Posted inCriminal Justice & Public Safety

Madison County judge finds name in Epstein files because of legal representation

As an associate at an Edwardsville law firm, he represented Epstein in a 2013 debt collection matter  

by Beth Hundsdorfer, Capitol News Illinois and Janelle O'Dea March 17, 2026March 17, 2026

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Madison County judge finds name in Epstein files because of legal representation

by Beth Hundsdorfer, Capitol News Illinois and Janelle O'Dea, Illinois Answers Project
March 17, 2026

<h1>Madison County judge finds name in Epstein files because of legal representation</h1>
<p class="byline">by Beth Hundsdorfer, Capitol News Illinois and Janelle O'Dea, Illinois Answers Project <br />March 17, 2026</p>
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Madison County Associate Judge Andrew Carruthers found his name in the recently released U.S. Department of Justice files regarding Jeffrey Epstein, a sex offender accused of trafficking minors. Carruthers was assigned Epstein’s case in a collection matter in Lake County, Illinois, but said he never met him or communicated with him. Photo: Provided Credit: Willow & Mohr Photography

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Tagged: State Investigations Team

Beth Hundsdorfer, Capitol News Illinois

Beth Hundsdorfer is an investigative reporter for Capitol News Illinois.

More by Beth Hundsdorfer, Capitol News Illinois

Janelle O'DeaState Investigative Reporter

jodea@bettergov.org

Janelle O’Dea is based in St. Louis as an investigative reporter with the Illinois Answers Project State Investigations Team. Her beat covers Southern Illinois and the Metro East. Before joining the Illinois Answers Project, she worked in Colorado, Florida, at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and at the Center for Public Integrity. She is a graduate of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and grew up in central Illinois.

More by Janelle O'Dea