Victim or enabler? Epstein girlfriend who could face questions despite plea deal

Nadia Marcinko was Epstein's main girlfriend for seven years, after his relationship with Ghislaine Maxwell came to an end During Jeffrey Epstein's first spell in jail, a 13-month sentence for soliciting sex from an under-age girl, prison records show one woman visited him at least 67 times. That woman was Nadia Marcinko. Marcinko was Epstein's main girlfriend for seven years - his most significant partner after Ghislaine Maxwell - and in later years, an assistant pilot of his private plane.

She is comparatively unknown to the public, but she may soon find herself in the spotlight. Marcinko is one of four women who were named as Epstein's "potential co-conspirators" in a 2008 plea deal that granted them immunity from prosecution. Now, two of those women - Epstein assistants Sarah Kellen and Lesley Groff - are about to be questioned by US legislators. One congresswoman wants all four, including Adriana Ross, another Epstein assistant, and Marcinko, to be investigated, despite the plea deal. Marcinko has never been accused of, or charged with, any crime. Her lawyers say she is one of Epstein's victims. But girls in Palm Beach, Florida, whose testimony about their abuse when they were under age led to Epstein's conviction in 2008, told police that Marcinko participated in that abuse. The BBC has spent months interviewing those who have met Marcinko, and scrutinising every email we could find between her and Epstein in the files, to try and build a detailed picture of her role in the disgraced financier's life. The emails reveal Epstein and Marcinko wanted to start a family together, we have discovered. The BBC has also found evidence suggesting that over many years, he asked her to recruit other women to help satisfy his sexual desires and she complied. But the emails also expose deeply coercive tendencies on the part of Epstein. Marcinko later told investigators that he was physically violent, choking her, and throwing her down a flight of stairs.

Key points

• She is comparatively unknown to the public, but she may soon find herself in the spotlight.
• Marcinko is one of four women who were named as Epstein's "potential co-conspirators" in a 2008 plea deal that granted them immunity from prosecution.
• Now, two of those women - Epstein assistants Sarah Kellen and Lesley Groff - are about to be questioned by US legislators.
• One congresswoman wants all four, including Adriana Ross, another Epstein assistant, and Marcinko, to be investigated, despite the plea deal.
• Marcinko has never been accused of, or charged with, any crime.