TTERSON FILTHY RICH odone and hydrocodone. (A few hich coincided with Chief Reitstein, the talk-show host settled nit to random drug testing, and had been accused of sexual ron, a legal secretary who’d worked sment lawsuit against him in the That suit was dismissed, but a few rischer to federal court, accusing es and demanding recompense for ivacy, and emotional distress. nds, violently, inside her blouse, ndled her breasts, forcibly kissed while brushing her buttocks with accompanying the gestures with advances, the woman claimed, ns. At the time, he was making his office. The charges were politically of a local chapter of NOW-the nen-had stood by the lawyer, citviolence, among his other virtues. y Krischer for the work his office ne woman said during a rally that arthouse. “Her murderer received sentence.” o been dismissed-after Krischer’s 164 former law firm agreed to pay Bergeron’s attorney seven thousand dollars in legal fees. Now Chief Reiter and Detective Recarey were beginning to have their own questions about Barry Krischer. The Palm Beach PD wanted to charge Epstein with one count of lewd and lascivious behavior and four counts of unlawful sexual activity with a minor-felony charges that would have amounted to years behind bars in the case of a conviction. Wendy Dobbs and Sarah Kellen would be charged as accomplices. This was not the plan that Krischer seemed to have in mind for Jeffrey Epstein. In cases involving the sexual abuse of minors, prosecuting attorneys tend to have suspects arrested, then push for a trial. But instead of granting his approval for an arrest, Krischer told the police that he would convene a grand jury, which would be asked to consider a broad range of charges. In a case such as Epstein’s, this was highly unusual. Not damning in and of itself. But very strange. In Florida, grand juries are only required in capital cases. At the state attorney’s discretion, they may also be called in controversial cases-for instance, cases involving crimes committed by public officials. But Jeffrey Epstein wasn’t a public official, and as far as the Palm Beach PD was concerned, the only controversial thing about the case they’d built was that Epstein was rich and well connected. In his deposition for B.B. vs. Epstein, Chief Reiter relayed Krischer’s concerns: the prosecutor had to make sure that his case was solid, beyond a reasonable doubt. And Krischer did have his doubts about the credibility of the young women who’d be called to testify against Epstein. 165 HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_008994¶
JAMES PATTERSON Even so, Reiter was beginning to wonder if Krischer was stacking the deck in Epstein’s favor-if, thanks to the sway prosecutors have over grand juries, assembling such a jury wasn’t an excellent way to let Epstein off with the lightest punishment possible. Another unusual thing: the way Barry Krischer and the lawyers working for him ignored Chief Reiter’s multiple phone calls as well as Detective Recarey’s-even though the police had been hearing from Epstein’s own lawyers. “[Krischer] and I had an excellent relationship,” Chief Reiter said in his deposition. “I was the speaker at his swearing-in ceremony. And that he wouldn’t return my phone calls-I mean, it was clear to me by his actions that he could not objectively look at this case.” In the incident report he ended up writing, Detective Recarey remembered a phone call that he received from Guy Fronstin, one of the lawyers representing Epstein. It was a message Epstein wanted to send, something central to the case that demanded explanation. The whole shit show swirling around him was just a misunderstanding-a misrepresentationof Epstein’s actual interests and intentions. Fronstin says Mr. Epstein is very passionate about massages, Detective Recarey would write. And: Mr. Epstein had donated over $100,000 to the Ballet of Florida for massages. And: The massages are therapeutic and spiritually sound for him. That is why he has had so many massages. 166 Palm Beach Police Depar by Detective Joseph Reca On April 13 and April 14, 2 eral occasions with ASA [ Weiss and ASA [Lanna] B victims needed to report for were left on their voicemai hours of 9:00 am and 11:30 Weiss and ASA Belohlavek call as I had not heard from the time and date of the Gra At approximately 12:30 ney’s Office and Located AS their offices. I entered ASA me that she was going to rei an offer was made to the 1 HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_008995¶
