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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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Falls Church leads the pack in Virginia’s most ‘dog-loving’ cities | ARLnow.com

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Falls Church leads the pack in Virginia’s most ‘dog-loving’ cities | ARLnow.com


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Falls Church is top dog in Virginia when it comes to devotion to adopting canines and showering them with purchases, according to one metric.

The Little City was crowned the No. 1 most “dog-loving” city in the commonwealth and No. 5 in the nation in a new ranking from PetSmart.

The pet supply company arrived at this conclusion by examining dog adoptions at PetSmart Charities events, plus sales of dog treats and products at its locations nationwide. Results were adjusted for the number of PetSmart stores in each locality and indexed against national performance.

“Top Dog Cities are home to passionate pet parents who treat their dogs like family, and we’re seeing that reflected in how they shop,” said Matt Byrnes, senior vice president of merchandising at PetSmart. “From tail-wagging toys and treats to stylish gear and premium health and wellness essentials, these top cities are making thoughtful purchases that help their dogs live happier, healthier lives.”

Falls Church made the ranking even though it doesn’t have a PetSmart within city limits. The closest one is at 6100 Arlington Blvd in Seven Corners.

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Two other Northern Virginia localities made the ranking: Woodbridge in Prince William County (No. 17) and Vienna in Fairfax County (No. 24). Elsewhere in the D.C. area, Germantown, Md. ranked No. 25.

The localities in PetSmart’s list were scattered throughout the country and ranged from small towns to cities like Portland, Ore., Lexington, Ky. and New York City.

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  • Dan Egitto is an editor and reporter at ARLnow. Originally from Central Florida, he graduated from Duke University and previously reported at the Palatka Daily News in Florida and the Vallejo Times-Herald in California. Dan joined ARLnow in January 2024.




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The Good, the Bad and the Ugly from Virginia Tech’s 95-89 Loss to Wake Forest

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The Good, the Bad and the Ugly from Virginia Tech’s 95-89 Loss to Wake Forest


Virginia Tech’s ACC Tournament run ended in heartbreaking fashion Tuesday night in Charlotte, as the Hokies fell to Wake Forest 95-89 in overtime. It was a game full of swings. Virginia Tech erased deficits, battled back repeatedly and forced overtime, but couldn’t make enough plays in the extra period.

Here’s the good, the bad and the ugly from the game.

The Good: Rebounding dominance and a resilient fight

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Virginia Tech did plenty of things well in this game, especially on the boards.

The Hokies outrebounded Wake Forest 45-28, including 21 offensive rebounds, which created 20 second-chance points and repeatedly extended possessions. That advantage helped Virginia Tech stay within striking distance even when the offense stalled.

Head coach Mike Young pointed to the rebounding margin as one of the more frustrating parts of the loss.

“You outrebound somebody 45 to 26 or whatever that is,” Young said. “You’re supposed to win the game. Unfortunately, we did not.”

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Several Hokies contributed to that effort. Forward Tobi Lawal led the team with nine rebounds. Centers Christian Gurdak and Antonio Dorn combined for 15 rebounds, with Dorn seeing extended minutes after Amani Hansberry was sidelined with an injury he suffered against Virginia.

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Virginia Tech showed its usual resilience. The Hokies erased multiple deficits throughout the game and were able to force overtime in a game where Wake Forest led for almost 36 minutes.

Young praised the fight his team showed throughout the night.

“It’s been a characteristic of this team throughout,” said Young. “They’ve got a lot to them, and great kids to coach.”

The Bad: A quiet night for Neoklis Avdalas

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Virginia Tech needed contributions across the lineup in a tight postseason game, but Neoklis Avdalas struggled to make an impact.

Avdalas finished with five points, shooting 2-for-8 from the field. The Hokies’ assist leader was unable to record an assist against the Demon Deacons. He played 31 minutes before spending the final 7:37 of the second half and all of overtime on the bench.

Young confirmed the decision was performance-based.

“I just thought [Jaden Schutt and Jailen Bedford] were playing better than Neo, so that is how it went,” said Young.

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Schutt played his most minutes in a game (29) since late January. He shot 3-for-7 from three and made all six of his free throws, ending the night with 15 points.

