Epstein camp calls female accusers liars

Epstein camp calls female accusers liars Pace I of . PalmBeachPost.com Epstein camp calls female accusers liars By Larry Keller Palm Beach Post Staff Writer Tuesday, August 08, 2006 Attorneys and publicists for Palm Beach financier Jeffrey Epstein went on the offensive Monday, contending that teenage girls who have accused Epstein of sexual shenanigans at his waterfront home are liars and saying that the Palm Beach Police Department is "childish." PRINTTHIS I Browse Specials & Deals From Local Dealerships Autos PalmBeachPostcom "There never was any sex between Jeffrey Epstein and any underage women," his lead attorney, Jack Goldberger, said from Idaho where he was vacationing with his family. • Letter from Palm Beach Chief Michael Reiter to State Attorney Barry ICrischer Epstein did have young women come to his house to give him massages, Goldberger said. "Mr. Epstein absolutely insisted anybody who came to his house be over the age of 18. How he verified that, I don't know. The question is, did anything illegal occur. The law was not violated here." Jeffrey Epstein Billionaire financier Jeffrey Epstein has been indicted for felony solicitation of prostitution by a grand jury following accusations by teen girls. • Past headlines More local news Latest breaking news, photos and all of today's Post stories. Share This Story He had no explanation as to why Epstein would pay girls or women with no massage training — as the alleged victims said was the case — $200 to $300 for their visits. "The credibility of these witnesses has been seriously questioned," Goldberger said. Epstein, 53, was indicted by a county grand jury last month on a charge of felony solicitation of prostitution. After an 11-month investigation that included sifting through Epstein's trash and surveilling http://palmbeachpost.printthis.clickability.com/pt/cpt?action=cpt&title=Epstein+camp+calls... 1/2/2008 EFTA00189976 Epstein camp calls female accusers liars Page 2 of 3 his home, Palm Beach police concluded there was enough evidence to charge him with sexual activit with minors. When the grand jury indicted Epstein on the less serious charge, Police Chie referred the case to the FBI to determine whether there were federal law violations. After a spate of stories about the case last week, New York publicist Dan Klores — whose client list has included Paris Hilton and Jennifer Lopez — said on Saturday that Epstein's camp was ready "to get their story out." They did that Monday via Goldberger and a Los Angeles publicist for Miami criminal defense attorney Roy Black, who also has represented Epstein in the case. "We just think there has been a distorted view of this case in the media presented by the Palm Beach police," Goldberger said. has consistently declined to comment on the case and did not respond to a request for comment nay. The implication that State Attorney Barry Krischer was easy on Epstein by presenting the case to a grand jury rather than filing charges directly against him is wrong, Goldberger said. The Palm Beach Police Department was "happy and ecstatic" that the panel was going to review the evidence. "I think what happened is they weren't happy with the result. They decided to use the press to embarrass Mr. Epstein." But records show tharpwrote Krischer on May 1 — well before the case went to the grand jury — suggesting that Krisc er consider if good and sufficient reason exists to require your disqualification from the prosecution of these cases." Rather than flat-out decline to charge Epstein, Krischer referred the case to the grand jury to "appease" the chief, Goldberger said. A state attorney's spokesman would say only that the office refers cases to the grand jury when there are issues with the viability of the evidence or witnesses' credibility. Both the state attorney and the grand jury concluded there was not sufficient evidence that Epstein had sex with minors, according to Goldberger. "It was just a childish performance by the Palm Beach Police Department," Goldberger said. The defense attorney said one of the alleged victims who claimed she was a minor was in fact over the age of 18. Another alleged victim who was subpoenaed to testify to the grand jury failed to do so. Epstein's accusers, he added, have histories of drug abuse and thefts. "These women are liars. We've established that." But why would they all invent their stories about meeting Epstein for sexual massages? "I don't have an answer as to what was the motivation for these women to come forward and make these allegations," Goldberger said. http://palmbeachpost.printthis.clickability.corn/pt/cpt?action=cpt&title.Epstein+camp+calls... 1/2/2008 EFTA00189977 Epstein camp calls female accusers liars Page 3 of 3 Find this article at: httpitryww.palmbeachpost.conlocalnewstontentilocal_newstepaper/2006/08108/s I b_epstein_0808.htm I r Check the box to include the list of links referenced in the article. http://palmbeachpost.printthis.clickability.corn/pt/cpt?action=cpt&title=Epstein+camp+calls... 1/2/2008 EFTA00189978