TTERSON ing to wonder if Krischer was favor-if, thanks to the sway uries, assembling such a jury stein off with the lightest punvay Barry Krischer and the lawief Reiter’s multiple phone calls even though the police had been vers. ellent relationship,” Chief Reiter : speaker at his swearing-in cereurn my phone calls-I mean, it hat he could not objectively look d up writing, Detective Recarey he received from Guy Fronstin, Epstein. nted to send, something central to tion. The whole shit show swirling standing-a misrepresentationntentions. ; very passionate about massages, ted over $100,000 to the Ballet of rapeutic and spiritually sound for nany massages. 166 CHAPTER 43 Palm Beach Police Department Incident Report Filed by Detective Joseph Recarey: July 25, 2006 On April 13 and April 14, 2006, I attempted contact on several occasions with ASA [assistant state attorney Daliah] Weiss and ASA [Lanna] Belohlavek to ascertain when the victims needed to report for Grand Jury testimony. Messages were left on their voicemail. On April 17, 2006, during the hours of 9:00 am and 11:30 am I again left messages for ASA Weiss and ASA Belohlavek for either of them to return my call as I had not heard from the State Attorney’s Office as to the time and date of the Grand Jury. At approximately 12:30 pm, I went to the State Attorney’s Office and Located ASA Weiss and ASA Belohlavek in their offices. I entered ASA Belohlavek’s office who informed me that she was going to return my call. She explained that an offer was made to the Defense, Atty Guy Fronstin and 167 HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_008996¶
JAMES PATTERSON¶
Atty Alan Dershowitz. The offer is 1 count of Agg Assault with intent to commit a felony, five years probation, with adjudication withheld. Epstein would have to submit to psychiatric/sexual evaluation and no unsupervised visits with minors. When asked about all the other victims, ASA Belohlavek stated that was the only offer made as to one victim, [Mary]. ASA Belohlavek[s] cell phone rang and went to voice mail. She checked her voice mail and played the message on speaker. The caller identified himself as Atty Guy Fronstin and acknowledged the deal made between them. Fronstin stated in the message, he spoke with his client, Jeffrey Epstein, and would agree to this deal. Fronstin asked to call off the grand jury as they would accept this deal. Belohlavek stated a probable cause would be needed to book Epstein in the county Jail and would let me know as to when it was needed. I explained my disapproval of the deal and not being consulted prior to the deal being offered. However I expressed that was only my opinion and the final approval would come from the Chief of Police. She explained to have Chief Reiter call Barry Krischer about the deal. I left the area and returned to the police station where I briefed the Chief about the deal offered. I checked my voice mail messages and discovered a message from [the] stepmother for the victim [Mary]. She was calling because the State Attorney’s Office still had not returned any of her calls as to when they are needed for this case. I then called ASA Belohlavek’s office and left messages for her to call the victims on this case and explain to them what the State Attorney’s Office had done. 168 Michael Reiter: May 20 A plea offer? Chief Reiter is o sands of hours of wc evidence. But instead of goin see Epstein get off with a m and a psych exam. Why? Alan Dershowitz has pre pieces of evidence-printou In her “About Me” colu Mary has written “Ass and e Under “Ever drank” anc “Yeah.” Under “Ever shoplifted”: Under “Ever skinny dipp¶
TERSON er is 1 count of Agg Assault v, five years probation, with would have to submit to psyno unsupervised visits with all the other victims, ASA only offer made as to one vic- ] cell phone rang and went to ice mail and played the meslentified himself as Atty Guy ie deal made between them. , he spoke with his client, Jefto this deal. Fronstin asked to hey would accept this deal. ause would be needed to book would let me know as to when disapproval of the deal and not leal being offered. However I pinion and the final approval Police. She explained to have her about the deal. I left the ice station where I briefed the nessages and discovered a mesor the victim [Mary]. She was ttorney’s Office still had not when they are needed for this lavek’s office and left messages this case and explain to them ice had done. 168 CHAPTER 44 Michael Reiter: May 2006 A plea offer? Chief Reiter is outraged. His team has logged thousands of hours of work. They’ve assembled mountains of evidence. But instead of going to trial, the state attorney wants to see Epstein get off with a misdemeanor, five years of probation, and a psych exam. Why? Alan Dershowitz has presented the prosecutors with his own pieces of evidence-printouts from the victims’ Myspace pages. In her “About Me” column, under “Best physical feature,” Mary has written “Ass and eyes.” Under “Ever drank” and “Ever smoked pot,” she’s written “Yeah.” Under “Ever shoplifted”: “Lots.” Under “Ever skinny dipped”: “Yeah.” 169 HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_008998¶
