The allegations against Epstein, who had largely avoided justice for
over a decade, have been widely published. In 2007, he was given a slap on the
wrist after being investigated for operating a pyramid scheme that brought
dozens of teenage girls to his Florida mansion, where they allegedly were
sexually abused by Epstein and others in exchange for money.
His lawyers at the time, including Kenneth Starr and Alan
Dershowitz, secured Epstein a generous non-prosecution agreement from
prosecutors that was kept secret from his victims for over a year. According to
that agreement, which was granted by then-U.S. Attorney for the Southern
District of Florida Alexander Acosta, who now serves as Donald Trump’s labor
secretary, Epstein served only 13 months in a county jail, where he was allowed
to spend much of the time on “work release.” He was charged with two state
prostitution charges.
Epstein is a friend of several
powerful people, including Trump, former President Bill Clinton, and Prince
Andrew, the Duke of York, among others. At least one victim has accused Dershowitz of having
sex with her as part of Epstein’s trafficking ring, a charge Dershowitz denies.
Last February, a federal judge ruled that prosecutors had violated
the Crime Victims’ Rights Act by failing to inform victims of the
non-prosecution agreement that led to Epstein’s lenient sentence. The judge
acknowledged that prosecutors misled victims into believing an investigation
was ongoing, when it wasn’t. The agreement also quashed any further
investigations by the FBI and other federal agencies, according to reports.
Last month, the Department of Justice rejected efforts by
the alleged victims to have
Epstein’s plea deal thrown out. Federal prosecutors said the victims had no
basis to seek recourse from the government because the Crime Victims’ Rights
Act doesn’t outline specific penalties, the Miami
Herald reported.
Epstein now faces up to 45 years in prison if convicted,
according to The Daily Beast, which noted that the case is being handled by the
Public Corruption Unit of the Southern District of New York.
More information likely will surface about the current
investigation when the indictment is unsealed on Monday. According to the Herald, this case includes new victims
and witnesses.
“It’s been a long time coming—it’s been too long
coming,” attorney David Boies, who represents two victims, told The
Daily Beast.
In its investigation, titled “Perversion
of Justice,” the Herald identified
about 80 girls who were sexually abused by Epstein. Four of them described on
video what Epstein and his associates allegedly had done to them and many
others, at many locations.
GET SPLINTER RIGHT IN YOUR INBOX
The Truth Hurts
