What is Sascha Riley's claim against Epstein?
Executive summary
Sascha (or Sasha/William “Sascha”) Riley alleges that he was trafficked and sexually abused as a child within what he describes as the Jeffrey Epstein network, claiming exploitation beginning in childhood and specific abuse by Epstein around age 13; his account has been circulated as a series of audio recordings that name high‑profile political and judicial figures but remains unverified by courts or law enforcement [1] [2] [3]. The recordings were published online by a Substack user identified as Lisa Noelle Voldeng, who says she holds unedited audio files and has shared copies with police and allies, yet news outlets and the Department of Justice releases so far have not authenticated Riley’s story or identified him in the unsealed Epstein documents [1] [3] [4].
1. The core allegation: trafficking and abuse as a child
In the audio clips attributed to Riley, he recounts being trafficked from a young age and alleges sexual abuse tied to the Epstein-era network, with specific reference to being abused at about age 13 by Jeffrey Epstein, and broader claims of exploitation between the ages of nine and thirteen [5] [2] [3]. Multiple outlets reporting on the viral recordings summarize the same testimonial narrative—trafficking as a child, violent exploitation, and victimization tied to people Riley says were part of Epstein’s circle—but those outlets uniformly note that the accounts have not been independently corroborated [6] [7].
2. How the allegations surfaced and who published them
The material reached wide circulation after Lisa Noelle Voldeng posted the audio on Substack and other social platforms; the publisher asserts custody of six unedited audio files and claims to have shared copies with law enforcement and “trusted allies” in several countries [1] [3]. News organizations have traced the social spread and credited Voldeng’s Substack posts with amplifying the clips, but they also emphasize that the publisher’s statement and the distribution do not amount to authentication by legal authorities [7] [1].
3. Naming powerful figures and the political flashpoint
Riley’s recordings reportedly name prominent political and judicial figures—outlets cite mentions of people like Donald Trump and Senator Lindsey Graham and other high‑profile names in the unverified tapes—propelling intense online debate and political interest [7] [1]. While those names appear in the audio, reporting stresses that the allegations do not correspond to indictments or verified entries in the currently released court records tied to Epstein and that mainstream investigations have not confirmed these specific claims [7] [2].
4. The question of identity and document searches
Reporting indicates that the man in the recordings may identify as William “Sascha” Riley and that some social‑media commentators have tried to tie him to a “William ‘Bill’ Riley” referenced in portions of the Epstein files (a private investigator named in released materials), but as of January 2026 the unsealed DOJ documents do not clearly corroborate Riley’s claimed presence or role in those records [4]. Several outlets note background details circulating online—adoption in 1977, service as a purported Iraq war veteran—but also caution these details come from social media and are not independently verified [7] [6].
5. Credibility, counterpoints, and limits of current reporting
Mainstream coverage repeatedly flags the absence of independent verification, inconsistent elements in online accounts, and the possibility of misattribution or fabrication; critics and fact‑checkers have urged caution and highlighted that no courts or law enforcement agencies have authenticated the recordings or charged the named figures based on Riley’s claims [4] [5]. At the same time, proponents argue the clips merit investigation and point to ongoing calls from some lawmakers for fuller disclosure of Epstein‑era materials—an argument that frames the viral audio as potentially revealing but presently unproven [8] [1].
6. What remains unknown and what reporters say next
Available reporting makes one decisive point: the allegation itself—child trafficking and sexual abuse linked to Epstein—is the central claim Riley makes in the audio, and while the recordings have triggered fresh scrutiny and political controversy, major unanswered questions remain about Riley’s identity, documentary corroboration in the unsealed files, and whether law enforcement will publicly confirm or disprove the specific accusations [2] [4]. Journalistic accounts stress both the seriousness of the claims and the responsibility to treat them as unverified until authenticated by courts or investigators [7] [6].