EFTA00183941¶
THE PALM BEACH POST ♦ THURSDAY, JUNE 11, 2009¶
Judge delays ruling on request to unseal plea deal in sex case¶
By SUSAN SPENCER-WENDEL¶
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer¶
WEST PALM BEACH — A circuit judge on Wednesday did not unseal the deal that money manager Jeffrey Epstein of Palm Beach struck with federal prosecutors to avoid charges, opting instead to give Epstein’s lawyers¶
a chance to demonstrate why it should remain hidden from public view.¶
| Circuit | |
|---|---|
| Judge | Jeff |
| Colbath | ac- |
Epstein¶
knowledged at a hearing that Epstein’s deal was not sealed in state court in accordance with the rules.¶
“I don’t see where any of the procedures were ever followed,” he said.¶
Colbath has given Epstein’s defense attorney, Jack Goldberger, an opportunity to argue that the document was properly sealed and asked lawyers to submit briefs to him by Friday. Colbath also set a full hearing for June 25.¶
Attorneys for young¶
women now suing Epstein are asking Colbath to unseal the deal that Epstein brokered with federal prosecutors. A lawyer for The Palm Beach Post also has joined in the request.¶
“It’s a secret agreement. A secret, sweetheart agreement,” said former Circuit Judge Bill Berger, who now represents some of the women.¶
“Everybody was in on this deal except the victims and the public,” Berger said. “The public should be outraged it has gone as far as it has.”¶
A second attorney representing the women, Brad Edwards, has seen the sealed document. A federal judge allowed him and his clients to view it, but not to discuss its contents.¶
Edwards said the women were “outraged” at what had been negotiated without their knowledge. A reporter asked Edwards if he thought Epstein received special treatment by federal prosecutors.¶
“Are you kidding? It’s transparent. Certainly no¶
one else gets treated like that,” Edwards said.¶
Epstein, 56, a reported money manager of billionaires, is currently serving an 18-month sentence in the Palm Beach County Stockade after pleading guilty nearly a year ago in state court to felony solicitation of prostitution and procuring teenagers for prostitution.¶
The saga began years ago when the Palm Beach Police Department began investigating whether young women were being brought to Epstein’s mansion on El Brillo Way to massage him and have sex with him in exchange for money.¶
Epstein’s attorneys, in federal filings, have referred to sealed documents as a deferred prosecution agreement with federal prosecutors and have called it “unprecedented” and “highly unusual.”¶
Goldberger said his client has not received any special treatment.¶