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This game stands in stark contrast to Avdalas’ previous showing against Wake Forest. In that game from Feb. 21, Avdalas scored 17 points, shooting 6-for-14 from the field. He also recorded eight assists and three rebounds that game.

The Ugly: Turnovers early and execution in overtime

THe biggest issue for Virginia Tech came in two stretches: the early turnovers and in overtime.

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The Hokies committed 10 turnovers in the first half, allowing Wake Forest to control the pace despite Virginia Tech’s 25-11 first-half rebounding advantage. Off those 10 first-half turnovers, Wake Forest scored 11 points.

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“We had some terrible, terrible turnovers,” said Young.

Although Virginia Tech cleaned that up in the second half, only committing three turnovers for the remainder of the game, the early miscues forced the Hokies to play from behind most of the night.

After battling abck all night, overtime is where the Hokies ran out of answers.

Wake Forest quickly seized momentum in the extra period. Guard Myles Colvin gave the Demon Deacons a five-point advantage less than a minute into overtime, making a floater and a three.

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The Hokies struggled to generate offense in overtime while Wake Forest capitalized repeatedly at the free-throw line. When Virginia Tech was forced to foul down late, Wake Forest did not allow any chance of a comeback, making all nine of its free throws in overtime.

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“They were hitting shots,” Ben Hammond said. “Their point guard had the game of his life today.”

In the end, Wake Forest made the plays Virginia Tech could not.



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Virginia lawmakers criticize anti-redistricting mailer with Jim Crow-era images – WTOP News

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Virginia lawmakers criticize anti-redistricting mailer with Jim Crow-era images – WTOP News


The flyers encourage people to vote against the redistricting effort and feature pictures of the Ku Klux Klan and from the Civil Rights Movement.

Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones condemned flyers with Jim Crow-era images discouraging voters from supporting redistricting in the state.

The mailers, which Jones told WTOP he first learned about last weekend, featured pictures of the Ku Klux Klan and from the Civil Rights Movement. One such mailer said, “Our ancestors fought to represent us. Now Richmond politicians are trying to take our districts away.”

The flyers encourage people to vote against the redistricting effort.

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Early voting is underway, as Democrats in the state push for changes to congressional districts that are expected to give them more of an advantage in Congress. They said it’s in response to President Donald Trump encouraging redistricting in Republican-led states such as Texas. Republicans, though, have been critical.

In an interview with WTOP, Jones, Virginia’s first Black attorney general, said the mailers are disturbing, shocking, offensive and deceptive.

“It’s very clear a MAGA-linked group that opposes the referendum is sending these mailers to Black voters, and they’re misusing very, very hurtful imagery from the Civil Rights Movement, even invoking Jim Crow, to weaponize one of the darkest chapters in our history, to scare people into voting no and help Republicans maintain a rigged map for 2026 so they can keep control of Congress,” Jones said.

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In a statement, the NAACP Virginia State Conference said the flyers falsely compare redistricting to Jim Crow.

“While the NAACP is nonpartisan, we are deeply engaged in political advocacy to safeguard our communities,” said Rev. Cozy Bailey, president of NAACP Virginia.

The purpose of the mailers, Jones said, is to “suppress the vote. It’s to make sure that people don’t go make their voices heard during this election.”

The flyers said they’re paid for by a group called Democracy and Justice PAC. Former Virginia Del. A.C. Cordoza, a Republican, is listed as the chairman, according to Virginia Board of Elections documents.

“I couldn’t see why they say it’s insulting,” Cordoza told WTOP. “I’m a Black man. I don’t want my Black vote to be taken away.”

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The proposed new map, Cordoza said, “ripped apart majority-minority districts in order to increase the number of white representatives from Northern Virginia.”

Cordoza said he didn’t know how many homes the mailers had been sent to or how much the PAC spent on them.

“I want people to do their research and see exactly what’s happening,” Cordoza said. “We, as Virginians, voted for a bipartisan redistricting commission for a reason.”

Jones, though, said he sits “across the dinner table from people who have had their right to vote denied because of the color of their skin. It’s 2026. I would hope that we’d be past tactics like this, but clearly we aren’t.”

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