Federal prosecutors' decision to limit charges against Jeffrey Epstein in 2006‑2007

Fittuy RicH school females to provide him sexually lewd and erotic massages. Police sought felony charges that would have resulted in a term of imprisonment. According to press reports, however, in 2006 the State Attorney, in part due to concerns regarding the quality of the evidence, agreed to charge Epstein only with one count of aggravated R 55 assault with no intent to commit a felony. That charge CHAPTE - would have resulted in no jail time, no requirement to cE 4 register as a sexual offender and no restitution for the i : underage victims. 7 Local police were dissatisfied with the State Attor- ney’s conclusions, and requested a federal investigation. er to the general public, Federal authorities received the State’s evidence and engaged in additional investigation. Prosecutors weighed the quality of the evidence and the likelihood for success at trial. With a federal case, there were two additional considerations. First, a federal criminal prosecution requires that the crime be more than local; it must have - the Southern District of Florida an interstate nexus. Second, as the matter was initially ' Over the past weeks, I have read ey Epstein. Some appears true, thought it appropriate to provide 9 caveats: (i) under Justice Depart discuss privileged internal com- ment attorneys and (ii) Ino longer | documents, and as the matter is precision of memory is reduced. was originally presented to the | te Attorney. Palm Beach Police | ‘lawfully hired underage bighe charged by the state, the federal responsibility is, to some extent, to back-stop state authorities to ensure that there is no miscarriage of justice, and not to also prosecute fed- erally that which has already been charged at the state level. After considering the quality of the evidence and the additional considerations, prosecutors concluded that ft the state charge was insufficient. In early summer 2007, | the prosecutors and agents in this case met with ‘ Mr. Epstein’s attorney, Roy Black. Mr. Black is perhaps p Pest known for his successful defense of William 206 HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_010547