From: “Rotker, Michael (CRM)” Michael.Rotker@usdoj.gov¶
To: “Villafuna, Ann Marie C. (USAFLS)” AVillafuna@usa.doj.gov¶
Subject: Re: Jane Does 1 and 2 United States - Hearing on Friday, August 12, 2011, at 2:00 p.m.¶
Date: Tue, 16 Aug 2011 22:22:48 +0000¶
Importance: Normal¶
I read them - do you want to talk about something specific? 202 258 8965. In car for next 40 minutes¶
From:¶
To: Rotker, Michael¶
Sent: Tue Aug 16 17:39:59 2011¶
Subject: FW: Jane Does 1 and 2 United States - Hearing on Friday, August 12, 2011, at 2:00 p.m.¶
Hi Mike – Can you start with Dexter’s email down at the bottom and then read mine? Also, I was reading 3771(d)(3) [the venue provision] for the $1000^{\text{th}}$ time, and I wonder – could it refer to habeas proceedings????¶
| Assistant U.S. Attorney |
| 500 S. Australian Ave, Suite 400 |
| West Palm Beach, FL 33401 |
| 561-209-1047 |
| Fax 561-802-1787 |
Subject: RE: Jane Does 1 and 2 United States - Hearing on Friday, August 12, 2011, at 2:00 p.m.¶
Hi Dexter – Karen and I have been bouncing some ideas around and wanted to share them with you before we shared them with the whole group.¶
It seems that there were two points that were left hanging that were not completely answered during the argument. One was Judge Marra’s repeated questions about “how would this really impact the government’s discretion,” alternatively phrased as, “couldn’t you just have picked up the phone and called them?” The second was Cassell’s claim that “the floodgates hadn’t opened” since the decision in In re Dean.¶
As to the first, I don’t think that Judge Marra truly grasped the magnitude of what he was suggesting and certain examples would seem to bring the issue into clearer focus. For example, the position of the movants would require AUSAs (not agents, not victim-witness coordinators, not secretaries), to personally “consult” with every victim in advance of declining a case or deferring to a state prosecution. Imagine how burdensome this would be in cases like these:¶
-
A credit card “skimmer” case, where the defendant may have “skimmed” the credit card numbers of hundreds of victims.
-
A child pornography case, where the defendant may have up to a million images of child pornography on his computer.
-
A theft of mail case where the defendant may have stolen dozens or hundreds of pieces of mail.
-
A white collar fraud case with a large number of victims.
EFTA00205990¶
The court also should consider a situation, like the one here, where one of the “victims” is essentially in the defense camp. By consulting with him/her, especially in a case where we plan to defer to the State, we would be disclosing what could be a confidential investigation.¶
The Court asked Cassell “how far back does it go?” The distinction between pre-charge and post-charge is the clearest line, and a line is necessary. It also is an appropriate line for two reasons. First, as I mentioned during the hearing, the United States has sovereign immunity from suit. We waive that immunity when we submit to the court’s jurisdiction – via the filing of a criminal complaint or an indictment. Thus, drawing the line at the point of filing a charge is consistent with separation of powers principles. Second, prior to the filing of a public charge, there are constitutional due process principles (as incorporated in part in Rule 6(e)) governing the defendant’s right not to be publicly accused of a crime without the opportunity to defend himself. By waiting until there is a public charge, there can be no claim of violation of grand jury secrecy. Also by waiting until there is a public charge, there can be no claim of the type of “conflict of interest” that has arisen in this case – where Epstein could manufacture a claim that we are investigating him due to pressure brought to bear by the victims’ suit.¶
As to the second point, Cassell’s claim that the “floodgates hadn’t opened,” I beg to differ. I spent about 4 hours yesterday going through district court filings on Lexis Courtlink, and although I wasn’t able to review each and every one, I did find several good examples:¶
-
Thibeaux Doherty, 08-CV-61848, S.D. Fla. (Judge Cohn). Plaintiff sued 2 U.S. District Judges, several AUSAs, the clerk of court, and 2 U.S. Magistrate Judges claiming that they committed the crime of obstruction of justice in connection with his 2255 Petition. The plaintiff asked for relief pursuant to 3771(d)(3).
-
Piskanin . Cameron, 11-CV-76 (W.D. Pa.) Plaintiff sued the Superintendent and Warden of the Prison along with the Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole. Plaintiff asked the court to order the USAO to “meet and confer with this crime victim to determine the procedure and need to initial Federal Criminal Prosecutions against petitioner’s retaliators.”
-
Hentges State of Minnesota, et al., 10-CV-4081 (D. Minn.) Plaintiff sued State of Minnesota, Minnesota Attorney General, 2 Minnesota trial court judges, 1 Minnesota appellate judges, the child support enforcement unit officers in Colorado and Minnesota, and various County Attorneys. Plaintiff demanded immediate “federal protection, including restraining orders” and issuance of arrest warrants, and crime victim compensation. Plaintiff claimed that the defendants violated 18 USC 514 “Presentation of Fictitious Obligations” by forcing him to pay child support that he claimed he had previously paid. Plaintiff demanded the issuance of arrest warrants and charges based on 3771.
Do you think it is worth asking Judge Marra for permission to file supplemental briefing addressing these two discrete issues?¶
Assistant U.S. Attorney¶
500 S. Australian Ave, Suite 400¶
West Palm Beach, FL 33401¶
561-209-1047¶
Fax 561-802-1787¶
Subject: RE: Jane Does 1 and 2 . United States - Hearing on Friday, August 12, 2011, at 2:00 p.m.¶
Willy,¶