Background
Johanna Sjoberg was a college student in Palm Beach, Florida when she was recruited into Epstein’s household in the early 2000s. She was hired initially as a personal assistant to Ghislaine Maxwell, then as a “masseuse” for Epstein. Her recruitment followed the typical pattern documented in the case: initial contact through a peer, an offer of paid work, and gradual normalization of sexual demands.
Deposition Testimony
Sjoberg gave a deposition in civil litigation in 2016 that became one of the most extensively quoted records in the Epstein case. She described the household structure at Epstein’s properties—the flow of young women through the residences, the role of Maxwell and other staff in facilitating access, the expectation of sexual contact. She described specific encounters with Epstein in clinical and factual terms. Her deposition was sealed for years as part of broader protective orders in the Giuffre v. Maxwell litigation.
The Prince Andrew Allegation
A portion of Sjoberg’s deposition described an incident in which she and Virginia Giuffre were seated on either side of Prince Andrew on a couch, and a stuffed animal toy was used to make Andrew and Giuffre touch in a sexualized way. Sjoberg’s account was consistent with elements of Giuffre’s allegations. When portions of the deposition were unsealed by a federal court in 2019, the Andrew-related passages generated significant media coverage and intensified scrutiny of the Duke of York’s relationship with Epstein. Andrew has denied inappropriate conduct.
Maxwell Trial
Sjoberg was among the witnesses whose accounts were used in the Maxwell prosecution to establish the pattern and practice of recruitment and abuse. While trial witnesses who testified as named individuals were limited, Sjoberg’s prior sworn testimony informed prosecutorial strategy and the construction of the factual narrative at trial.
Significance
Sjoberg’s documented, specific account of her recruitment and the operational structure of Epstein’s household provided important corroboration for broader claims about the organized nature of the trafficking operation. Her deposition—particularly the portions relating to other publicly known individuals—illustrated how thoroughly Epstein had integrated his trafficking activities with his legitimate social and intellectual life.