Public Outcry Of the Epstein Case: In the immediacy of his release from jail, Epstein admitted he “is not blameless” and has said that he has taken steps to make sure he will not repeat his crimes. His solution was to hire a male masseur and ask friends to become a board of directors to counsel him on his behavior!
In 2011, Epstein petitioned to reduce his sex offender status from a level three to a lower level classification and thus be designated a lesser safety risk. Prosecutors from the office of Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. argued on Epstein’s behalf.
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The judge denied the petition, saying she was incredulous that a New York prosecutor would make this kind of request on behalf of a serial sex offender who had harmed so many girls. District Attorney Vance seems to have an aversion for prosecuting perpetrators of sexual assault who are rich, high-powered men.
In 2012, Vance dismissed the case against French abuser Dominique Strauss Kahn (DSK) accused of raping Nafissatou Diallo, then-housekeeper at the Sofitel Hotel in Manhattan.
In March of 2018, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo directed the state attorney general to review why Vance in 2015 declined to prosecute movie kingpin Harvey Weinstein’s alleged groping of Italian model, Ambra Battilana. Lawyers for the victims are attempting to void Epstein’s non-prosecution bargain and expose him to federal charges.
The victims are willing and ready to talk. Some of Epstein’s accusers argue that because their civil rights were ignored when they were not informed about the plea bargain, they are pushing for their day in court. Judge Kenneth Marra has been weighing the matter for over a year.
Lawyers for Epstein’s victims are asking Marra to either make a decision or set a date for a hearing on the motion to vacate the deal.
“The fact that this monster received such a pathetically soft sentence is a travesty that should outrage us all,” Sen. Ben Sasse wrote to Justice Department (DOJ) Inspector General Michael Horowitz. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida has also contacted the Inspector General seeking an investigation into the circumstances that precipitated this “extremely preferential deal.”
At least fifteen members of Congress of both parties have also asked for an independent investigation into this pretense of punishment. During U.S. Senate hearings into William Barr’s candidacy for U.S. Attorney General, Senator Sasse pursued his earlier probe of Epstein’s crimes by eliciting a promise from Barr that if he is confirmed, DOJ will follow through on reviewing its role in the Epstein case (C-Span, 2019).
One roadblock stands in the way of a Justice Department investigation. The DOJ Inspector General currently has no power to investigate mishandled prosecutions, but quick Senate passage of the Inspector General Access Act (House Bill 3154) would remedy this.
The House unanimously passed this bill in November, and the Senate should do so as well. The Epstein deal makes “prosecutorial discretion” a farce. Its message is: The more legal muscle, the more chance of unlimited immunity you will get for committing a crime.
It is imperative that the new Democratic led House Judiciary Committee opens hearings into Epstein’s plea deal. Florida state senator Lauren Book, herself a survivor of child sexual abuse, has said: “Where is the righteous indignation for these women? Where are the protectors?
Who is banging down the doors of the secretary of labor, or the judge or the sheriff’s office in Palm Beach County, demanding justice and demanding the right to he heard?” It is hard to examine the facts of Epstein’s sexual exploitation of at least 80 young girls without feeling total disgust for the man and his “massages.”
It is hard to believe that all the prominent men who visited Epstein’s parties and various residences, or flew on his planes, were unaware of his sexual crimes. It is easy to believe, given the wholesale immunity given to unnamed “potential co-conspirators,” that some of these men fear being outed for engaging in the rape of young girls.
Everything about the Epstein case is suspicious and invites the conclusion that federal prosecutors gave invisibility to some very visible men still hiding in plain sight.
Death of Epstein
US financier Jeffrey Epstein has been found dead in his prison cell while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.
His body was discovered at 06:30 local time (10:30 GMT) on Saturday August 10, 2019 at a facility in New York.
Officials said his death was an apparent suicide. The FBI is investigating the incident.
Epstein, 66, pleaded not guilty to sex trafficking and conspiracy charges last month and was being held without bail.
“[He] was found unresponsive in his cell in the Special Housing Unit from an apparent suicide,” a statement from the justice department said.
“Mr Epstein was transported… to a local hospital for treatment of life-threatening injuries, and subsequently pronounced dead,” the statement added.
