One of the first people to make public allegations against now-deceased billionaire child sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein was Ava Cordero, a transgender Latina woman. Cordero, a model, was transphobically mocked in the media after she filed an October 2007 lawsuit claiming that Epstein had forced her into bizarre and unnatural sex acts when she was 16, leaving her deeply hurt.In her lawsuit, Cordero alleged that, in 1999, Epstein lured her to his mansion, undressed, and requested a massage. Cordero said she felt frightened but agreed, at which point Epstein suddenly began violently touching her genitals, pushing her head downward and demanding oral sex. Related Pete Buttigieg explains how the Epstein files might tear apart the MAGA base: Extraordinary Its his supporters saying, Wait a minute, youre insulting me. And thats a whole different thing. During the related court hearings, investigators discovered Corderos trans identity, HIV-positive status, past psychiatric hospitalizations, and past use of heroin and other drugs. Her case was dismissed for falling outside of the five-year statute of limitations for pursuing such charges, though she had unsuccessfully sought to claim insanity in hopes of extending the time limit for pressing charges.The New York Posts October 23, 2007, coverage included the headline, Gender-bend shocker, Kinky-sex suit gal is a man. The article claimed that she had been living as a female since age 12 and had been taking gender-affirming hormone treatment. The Post reported that Corderos lawsuit against Epstein said that Epsteins assault required her to seek medical and psychological care. Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today The story also alleged that she had one MySpace page listing her gender as male and two others listing her gender as female, and one page detailing a masturbatory fantasy of being with multiple men and women. The article claimed she had written on one of the pages, Im a spoiled b***h and really mean I love to have fun, hang out and party! Oh and Im a junk head (pills, designer substances). However, Cordero said that the MySpace pages were forgeries that she neither created nor maintained. Epsteins then-spokesman Howard Rubenstein called the report shocking and said that his wealth made him a an easy target for money-seeking lawyers and their women,' adding, It wouldnt surprise me if the next claim was from the Loch Ness monster. The article quoted Corderos lawyer, roommate, and ex-boyfriend William Unroch as saying, Shes female and shes always been female. I may also be female. Im checking with my doctors Everyone knows that she [has a problem with drugs.] Shes mentally unwell and on medication for her psychosis.The Post also published an October 24, 2007, article about Cordero with the headline S(he) has a history: Bogus sex suit. The article alleged that she had filed a $10 million lawsuit against married lawyer Glen Gentile, alleging that he had raped her as a sex slave when she was a minor and also paid for her apartment and drugs during their affair. The article said the lawsuit was dismissed upon finding that their sexual relations had occurred when she was 19 years old.In 2009, she lost her libel case against the publication, which she alleged had insinuated that she was a promiscuous slut. The LGBTQ+ media watchdog organization GLAAD has referred to the Post as a dubious source that has pushed transphobic narratives.One of Epstein's victims was a trans woman, but nobody paid attention because she's trans + Latina. The Post and Times of Israel even ran hit pieces on Ava Cordero like the 2007 articles below. Epstein could've been stopped sooner if society listened to POC, trans people or girls pic.twitter.com/bdbWvIM1rF Eli Erlick (@EliErlick) July 29, 2025 The FBI andThe Miami Herald eventually identified 40 to 80 of Epsteins rape victims, respectively, including girls between the ages of 12 and 16. Epstein also allegedly recorded videos of powerful elites having sex with these girls in his private residences and had ties to Donald Trump, former President Bill Clinton, and others who have also denied any involvement in sexual misconduct.A 2007 indictment of 60 criminal charges against Epstein alleged that he had met underage girls at his New York mansion and flown underage girls to his private island in St. Thomas. There, he allegedly nakedly fondled the girls under the guise of them giving him massages. However, Epstein was given a sweetheart deal by federal prosecutors in 2007 that halted the FBI investigation, sealed the investigatory court documents against him, and allowed him to serve only 18 months in prison after pleading guilty to two felony prostitution charges. Subsequent trafficking charges resulted in his July 2019 arrest and detainment at the federal Metropolitan Correctional Center in New York City. He died on August 10, 2019. New York Citys medical examiner ruled Epsteins death a suicide, but Michael Baden, a board-certified forensic pathologist hired to oversee the autopsy by Epsteins brother, Mark, said he believed that Epstein died more likely due to homicidal strangulation than suicidal hanging.Conspiracy theorists have long claimed that someone murdered Epstein to keep him from revealing the powerful elites who raped children alongside him. The president and fellow Republicans continue to delay the public release of investigatory documents (aka the Epstein files), going so far as to allege that Democrats falsified claims to destroy the reputations of high profile Republicans and conservatives. Epsteins associate, Ghislaine Maxwell, is currently facing charges of helping groom underage girls for Epstein to rape. The presidents Justice Department has reportedly been questioning her, possibly in hopes of identifying high-profile wrongdoers while absolving the president of any wrongdoing. Trump had a decades-long friendship with Epsteinand joked about how his friend was fun and terrific andliked women on the younger side. Trump has also beenfound liable for sexual abuse by a jury, hasadmitted to sexually assaulting womenin the past, and hasadmitted to walking in on underage girlsas they changed clothes. He has been accused of sexual assault or other forms of sexual improprietyby at least 27 women.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.