Who She Is
Johanna Sjoberg was a student at Palm Beach Atlantic College in 2001 when Ghislaine Maxwell approached her on campus, claiming she needed help finding someone to work at her house. Sjoberg believed she was being hired for a legitimate assistant position answering phones. She worked in Epstein’s orbit from approximately 2001 to 2006, and her May 2016 deposition in the Giuffre v. Maxwell civil case became one of the most revealing documents released in the January 2024 court unsealing.
What She Says Happened
Sjoberg’s 2016 deposition — now fully public — provides detailed corroboration of how Maxwell operated. She was asked to give Epstein massages, which quickly became sexualized. Maxwell told her she had ‘not finished the job’ when a massage did not result in Epstein reaching orgasm. Maxwell described Epstein’s need to have sex ‘three times a day’ and compared it to biological necessity, like eating. Sjoberg flew on Epstein’s planes to multiple properties including New Mexico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Ohio. Her deposition describes a 2001 incident at Epstein’s Manhattan townhouse in which Prince Andrew placed his hand on her breast while Maxwell and Virginia Giuffre were present. She also testified that Epstein once told her ‘Clinton likes them young, referring to girls.’
What She Did About It
Sjoberg gave a deposition in Giuffre v. Maxwell in May 2016. The deposition was unsealed in January 2024 and extensively reported by major outlets. She filed related civil claims and received compensation from Epstein’s estate. Her statements about Prince Andrew were pivotal in the Giuffre v. Prince Andrew litigation. Though she has not been a prominent public speaker at events, her deposition testimony has been among the most detailed corroboration of Maxwell’s methods.
Timeline
- 2001: Approached by Maxwell on her Palm Beach Atlantic College campus under pretext of a job
- 2001-2006: Worked in Epstein’s orbit; traveled to multiple properties
- April 2001: Incident at Epstein’s Manhattan townhouse involving Prince Andrew
- May 2016: Gave deposition in Giuffre v. Maxwell civil case
- January 2024: Deposition unsealed; her testimony widely reported
- Received compensation from Epstein estate victims’ fund
Sources
- Giuffre v. Maxwell, 1:15-cv-07433 — CourtListener, SDNY (contains Johanna Sjoberg’s May 2016 deposition, unsealed January 2024)
- Johanna Sjoberg Deposition (May 18, 2016) — Full transcript, filed under seal in Giuffre v. Maxwell, unsealed January 2024
- DOJ SDNY: United States v. Ghislaine Maxwell — federal sex trafficking prosecution, December 2021 conviction
- Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich — Netflix documentary (2020) covering Epstein’s Palm Beach and Manhattan abuse network
- NPR: Ghislaine Maxwell sentenced to 20 years — background on the civil and criminal cases (June 2022)
Information compiled from public court records, news reporting, and published accounts. This page documents survivor testimony as a matter of public record.