JAMES PATTERSON Under “[Do] you wanna lose your virginity”: “I already lost it.” One of the victims has been caught with drugs and arrested. She’s also been caught stealing from Victoria’s Secret. From the state attorney’s perspective, these girls look like compromised women. And if what they say about Epstein is true, wouldn’t that make them prostitutes? As witnesses, they would be weak, while the lawyers on Epstein’s side were exceptionally strong. Alan Dershowitz had represented Claus von Bülow, the British socialite who was acquitted of the murder of his wife, Sunny. Dershowitz had been on O. J. Simpson’s team when the former football star was acquitted of the murders of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson and Nicole’s friend Ronald Lyle Goldman. And rich as von Bülow and Simpson had been, neither one had had the resources that Epstein was willing and able to deploy in his own defense. Neither of them had been intimate friends with his lawyer. As far as Reiter was concerned, none of that mattered. Even if Epstein thought that the girls he’d molested were eighteen years old-even if they had lied to him-it didn’t matter under Florida law. The chief grew worried that in Epstein’s case exceptions were being made, and he grew even more concerned with each unreturned call that he made to the state attorney’s office. On May 1, the Palm Beach PD asked the state attorney’s office to issue an arrest warrant for Jeffrey Epstein. That same day, Chief Reiter took the extraordinary step of writing Barry Krischer a letter all but demanding that he recuse himself from the case. 170 OF THE TOWN OF PALM BEACH POLICE D A NATIONAL AND STATE ACC PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL Mr. Barry E. Krischer, State Attorney Office of the State Attorney Fifteenth Judicial Circuit 401 North Dixie Highway West Palm Beach, FL 33401 Dear Mr. Krischer, Please find enclosed the probable cause resulting from the Palm Beach Police Depakellen and Haley Robson. The submissio Assistant State Attorney Lanna Bejothiavet Beach Police Department’s presentation fo I know that you agree that it is our shared public interest by discharging our duties wit prior observation to you that I continue to fin unusual. It is regrettable that I am forced recent telephone calls to you and those of have been unanswered and messages ren Sir After giving this much thought and consider course that your office’s handling of this sufficient reason exists to require your dis cases. MS:r:nt Ch 115 South County Road Palm Beach, Florida 33460-4443-C HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_008999¶
TERSON our virginity”: “I already lost it.” aught with drugs and arrested. ‘om Victoria’s Secret. From the e girls look like compromised ut Epstein is true, wouldn’t that e weak, while the lawyers on strong. nted Claus von Bülow, the Brit- f the murder of his wife, Sunny. mpson’s team when the former e murders of his ex-wife, Nicole end Ronald Lyle Goldman. And had been, neither one had had villing and able to deploy in his timate friends with his lawyer. :d, none of that mattered. Even if e’d molested were eighteen years m-it didn’t matter under Florthat in Epstein’s case exceptions even more concerned with each the state attorney’s office. D asked the state attorney’s office ffrey Epstein. r took the extraordinary step of all but demanding that he recuse 170 TOWN OF PALM BEACH POLICE DEPARTMENT A NATIONAL AND STATE ACCREDITED LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY May 1, 2006 PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL Mr. Barry E. Krischer, State Attorney Office of the State Attorney Fifteenth Judicial Circuit 401 North Dixie Highway West Palm Beach, FL 33401 Dear Mr. Krischer, Please find enclosed the probable cause affidavits and case filing packages thus far resulting from the Palm Beach Police Department’s investigation of Jeffrey Epstein, Sarah Kellen and Hailey Robson. The submission of these documents are both in response to Assistant State Attorney Lanna Belohlavek’s request for them and to serve as the Palm Beach Police Department’s presentation for prosecution. I know that you agree that it is our shared responsibility to seek justice and to serve the public interest by discharging our duties with fairness and accountability. I must renew my prior observation to you that I continue to find your office’s treatment of these cases highly unusual. It is regrettable that I am forced to communicate in this manner but my most recent telephone calls to you and those of the lead detective to your assigned attorneys have been unanswered and messages remain unreturned. After giving this much thought and consideration, I must urge you to examine the unusual course that your office’s handling of this matter has taken and consider if good and sufficient reason exists to require your disqualification from the prosecution of these cases. Sincerely, Michals. Reiter Michael S. Reiter Chief of Police MSR:nt 145 South County Road Palm Beach Florida 33480-4443 (561) 838-5460 Fax (561) 835-4700 www.palmbeachpolice.com¶