Hawking was among 21 internationally renowned scientists who attended a conference hosted by Epstein on his island and nearby St Thomas in 2006. He was also previously accused of having 'participated in an underage orgy' on the island by late Epstein victim Virginia Giuffre, according to emails sent by the financier. Epstein furiously denied the allegation and appears to have instructed his associate Ghislaine Maxwell to offer money to Giuffre's friends if they could help disprove the claims against Hawking, according to court documents made public two years ago.