A photo of Hawking with women appears in Epstein's files

Physicist Peebles announces appearance of young women at Epstein event with Stephen Hawking

Scientist and Nobel Prize winner in physics Phillip Peebles said that during a scientific symposium funded by the Jeffrey Epstein and visited Stephen Hawking, A group of young women suddenly appeared without explanation.

The Times reports this with reference to Peebles' memoirs, who won the Nobel Prize in 2019.

Details of the case

This refers to a scientific meeting in March 2006 on the island of St Thomas (US Virgin Islands), five months before financier Jeffrey Epstein was charged with recruiting a minor for prostitution.

The event was attended by 24 leading physicists. The conference was dedicated to one of the key issues of modern science - reconciling Albert Einstein's general theory of relativity with quantum physics.

Peebles noted that during the breaks between presentations, «attractive young women suddenly appeared» who simply stood next to him and did not explain the purpose of their presence.

He estimated that there could have been between six and ten people involved. He stressed that at the time he did not know about Epstein's crimes and did not perceive the situation as alarming.

Only later, after the financier's arrest and the revelations about the sexual exploitation of minors and young women, did the scientist rethink what he had seen.

«I think it's clear that these young women were part of his circle of victims,» Peebles said.

Photo by Hawking

The US Department of Justice also published an undated photo of Stephen Hawking sitting between two women in swimsuits.

Hawking's family stated that these women were his long-term carers who accompanied him on his travels. The family stressed that any hints of improper behaviour on the part of the scientist are «incorrect and extremely far-fetched».

Context.

Over the years, Jeffrey Epstein has been trying to establish contacts with the world's leading scientists and has funded some academic events.

The publication of new materials in the so-called Epstein Files continues to draw attention to the financier's connections with influential representatives of science, business and politics.