Jeffrey Epstein abused a number of underage ladies from 1996 to 2008 at his Palm Seaside mansion.
Not less than two ladies molested by Jeffrey Epstein had been labelled prostitutes, drug addicts, thieves and liars by a Palm Seaside County prosecutor, in accordance with a newly launched grand jury transcript from 2006. These paperwork had been unsealed by Choose Luis Delgado after 16 years, following authorized actions by varied media shops.
The prosecutors questioned the victims about prostitution and whether or not they may bear any duty regardless of Epstein being the accused within the case. The 2 ladies had been additionally requested about their drug and alcohol use, physique piercings and postings on their MySpace accounts.
Epstein, a financier, abused a number of underage ladies from 1996 to 2008 at his Palm Seaside mansion. Regardless of critical allegations, he was solely charged with minor prostitution and solicitation.
Detective Joseph Recarey, who led the investigation into Jeffrey Epstein, testified earlier than the grand jury on the time. The investigation started after a 14-year-old lady’s stepmother reported her daughter was paid $300 to therapeutic massage an older man on Palm Seaside Island, he mentioned, as per ABC Information.
The lady, then 15, testified she had gone to Epstein’s mansion, the place she was requested to strip to her underwear and therapeutic massage him. She additionally alleged that Epstein used a vibrator on her and paid her an additional $100. She admitted to mendacity about her age, telling Epstein she was 18. Her mother and father found her journey to Epstein’s after discovering the cash in her purse.
Prosecutors then questioned the 15-year-old lady about her private life, asking about her drug and alcohol use, physique piercings and social media posts. They requested about her MySpace web page, the place she had joked about shoplifting, lied about her age and earnings and claimed to make $250,000.
The lady acknowledged that these had been simply jokes and that her buddies did the identical. A juror requested if she knew her actions had been incorrect, and she or he replied, “Yeah, I did.”
Prosecutor Lanna Belohlavek requested if she was “conscious” that she had dedicated a criminal offense, to which she replied that she did not comprehend it was a criminal offense on the time, however later realised it is perhaps thought-about “prostitution or one thing like that.”
The witness’s lawyer, Spencer Kuvin, discovered this change appalling however not stunning, stating that the prosecution’s deal with discrediting the witnesses fairly than prosecuting Epstein revealed their worry of taking up the case.
Detective Recarey testified that one sufferer visited Epstein’s mansion over 100 instances, receiving $200 every time and items, together with a rented automobile. On one event, Epstein had non-consensual intercourse along with her, regardless of her “screaming ‘no’”.
Nonetheless, the prosecutor, Laana Belohlavek, centered on the sufferer’s earnings, asking the detective if she had been requested what she did with the cash. The detective mentioned the sufferer had declined to reply, saying it was “too private.”
The second sufferer, who visited Epstein’s mansion 10 instances beginning at age 16, mentioned he knew her age “from the very starting.” The sufferer testified that Epstein’s sexual advances progressively elevated over time till he initiated intercourse along with her on the day earlier than her 18th birthday. She acknowledged that she did not need to have intercourse however did not ask him to cease.
The prosecutor questioned her about committing prostitution, and she or he replied “Sure”.
Epstein was indicted on one cost of solicitation of prostitution, arrested, and launched on bond. The Palm Seaside Police Chief was incensed and turned the case over to the FBI. Epstein later pleaded responsible to the unique cost and an extra cost of soliciting a minor, serving 13 months in a personal wing of the county stockade with liberal work launch. Following investigative stories in 2018, Epstein was re-arrested in 2019 on intercourse trafficking fees however died in custody; dominated a suicide.
