Fact Check: No evidence Epstein document mentions Jimmy Kimmel

A set of legal documents from a civil lawsuit related to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, which were released on Jan. 3, contains no mention of comedian Jimmy Kimmel, contrary to online posts sharing an image of a purported excerpt referencing Kimmel.

Kimmel has also stated publicly that he had no contact with Epstein, who was arrested on July 6, 2019, and died in a New York jail while being held without bail on sex-trafficking charges.

The circulating image visible in a Facebook post, opens new tab shows text resembling a transcript of questions and answers between two unnamed parties about meeting and having sexual relations with Kimmel. The page number 1,375 is visible in a corner of the image.

However, neither Kimmel’s name nor the exchange shown in the image appears in the 943-page document set, opens new tab that was unsealed by the Southern District of New York on Jan. 3, 2024. The Guardian newspaper made the full set available online, opens new tab.

A search of the documents reveals no mention of Kimmel and the document has no page 1,375. The format of transcripts in the documents also differs from the format seen in the fabricated image, which has been shared by meme, opens new tab pages.

In a Jan 2. post, opens new tab on messaging platform X, Kimmel responded to the suggestion made by New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers that Kimmel would be named in the forthcoming documents, saying in part, “for the record, I’ve not met, flown with, visited, or had any contact whatsoever with Epstein, nor will you find my name on any ‘list’.”

Representatives for Kimmel did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.

No evidence. Court documents released on Jan 3. related to Jeffrey Epstein did not mention Jimmy Kimmel.

This article was produced by the Reuters Fact Check team. Read more about our fact-checking work.