A Florida decide on Monday unveiled 150 pages of grand jury transcripts from 2006 that appeared into intercourse trafficking and rape allegations made against financier Jeffrey Epstein.
The newly released paperwork from 18 years in the past unveiled by Palm Beach County Circuit Judge Luis Delgado revealed that prosecutors knew about detailed accusations against Epstein — years earlier than the financier was given a sweetheart deal.
According to 2006 testimony, the investigation against Epstein started a 12 months earlier. Two victims had been questioned through the proceedings — together with one who alleged that Epstein, then in his 50s, molested her when she was 14 years previous.
The second sufferer stated she was raped by Epstein the day earlier than her 18th birthday.
A detective on the case testified that victims had been paid for the intercourse acts and inspired to recruit different underaged ladies and instructed “the younger, the better.”
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a invoice in February permitting the discharge of the paperwork on July 1 or afterward. Florida grand jury transcripts are normally stored secret, however the invoice created an exemption for cases like Epstein’s.
“There needs to be a mechanism in some of these rare circumstances where people can get the truth and where we can try to pursue justice,” DeSantis stated when signing the invoice.
Despite the gravity of the accusations, Epstein reduce a take care of prosecutors two years later. He spent solely 13 months in jail as a part of a piece launch program after pleading responsible to state prostitution crimes. He additionally needed to register as a intercourse offender.
Some of Epstein’s victims spoke about the case in February.
“We have been left in the dark with no answers to what is going on and why things played out the way that they did,” stated Jena-Lisa Jones, one of many alleged victims.
The prosecution has been criticized for his or her questioning of the victims through the 2006 proceedings, together with asking them to acknowledge that they had dedicated prostitution with Epstein. Prosecutors additionally identified that a few of the victims had previous points akin to drug use and shoplifting.
“One of the big takeaways from the grand jury testimony here is that people knew about this really problematic conduct for a long time and not much was done to stop Jeffrey Epstein,” stated Jessica Levinson, a CBS News authorized contributor.
Epstein was arrested in 2019 on federal fees for intercourse trafficking dozens of underage ladies. His loss of life in jail earlier than going through trial was ruled a suicide.
Last 12 months, a Department of Justice watchdog stated a “combination of negligence and miscoduct” allowed Epstein to take his personal life.
Twelve of Epstein’s accusers sued the FBI in February for failure to guard them, in response to a criticism filed in federal courtroom in New York. The criticism alleges that suggestions, experiences and complaints about Epstein’s actions had been offered to the FBI beginning in 1996.
