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Jeffrey Epstein charged with federal sex trafficking crimes Jeffrey Epstein charged with federal sex trafficking crimes
(about 2 hours later)
The billionaire sex offender Jeffrey Epstein has pleaded not guilty to charges of sex trafficking conspiracy and sex trafficking contained in a newly unsealed 13-page Manhattan federal court indictment. Some victims of Epstein’s abuse were just 14 years old, prosecutors alleged in the shocking document.The billionaire sex offender Jeffrey Epstein has pleaded not guilty to charges of sex trafficking conspiracy and sex trafficking contained in a newly unsealed 13-page Manhattan federal court indictment. Some victims of Epstein’s abuse were just 14 years old, prosecutors alleged in the shocking document.
Jeffrey Epstein: inside the decade of scandal entangling Prince AndrewJeffrey Epstein: inside the decade of scandal entangling Prince Andrew
The financier, who was arrested on Saturday in New Jersey, allegedly “sexually exploited and abused dozens of minor girls” from 2002 to 2005 at homes in Manhattan and Palm Beach, Florida. Epstein, arrested on Saturday in New Jersey, allegedly “sexually exploited and abused dozens of minor girls” from 2002 to 2005 at homes in Manhattan and Palm Beach, Florida.
In a statement, Manhattan US attorney Geoffrey Berman said: “While the charged conduct is from a number of years ago, the victims – then children and now young women – are no less entitled to their day in court.In a statement, Manhattan US attorney Geoffrey Berman said: “While the charged conduct is from a number of years ago, the victims – then children and now young women – are no less entitled to their day in court.
My office is proud to stand up for these victims by bringing this indictment
“My office is proud to stand up for these victims.”“My office is proud to stand up for these victims.”
Early on Monday afternoon, a fatigued-looking Epstein was brought into the courtroom. He wore navy blue jail scrubs and his silver hair was messy. He maintained an air of resigned stoicism. My office is proud to stand up for these victims
Early on Monday afternoon, a fatigued-looking Epstein was brought into the courtroom. He wore navy blue jail scrubs, his silver hair was messy and he maintained a stoic air.
Asked to enter a plea, he said: “Not guilty, your honor.”Asked to enter a plea, he said: “Not guilty, your honor.”
The indictment alleges that Epstein “enticed and recruited, and caused to be enticed and recruited, minor girls” to visit his New York and Palm Beach homes, “to engage in sex acts with him, after which he would give the victims hundreds of dollars in cash”. The indictment alleges that Epstein “enticed and recruited, and caused to be enticed and recruited, minor girls” to “engage in sex acts with him, after which he would give the victims hundreds of dollars in cash”.
“In order to maintain and increase his supply of victims,” prosecutors allege, he also paid some victims to lure additional girls. “This way, Epstein created a vast network of underage victims for him to sexually exploit,” prosecutors claim. “In order to maintain and increase his supply of victims,” prosecutors allege, he also paid some to lure others. “This way, Epstein created a vast network of underage victims for him to sexually exploit,” prosecutors claim.
Epstein looked for minors and was aware that many of his victims were younger than 18 “because, in some instances, minor victims expressly told him their age”, prosecutors said. Epstein was aware many of his victims were younger than 18 “because, in some instances, minor victims expressly told him their age”, prosecutors said.
Epstein, who reportedly counted Donald Trump, Prince Andrew and Bill Clinton among his friends, is alleged to have conspired with others to form a “network”. Employees and associates contacted victims and scheduled sexual encounters, prosecutors say. Epstein, who reportedly counted Donald Trump, Prince Andrew and Bill Clinton among friends, is alleged to have conspired with others to form a “network”. Employees and associates contacted victims and scheduled sexual encounters, prosecutors said.
Epstein’s accusers were recruited to give him massages, “which would be performed nude or partially nude”, the indictment said, adding that the massages would turn “increasingly sexual in nature, and would typically include one or more sex acts”. Epstein’s accusers were recruited to give massages “which would be performed nude or partially nude”, the indictment said, adding that the massages would turn “increasingly sexual in nature, and would typically include one or more sex acts”.
In addition to paying victims hundreds of dollars, Epstein is alleged to have paid some hundreds for each new victim procured. Epstein is alleged to have paid some victims hundreds of dollars for each new victim procured.
Federal authorities want a forfeiture order to obtain Epstein’s New York mansion. In a “detention memo” laying out the case for holding Epstein before trial, prosecutors cited his wealth and the alleged abundance of evidence against him. Federal authorities want a forfeiture order to obtain Epstein’s New York mansion. In a “detention memo”, prosecutors cited his wealth and an alleged abundance of evidence including “an extraordinary volume” of photographs of nude and partially nude young women or girls found during a search of his Manhattan home.
Authorities found “an extraordinary volume” of photographs of nude and partially nude young women or girls during a search of Epstein’s Manhattan home.
“The defendant, a registered sex offender, is not reformed, he is not chastened, he is not repentant,” prosecutors wrote.“The defendant, a registered sex offender, is not reformed, he is not chastened, he is not repentant,” prosecutors wrote.
Prosecutor Alex Rossmiller told judge Henry Pitman that Epstein was “a man of nearly infinite means”. In the New York home, he said, “the massage room is still set up the same way it was 15 years ago”, with a massage table and sex paraphernalia.
