Stephen Hawking at an Event Sponsored by Epstein

The family representative of Stephen Hawking has stated that the two women seen in a photograph alongside the scientist, included in documents released by the U.S. Department of Justice, were his caregivers. The Sun reports on this matter.

The photo was taken in 2006 at the Ritz Carlton hotel in St. Thomas in the Caribbean, following an event dedicated to quantum cosmology where Hawking gave a speech. According to the source, Jeffrey Epstein also attended the event and funded the presence of 21 scientists, including Hawking.

According to the family representative, the scientist required assistance from caregivers due to his diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. He added that the accusations directed at Hawking based on his connection to Epstein are unfounded.

Earlier, RIA Novosti reported that during correspondence, Epstein claimed that during a visit to his private island, Stephen Hawking's head was secured to his wheelchair so that he could go underwater in a submarine. In 2019, Epstein was charged in the U.S. with trafficking for the purpose of sexually exploiting minors, and he died in jail that July; the investigation concluded it was a suicide.