EFTA02612160

From: Kathy Ruemmler Sent: Sunday, December 16, 2018 4:50 PM To: Subject: My edited version "Sweetheart deal!" So goes the attack on the resolution of a =ong-ago federal investigation involving our former client -- and =ow-friend -- Jeffrey Epstein. The attack is profoundly misplaced, =upported neither by the law or the facts, nor by the structure of our =onstitutional republic. To the contrary, Jeffrey was subjected to =n aggressive federal intrusion into what would typically be considered = quintessentially local criminal matter in south Florida. His =ffense — at its core, sexual favors for =ire — has long been treated as a matter entrusted to =aws of the several States, not the federal government. His =onduct — while clearly unlawful and for which he has =ccepted full responsibility — was a classic state =ffense and was being treated exactly that way by able, honest =rosecutors in Palm Beach County. Nevertheless, far from =oing "soft" on the matter, the federal =overnment intervened. Ironically, now many for their own =pportunistic reasons are criticizing the federal decision-makers at the =ime, including now- Secretary of Labor Alex Acosta (then the United =tates Attorney in south Florida), for not going far enough. =nbsp; The critics are wrong on the facts and the =aw. Here are the =rue key facts: Jeffrey Epstein, a successful self-made =usinessman with no prior criminal history whatsoever, engaged in =llegal conduct that amounts to solicitation of prostitution. His =onduct was wrong and a violation of Florida state law. Although =o coercion, violence, alcohol, drugs or the like were involved, some of =he women he paid were under the age of 18. Those facts were carefully assessed by =xperienced state prosecutors who aggressively enforce state criminal =aws. No one turned a blind eye to potential offenses to the =ublic order. To the contrary, the Palm Beach State Attorney's =ffice conducted an extensive 15-month investigation, led by the chief =f the Sex Crimes Division. Mr. Epstein was then indicted by a =tate grand jury on a single felony count of solicitation of =rostitution. During that =ntense investigation, the state prosecutors extensively gathered and =nalyzed the evidence, =et face-to-face with many of the asserted victims, considered their =redibility -- or lack thereof -- and considered the extent of =xculpatory evidence. After months of negotiations, the state =rosecutors believed they had reached a reasoned resolution of the =atter that vindicated the public interest -- a resolution entirely =onsistent with that of cases involving other similarly-situated =efendants. The system worked as it should. =nbsp; Then, in came =he feds. The United States Attorney's Office extensively and =ggressively investigated whether Mr. Epstein had engaged in a =ommercial human trafficking ring, targeting minors. But that'= not what this was, and the federal authorities ultimately =cknowledged that, deferring prosecution to the state. But not =ithout conditions. The federal prosecutors insisted on many =northodox requirements that Mr. Epstein's experienced defense =eam had never seen imposed on any defendant anywhere. =nbsp;Under the federally-forced deal, Jeffrey was required to request that the state prosecutors demand the imposition of a jail =entence, which would not have otherwise been required under the =reviously agreed-upon state disposition of this prostitution charge. =nbsp;Jeffrey accepted full responsibility for his conduct, =omplied with the feds' demand, served his sentence, and in =he process was treated exactly the same as other state-incarcerated =ndividuals. His conduct while in custody was exemplary, and so riharacterized by the state custodial authorities. =nbsp; EFTA_R1_01808094 EFTA02612160 Our friend =effrey Epstein has paid his debt to society. He has also paid out =illions of dollars to the asserted victims and their lawyers. For =ver ten years, he has lived a good and law-abiding life, including =arrying on his wide-ranging philanthropies. Those of us who represented rim in the Florida proceedings -- for customary professional fees -- now =ount him as a trusted friend. Our nation =aces vitally important challenges, many involving the treatment of =omen and basic human dignity. Voices are rightly being raised =peaking truth to power, especially about women in the workplace. =ut Jeffrey, an exemplary employer, has long since been called to =ccount by the criminal justice system for his misdeeds of =esteryear. In the spirit of the bedrock American belief in second =hances, that unhappy chapter in Jeffrey's otherwise- magnificent life =hould be allowed to close once and for all. =nbsp; 2 EFTA_R1_01808095 EFTA02612161