Epstein sexual abuse case could push powerful friends into spotlightEpstein sexual abuse case could push powerful friends into spotlight
The Manhattan US attorney’s case comes more than a decade after allegations that Epstein sexually abused minors spurred local and federal criminal investigations as well as civil suits. The Manhattan case comes more than a decade after allegations Epstein sexually abused minors spurred local and federal criminal investigations and civil suits.
In 2008, Epstein and the Miami US attorney’s office, which was led by Alexander Acosta, now US labor secretary, reached a non-prosecution deal that ended a federal investigation involving at least 40 teenage girls. Epstein pleaded guilty to state charges, served 13 months in jail and registered as a sex offender. In 2008, Epstein and the Miami US attorney’s office, which was led by Alexander Acosta, now the US labor secretary, reached a deal that ended a federal investigation involving at least 40 teenage girls. Epstein pleaded guilty to state charges, served 13 months in jail and registered as a sex offender.
In February, the Department of Justice opened an inquiry into the handling of Epstein’s plea agreement. Acosta has defended his role in abandoning a more than 50-page federal indictment, saying at a House committee hearing in May: “This matter was appealed all the way up to the deputy attorney general’s office. And not because we weren’t doing enough, but because the contention was that we were too aggressive.” In February, the Department of Justice opened an inquiry into the plea agreement. Acosta has defended his role in abandoning a more than 50-page indictment, saying in May: “This matter was appealed all the way up to the deputy attorney general’s office. And not because we weren’t doing enough, but because the contention was that we were too aggressive.”
Epstein’s relationships with powerful men have long been the subject of speculation. In January 2015, the Guardian and Politico were first to report on a court filing alleging Epstein forced a teenager into sexual encounters with Prince Andrew. Buckingham Palace said the claim was “categorically untrue … false and without any foundation”. On Monday, Epstein’s lawyers asked for the bail proceeding to be pushed back. Attorney Reid Weingarten said the allegations were “ancient stuff”, dealt with in prior criminal proceedings.
“To us,” he said, “this indictment is essentially a do-over.”
The hearing was adjourned, to resume on Thursday.
Terrific guy … it is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger sideTerrific guy … it is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side
Ghislaine Maxwell, daughter of media mogul Robert Maxwell, reportedly introduced Andrew to Epstein the 1990s, when she was Epstein’s girlfriend. Epstein’s friendships have long been the subject of speculation. In January 2015, the Guardian and Politico were first to report on a court filing alleging he forced a teenager into sexual encounters with Prince Andrew. Buckingham Palace said the claim was “categorically untrue … false and without any foundation”.
Accuser Virginia Giuffre, née Roberts, has claimed Maxwell invited her to work as a masseuse for the financier when she was 15 and working as a changing room assistant at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago beach club in Florida. Giuffre sued Maxwell for defamation, over her denial of the sex abuse claims. They settled in May 2017. Ghislaine Maxwell, the daughter of media mogul Robert Maxwell, reportedly introduced Andrew to Epstein the 1990s, when she was Epstein’s girlfriend.
In the case of Trump, much press attention since Epstein’s arrest has centered on a comment made to New York magazine in 2002. Accuser Virginia Giuffre, née Roberts, has claimed Maxwell invited her to work as a masseuse when she was 15 and working as a changing room assistant at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club in Florida. Giuffre sued Maxwell for defamation, over her denial of the sex abuse claims. They settled in May 2017.
Much attention has centered on a comment Trump made to New York magazine in 2002.
“I’ve known Jeff for 15 years,” Trump said then. “Terrific guy. He’s a lot of fun to be with. It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side.”“I’ve known Jeff for 15 years,” Trump said then. “Terrific guy. He’s a lot of fun to be with. It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side.”
Trump has sought to distance himself from Epstein.
Jeffrey Epstein: sex abuse allegations against billionaire socialite began in 2005Jeffrey Epstein: sex abuse allegations against billionaire socialite began in 2005
Trump has since sought to distance himself from Epstein. Before taking questions on Monday, Berman, the Manhattan US attorney, said justice department guidelines prohibited talking about individuals who might be associated with Epstein.
Before taking questions at a press conference on Monday, Berman, the Manhattan US attorney, said justice department guidelines prohibited talking about individuals who might be associated with Epstein. Asked why the southern district of New York’s public corruption unit was investigating, Berman said: “I have confidence that the public corruption unit is able to handle [the case]. I will again urge you not to read into the unit assignment anything one way or the other.”
Asked why the southern district of New York’s public corruption unit was investigating, Berman said: “I’m not getting into staffing decisions at the US attorney’s office. I have confidence that the public corruption unit is able to handle [the case]. I will again urge you not to read into the unit assignment anything one way or the other.” Maurene Comey, the daughter of James Comey, the FBI director who was fired by Donald Trump, is among prosecutors and was at the press conference.
Maurene Comey, fired FBI director James Comey’s daughter, is among prosecutors pursuing the case. She was at the press conference.
Berman also praised reporting on the case.Berman also praised reporting on the case.
“Our investigation was assisted by some excellent investigative journalism,” he said.“Our investigation was assisted by some excellent investigative journalism,” he said.
In April the Harvard lawyer Alan Dershowitz, another associate of Epstein, wrote an open letter to the Pulitzer prize committee, saying Miami Herald reporter Julie K Brown should not be rewarded for her work. She was not.In April the Harvard lawyer Alan Dershowitz, another associate of Epstein, wrote an open letter to the Pulitzer prize committee, saying Miami Herald reporter Julie K Brown should not be rewarded for her work. She was not.
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