A "Hoax," Really?
More Like A Two-Decade Caper!
So, it strikes me as odd that President Trump struggles to understand how people are fascinated with the Jeffrey Epstein case. “A hoax,” says the President.
Odd, because President Trump has also suggested he had a 15 year friendship with Mr. Epstein. Photographs, now widely circulated, suggest they enjoyed partying together.
It happened that I was around Palm Beach for meetings when this story was broken in local Palm Beach papers and then by the Miami Herald which ran a series. To be clear, I have never met Jeffrey Epstein, or Donald Trump.
The Palm Beach home that was the site of the scurrilous and illegal activity is only about 3 miles from Mar-a-Lago as I recall and President Trump has said Mr. Epstein was “very well known” in the community.
But, here is what is really remarkable. While the legal action most often sited recently comes from a Federal indictment by the Southern District of New York that led to Epstein’s arrest in 2019, the Federal investigation in Palm Beach dates back to 2005. Yes, 20 years ago.
Local law enforcement concerned with state interference into their investigation initiated after complaints by a young woman’s parents, asked for assistance from the FBI. The FBI investigation lead to the drafting of a 53-page indictment and an 82-page Prosecution Memorandum in May 2007..
Then, late in 2007, U.S. Attorney Alex Acosta in Florida, appointed by President George W Bush, entered into negotiations with his former law colleague who now represented Epstein. These discussions culminated into a Non-Prosecution Agreement that was secretly negotiated without the victims’ knowledge. This later as determined to have been in violation of law.
Here is one remarkable further development!
In 2017 President Trump nominated Alex Acosta to be the Secretary of Labor, saying,
“Throughout his career, Alex Acosta has been a passionate advocate for equal opportunity for all Americans.
His extensive experience has tremendously impressed me and my team and makes us confident that he will lead the Department of Labor with the utmost competence and determination to support the American worker.
After Senate confirmation where the Epstein case was raised, Secretary Acosta served as a member of the President’s Cabinet from April, 2017 until July 2019.
In the summer of 2019, the plea deal Acosta had negotiated for Epstein was falling apart and intense press coverage caused him to resign his cabinet post.
The initial 53-page indictment is not available in full, but portions are cited and referred to allowing for the summary below.
Hopefully, this is helpful for anyone whose memory has faded to the point where they think the Jeffrey Epstein case is a hoax….
Summary of the 2007 Draft Federal Indictment of Jeffrey Epstein
This document summarizes the contents and context of the 53-page draft federal indictment prepared in May 2007 against Jeffrey Epstein. The indictment was never filed but has been referenced in public court records, particularly in the Eleventh Circuit’s April 2020 opinion in the case In re: Courtney Wild (Case No. 19-13843).
Overview of the Draft Indictment
• Prepared by: U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida in coordination with the FBI and DOJ Criminal Division
• Date: May 2007
• Length: 53 pages
• Status: Never filed. Epstein later entered a Non-Prosecution Agreement (NPA).
Key Allegations in the Draft Indictment
1. Multiple Federal Sex Crimes Involving Minors:
- Epstein was to be charged with numerous counts of sex trafficking and conspiracy involving underage girls.
- The indictment described a “sexual abuse pyramid scheme” that recruited and exploited girls under the pretext of massage.
2. Recruitment Network:
- Minor girls were paid to recruit other minors.
- The network operated primarily from Epstein’s Palm Beach residence.
3. Pattern of Abuse:
- Sexualized “massages” escalated into abuse.
- Victims were commonly between the ages of 13 and 16.
4. Interstate and International Activity:
- The draft charged activities crossing state lines, possibly violating the Mann Act and federal trafficking laws.
5. Financial and Logistical Support:
- Epstein used staff to arrange travel, payments, and cover-ups.
- Federal investigators identified dozens of victims.
6. Conspiracy Charges:
- Included coordination with others in procuring minors and covering up crimes.
- Some co-conspirators were referenced but never charged.
Why It Was Never Filed
Despite being fully drafted, the indictment was never filed. Instead, Epstein negotiated a Non-Prosecution Agreement (NPA) with federal prosecutors in late 2007. The terms allowed him to plead guilty to lesser state-level charges in Palm Beach County. He served only 13 months in jail with generous work release provisions. Victims were not informed of the deal, leading to legal challenges under the Crime Victims’ Rights Act (CVRA).
Victims’ Legal Challenge
The case In re: Wild emerged from victims asserting that the government violated the Crime Victims' Rights Act and their CVRA rights by negotiating secretly with Epstein and failing to notify them about the abandonment of federal charges.
Eleventh Circuit Opinion Reference
The Eleventh Circuit confirmed the draft indictment’s existence and scope:
“By May 2007, government lawyers had completed an 82-page prosecution memorandum and a 53-page draft indictment alleging that Epstein had committed numerous federal sex crimes involving more than 30 minor girls.”
Conclusion
The draft indictment prepared in 2007 laid out extensive federal charges against Jeffrey Epstein for sexually exploiting more than 30 underage girls. Though never filed, it remains a crucial element in understanding the legal and moral failures that allowed Epstein to evade full accountability. The Eleventh Circuit’s 2020 opinion remains the most comprehensive public source referencing this document.