Federal prosecutors defend 2007 non‑prosecution deal with Jeffrey Epstein amid victim lawsuits

4 The Virgin Islands Daily News VIRGIN ISLANDS Saturday, June 24, 2017 Feds explain sweet deal for billionaire sex offender Epstein By JANE MUSGRAVE The Palm Beach Post WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Federal prosecutors in Florida went on the offensive this month, deny- ing allegations that they bowed to pressure from billionaire Jef- frey Epstein —a resident of the Virgin Islands and Palm Beach, Fla. and his high-priced law- yers at the ex- pense of dozens of teenage girls Jeffrey Epstein he sexually abused. In their first public comment since 2007 when they negoti- ated a deal that allowed Epstein to escape federal charges — pros- ecutors filed hundreds of pages of documents in U.S. District Court, explaining what led to the now infamous non-prosecution agree- ment that has been decried as “a sweetheart deal.” Contrary to claims by attorneys WEDNESDAY LOCALS NITE AMAZING SUNSETS GREAT FOODS SKYRIDE TO PARADISE POINT representing two of Epstein’s vic- tims in a lawsuit against the fed- eral government, Assistant U.S. Attorney Marie Villafana said she and her superiors were trying to help the traumatized young women when they agreed to let Epstein plead guilty to state prostitution charges. The now-64-year-old =moncy manager, who spends most of his time on his estate Little Saint James in the territory, served 13 months of an 18-month sentence in the Palm Beach County Stockade. He was allowed to leave cach day to go to work. Hoping to persuade U.S. District Judge Kenneth Marra to throw out the lawsuit that accuses the govern- ment of violating the federal Crime Victims Rights Act, Villafana said she tried to keep Epstein’s victims informed about the investigation and the eventual plea deal. But, she said, negotiations were sensitive and neither Epstein, his victims nor their attorneys made it casy. For instance, she said, most of the young women were extremely BRING YOUR HOMETO LIFE! Home Security Automation, Panic/Duress Hold Up Buttons, Hands-Free Voice Control, Total Connect WiFi Cameras, Video Viewing, Recording & More! Secuarry Systems Auemca’s #1 Secunrry Company Swvce 1874 Keep an eye on your home from any remote location, with any SmartPhone. 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One of the women who is now suing the government insisted Ep- stein never abused her, Villafana wrote in a sworn affidavit. “L hope Jeffrey, nothing happens to Jeffrey because he's an awe- some man and it would really be a shame,” the woman, identified only as Jane Doe 2, told FBI agents in 2007. While Villafana said she didn’t believe her, she also understood the young woman's suffering. Further, she knew she couldn't force her or Epstein’s more than COURTYARD SELF STORAGE Special! 1 Month FREE on all 5’ x 5’ units* Climate Controlled Units Sizes from 5°x5* to 12°x20° Keypad Entry/Video Monitoring East End - Smith Bay (across from Margarftavilie) 340-776-6008 www.courtyardselfstorage.com Say Goodbye to Unwanted Hair Forever “Electrolysis” Permanent Hair Removal No more Tweezing or Shaving Electrolysis is your permanent solution. Facial hair and body hair can be treated. Licensed Esthetician’ Certified Blectrologiet Call Today (340) 643-3321 Havensight, St. Thomas two dozen other victims to testify against him. Jane Doe 1, who is also suing the government, agreed to testify. But Villafana said one victim wouldn't have been cnough Epstein. Rather than let Epstein use his considerable influence to evade prosecution, she and top officials at the U.S. Justice Department crafted the plea deal. In exchange for pleading guilty to charges of solicitation of prosti- tution and soliciting minors to en- gage in prostitution in Palm Beach County Circuit Court, Epstein was not charged with any federal counts. As part of the agreement, Epstein had to register as a sex of- fender and agree to settle civil law- suits that his roughly 30 victims filed against him. Getting Epstein to agree to pay restitution to his victims and register as a sex offender were key, Villafana wrote. Prosecutors wanted to assure his victims that they would be compensated and that “other minors throughout the country” would be protected she wrote. But shortly after Epstein signed the agreement on Sept. 24, 2007, he began fighting it, she said. He and his legal team, including for- mer U.S. Solicitor General Ken- neth Starr, whose investigation led to President Bill Clinton's im- peachment, contacted high-level to convict justice department officials. They challenged the terms of the non- prosecution agreement. Fearing it was falling apart, Vil- lafana said her office and the FBI resumed the investigation and in- formed the victims of that by letter in January 2008. In their lawsuit, the victims’ at- torneys, Bradley Edwards and Paul Cassell, say the letter is evidence of their claim that prosecutors lied to the victims. They also claim that prosecutors never told Epstein’s victims about the plea deal. Villafana said she didn't tell the young women about the terms of the agreement, fearing Epstein’s attorneys would use it to crush them if federal charges were filed and the case went to trial. Savvy attorneys would argue that the women were testifying against Ep- stein because federal prosecutors told them they would get paid res- titution if they did, she said. When she learned Epstein planned to plead guilty to the two charges in circuit court on June 30, 2008, Villafana said she immedi- ately notified Edwards. She said she told him to alert his clients so they could attend the hearing. None did. Cassell, a law professor at the University of Utah, shrugged off the government's new claims, call- ing them “meritless.” A written response will be filed at the end of July, he said. T1am to 2pm BRUNCH Live Entertainment < he Falné AT PELICAN COVE PalmsPelicanCove.com * STX 340.718.8920 HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_024270