia Tech carried a 17–7 lead into the second quarter.

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Playing inspired, the Hokies sprinted out of the break for five straight points with layups from Samyha Suffren (9:50) and Mackenzie Nelson (9:28), along with a make at the stripe from Wenzel, to close to 17-12 at the 8:12 mark. The momentum continued to swing in Tech’s favor as it ripped off 15 straight points, a run ignited by Suffren’s (7:44) fast-break lay-in and capped by a Carys Baker (1:33) triple to give the Hokies a 27-19 lead. Free throws closed out the half for both sides as Virginia Tech headed into the locker room with a 29-23 edge. The Hokies forced six turnovers in the second period, scoring 10 points off the Yellow Jackets’ miscues.

Both sides traded baskets to kick off the second half before Tech knocked down consecutive makes from beyond the arc, the first from Wells (8:31) and the second from Nelson (7:59), to stretch the advantage to double figures, 37-27. It remained a back-and-forth game until Baker’s free throws with 3:35 remaining in the period gave the Hokies their largest lead of the contest at 48-37. Georgia Tech closed out the frame scoring six unanswered as the margin narrowed to 50-46 in favor of Tech at the end of the third.

The Yellow Jackets’ run continued into the fourth quarter as the score moved to 50-48 at the 9:26 mark. Virginia Tech rattled off seven consecutive points, including a three-pointer from Wenzel (7:08), to push ahead by nine with 4:44 remaining, 57-48. Suffren pulled up for a jumper outside the paint with just over a minute left in the contest, but Georgia Tech finished with a layup at the buzzer as Virginia Tech closed out the 62-54 victory.

GAME NOTES

  • Virginia Tech won their first game as a six-seed in the ACC Tournament (1-0) and first against Georgia Tech (1-2) in program history
  • The Hokies have now won four of their last five opening contests in the conference tournament
  • Tech also earned their first ACC Tournament victory in the Megan Duffy era
  • Virginia Tech controlled the glass, 41-36
  • The Hokies held the Yellow Jackets to six points in the second quarter, matching the fewest by an opponent in a quarter this season (last versus Loyola MD on Nov. 9, 2025)
  • Guard Carleigh Wenzel paced Tech in scoring with 15 points for her 15th-straight game in double figures
  • Redshirt sophomore Mackenzie Nelson followed with a near double-double of 14 points and a career-high nine rebounds
  • Nelson also tallied six assists, two assists, one block, and committed zero turnovers
  • Guard Leila Wells put together eight points and a career-best six rebounds in 15 minutes of action
  • Samyha Suffren registered her career-best five assists

UP NEXT

Virginia Tech advances to the Quarterfinal Round of the 2026 Ally ACC Women’s Basketball Tournament Friday, March 6 against third-seeded North Carolina at 7:30 p.m. on ACC Network.

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Obama calls on voters to help Democrats’ Virginia redistricting ahead of midterm elections

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Obama calls on voters to help Democrats’ Virginia redistricting ahead of midterm elections


Former President Barack Obama is calling on voters in Virginia to support a ballot measure this spring that would change the commonwealth’s constitution and cause new congressional district boundaries benefiting Democrats to be used in this fall’s midterm elections. 

In a video posted to social media on Thursday morning, Obama noted the surge of mid-decade redistricting started last year when Texas Republicans started work to shift five Democratic seats and make them more favorable to Republicans. 

Since then, California Democrats were able to redraw the lines involving five GOP-held seats to try and offset Texas’ gerrymander. Republicans in North Carolina and Missouri last year also altered a Democratic-held seat in each of their respective states to try and help the GOP. 

“In April, Virginians can respond by making sure your voting power is not diminished by what Republicans are doing in other states,” Obama, a Democrat, said in the video. “This amendment gives you the power to level the playing field in the midterms this fall.” 

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Republicans hold a narrow majority in the U.S. House and are contending with the prospect of losing control of the chamber this fall when every seat is on the ballot. 

Virginia Democrats’ redistricting effort has proven to be a lengthy process, and legal concerns have surrounded much of the work and thrown some uncertainty into the outcome. The commonwealth’s map in place at the moment resulted in six House seats for Democrats in the 2024 election and five for Republicans. Plans offered by elected Democratic leaders this year would try and shift those lines in a way that could result in  sending 10 Democrats back to the House and just one Republican. 

“Democrats’ illegal gerrymandering power grab is an affront to democracy and rigs our maps to turn Virginia into a one-party state,” the Republican Party of Virginia said last month on social media, adding “It is an intentional effort to silence and disenfranchise half our Commonwealth.” 

After the 2020 Census, both Democratic and Republican led states indulged in the well-worn practice of gerrymandering, drawing districts that favored their own parties and lessening the chances of competitive races. 

But the series of mid-decade redraws impacting the 2026 midterms essentially represent a break from tradition and have put Democrats in the position of having to backtrack on some of their past messaging on the issue. “For too long, gerrymandering has contributed to stalled progress and warped our representative government,” Obama himself said on social media in 2020. 

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A statewide vote is set for April 21 on whether to change Virginia’s constitution and give the General Assembly the ability to change the maps just months before general election contests will be held. Early voting is set to start Friday. 

Virginia is more of a purple state, and it’s unclear what will happen to the constitutional amendment in the April 21 special election. Republicans widely oppose the effort, and additional congressional redistricting in GOP-led Florida could lessen the impact of any changes made in Virginia. 



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