EFTA01108455.pdf

Wednesday, June 4, 2014 VIRGIN ISLANDS Epstein accusers press to reopen sex abuse case By CURT ANDERSON ded by Epstein, the federal prosecu- study evolutionary biology, viruses The Associated Press tors deliberately concealed the sweet- and disease. heart plea deal they made with him According to lawsuits filed by MIAMI — Nearly a decade ago, to avoid public criticism," said Paul some of his accusers, Epstein relied wealthy financial guru Jeffrey Cassell, a University of Utah law on assistants to recruit underage girls Epstein came under FBI investiga-. professor who is representing the two to give him massages and perform tion, suspected of women. sex acts. They were usually paid sexually abusing The U.S. attorney's office in about $200. dozens of under- Miami would not comment. But the Some girls were notified about the age girls at his U.S. attorney at the time, R.. investigation beginning in 2006. But Palm Beach man- Alexander Acosta, said in a 2011 let- they weren't told about the negotia- sion. Then, ter defending his office that more tions with federal prosecutors for at abruptly, the evidence came to light after Epstein least nine months, despite a require- investigation was made his deal. ment in the Crime Victims' Rights dropped and "Many victims have spoken out, Act that they be kept informed. The Jeffrey Epstein filing detailed statements in civil two women r - who were 13 and 14 pleaded guilty to cases seeking damages. Physical evi- when the alleged assaults occurred a single state Jeffrey Epstein dence has been discovered," Acosta — sued for the files and won. charge of soliciting prostitution. He wrote. "Had these additional state- "Although plea negotiations are served just over a year in jail. ments and evidence been known, the vital to the functioning of the crimi- Now, two women who say they outcome may have been different." nal justice System, a prosecutor and were among his victims have won Epstein has settled lawsuits for target of a criminal prosecution do a precedent-setting appeals court undisclosed amounts with many of not enjoy a relationship of confidence ruling entitling them to see all the the women who say they were under- and trust when they negotiate," the documents from the plea bargain age when they were paid for sex. appeals court said. discussions between Epstein's The case represents the first time a Federal prosecutors have begun high-powered lawyers and federal federal appeals court has ruled that turning over the documents. prosecutors. the Crime Victims' Rights Act of Epstein's attorney, Roy Black, the Their goal: use those files to undo 2004 guarantees victims the right to celebrity lawyer who is also repre- the agreement, reopen the investiga- be informed about the details of how senting Justin Bieber in his DUI and tion, and subject Epstein to more a plea bargain was reached, accord- resisting-arrest case in Miami charges. ing to legal experts and lawyers Beach, declined to comment but has The women's lawyers contend involved in the case. The law marked asked that the documents be kept Epstein got special treatment because the culmination of efforts begun in from public view, and so far they of his wealth and connections. His. the 1960s to give crime victims more have been. attorneys deny that. of a say. In a May 23 court filing, Black Virgin Islands first lady Cecile "I hope that the case will ultimate- said that there was no conspiracy deJongh is the manager of Financial ly set an important precedent that between prosecutors and Epstein's Trust Co., a financial services com- federal prosecutors can't keep vic- team to violate the victims' rights pany owned WEpstein. She has also tims in the dark about the plea deals law and that the non-prosecution worked with his charitable founda- that they reach," Cassell said. agreement contained many provi- tion, the J. Epstein Virgin Islands Epstein served 13 months of an sions Epstein strongly opposed, Foundation. 18-month sentence on the prostitu- such as registering as a sex offend- Epstein owns one of the territory's tion charge, sold his Palm Beach er and agreeing not to contest cer- largest residential estates, the 68.7- home in 2011 and now divides his tain lawsuits. acre Little St. James Island. time between a New York City home, "This was no sweetheart deal by Epstein, 61, made hundreds of mil- Little St. James island and an apart- any stretch of the imagination," lions of dollars managing funds for ment in Paris, according to court doc- Black said in court papers. rich clients. Shortly after his 2008 uments. He also has a large New Even if a judge invalidates the plea guilty plea, it came to light that his Mexico ranch. deal, it will still be up to federal pros- lawyers had secretly reached a non- He donates huge sums each year, ecutors to decide what to do. prosecution agreement months earli- particularly toward projects involv- "The court can't force the prosecu- er with the U.S. Justice Department ing new medical treatments and arti- tors to bring charges," said Matt that spared him a potentially heavier ficial intelligence. His foundation Alexrod, a former federal prosecutor punishment. established a Harvard University now' in private practice in "Our complaint alleges that, prod- program that uses mathematics to Washington. EFTA01108455