Epstein is so screwed.
Jeffrey Epstein appeared in court today to answer to federal charges of sex trafficking of minors and conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of minors. Epstein pleaded not guilty to the charges, and was sent back to jail to await his bail hearing, which will be held on Thursday.
The sex trafficking charge is alleged to have taken place between 2002 and 2005, in both New York and Florida. Epstein is accused of creating a network of underage girls to give him massages with happy endings, and of using his victims and his employees to procure new girls for him.
Epstein’s taste in young girls and massages with happy endings has been public knowledge for a decade. It was reported by local newspapers 10 years ago when Epstein was on trial in Florida. At that time, the FBI found 36 girls who’d been victims of Epstein, along with 4 co-conspirators who helped procure girls.
With several high powered attorneys, and possibly the help of rich and powerful friends, Epstein was able to get an incredible, and unethical, plea deal in 2008. He pleaded guilty to one count of soliciting sex from a minor. He was sentenced to an 18 month prison term but instead of going to prison, he stayed in a private wing of the Palm Beach County jail on a work release program where he was free to leave for up to 12 hours a day, 6 days a week. A plea deal and short sentence isn’t going to happen this time around. The FBI put out a notice on social media asking for women who were Epstein’s victims to come forward.
“We are asking anyone who may have been victimized by Jeffrey Epstein, or anyone who may have information about his alleged criminal behavior, to please call us. The number is 1-800-CALL-FBI. We want to hear from you, regardless of the age you are now, or whatever age you were then, no matter where the incident took place. The bravery it takes to call us might empower others to speak out about the crimes committed against them. It is important to remember there was never, nor will there ever be an excuse for this type of behavior. In the eyes of the FBI, the victims will always come first.” –FBI Assistant Director William F. Sweeney Jr
As a result of the notice, the FBI has been contacted by more victims and their lawyers above and beyond the 36 victims they already knew about. It’s not looking good for Epstein at all.
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