Aaaargh.¶
The statute of limitations issue is the state statute of limitations. I think says it is two years. The issue is implicated in two ways. First, because of the state’s leniency for the first set of girls, the second set have been presented only to us for prosecution. If we cannot go forward, then there will be no prosecution of those crimes. (In response to the argument that in should just present them now, we believe that some of the victims are unknown to the defense and disclosing them further weakens our case by allowing them to depose and harass those victims.)¶
Second, our “state resolution” of the case requires epstein to plead to something that hasn’t been charged yet so further delay will allow him to escape one of the terms of the deal he signed several months ago. (There also is a sol on the private cause of action under 2255 pursuant to which he must pay damages to the girls. The delay will allow him to escape responsibility for that term, too.)¶
Other reasons:¶
The victims are getting older. Clearly one of epstein’s arguments will be that he did not know they were minors. The older they are when they testify the more plausible epstein’s argument becomes.¶
The grand jury we are using will expire soon. We have already presented more than a dozen hours of testimony and the grand jury is invested and wants to indict.¶
We promised the girls swift justice so they could move on with their lives. is a perfect example of why this is needed. The delay so far has led many to reach out to private lawyers which, in turn, let’s e argue that they are only in it for money.¶
Why give him more time? He has had more than a year’s delay already for no reason other than the names of the attorneys he can afford to hire. This is not a white collar or other non-violent crime. This is a child exploitation crime with more than 20 known child victims. We are mandated by statute and doj policy to prosecute those cases vigorously and in a timely fashion - whether the children were prostitutes or unwilling victims. Why is this case being treated so differently?¶
---- Original Message ---- From: (FBI) To: . (USAFLS) Cc: (FBI) Sent: Tue May 27 18:45:37 2008 Subject: RE: Epstein¶
Hey—,¶
Sorry to bother you on your vacation. Apparently the DAG is inclined to allow Epstein’s counsel to present further arguments. • has requested and Ito prepare, in email format, arguments to present to the DAG supporting why the case should not be stalled any further. mentioned statute of limitation issues. I don’t know what the specific statute of limitations are (if there are any) for the various counts. Seems like the statute of limitations was for the life of the victim but I’m not certain. Other points that can be made include the private investigators continuing to contact the victims and the relocation of our victims to various parts of the country. Do you have any suggestions as to what would be our best course of persuasion? Thanks and happy travels.¶
From: (USAFLS) Sent: Tuesday, May 27, 2008 2:54 PM To: lE(USAFLS); Senior, Robert (USAFLS) Cc: (USAFLS) Subject: Epstein I I¶
Hi M. sent me an email about epstein wanting to do less time. I hope that his request will be denied. The original deal was supposed to be 2 years so he has already gotten a big break. Plus we have identified more victims since we agreed to the 18 months. Please keep me posted. Thanks.¶
No telling how long the DAG’s office will take to decide. Tuesday is off.¶
| ----Ori inal Messa e--- From: |
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| Se • To |
| Cc: Subjec : pstem |
| I received■ e-mail stating that the DAG agreed to meet with epstein’s people. Does this mean that Tuesday is off? I Hi an. need to let the gj coordinator know. |
| M Also, I am sure thassimembe She was the person whom we initially classified as a victim until epstein’s attorneys |
complained. Well, as just interviewed a girl who was 14 or 15 when she first went to epstein’s house who reports that epstein told her that he had sex wits Mprobably would have been 15 or 16 when this conversation occurred.) The girl also reports that she told epstein her true age and epstein told her that he doesn’t care about age.¶
I know that epstein’s people will, no doubt, continue to tell the dag and others that epstein didn’t know about the girls’ ages so I thought you should know.¶
Please let me know about tuesday so I don’t needlessly spoil Mu nday. And, any chance the case was discussed with the ag when he was in town?¶
Thanks.¶