Allegations that FBI and U.S. Attorney's Office withheld plea‑bargain information from Epstein victims

block federal prosemntion of Epstein. Nor did the FBI notify E.W. and L.M. of any of the parts of the: plea agreement. Nor did the FBI or other federal authorities confer with E.W. and L.M. about the plea. See id. | 30. In 2008, Edwards believed in good faith that criminal prosecution of Epstein was extremely important to his clients E.W. and L.M. and that they desired to be consulted by the FBI and/or other representatives of the federal government about the prosecution of Epstein. The letters that they had received around January 10, 2008, suggested that a criminal investigation of Epstein was on-going and that they would be contacted before the federal government reached any final resolution of that investigation. See id. Edwards Agrees to Serve as Legal Counsel for Three Victims of Epstein’s Sexual 31. In about April 2008, Bradley J. Edwards, Esq., was a licensed attorney in Florida, practicing as a sole practitioner. As a former prosecutor, he was well versed in civil cases that involved criminal acts, including sexual assaults. Three of the many girls Epstein had abused — LM., E.W., and Jane Doe — all requested that Edwards represent them civilly and secure appropriate monetary damages against Epstein for repeated acts of sexual abuse while they were saber girls. Two of the girls (L.M. and E.W.) also requested that Edwards represent them in connection with a concern that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and U.S. Attorney’s Office might be arranging a plea bargain for the criminal offenses committed by Epstein without providing them the legal rights to which they were entitled (including the right to be notified of plea discussions and the right to confer with prosecutors about any plea arrangement). See 14 HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_013332