FILTHY RICH
moment that Epstein had to plead guilty in court, which he
finally did June 30, 2008.
In the interim, according to their lawyers, Epstein's victims
were only told, "This case is currently under investigation."
A lawsuit that Bradley Edwards, a victims' rights attorney in
Fort Lauderdale, filed in July of 2008 cited the Crime Victims'
Rights Act, or CVRA (title 18, section 3771, of the US Code),
which states that "victims of federal crimes have rights, including the right to be heard in court, and most particularly, not to
be precluded from court proceedings, and the right to be treated
fairly."
According to him, prosecutors had violated the CVRA rights
of the victims. Edwards, who said he was working pro bono,
knew that this suit against the government would not allow for
monetary recovery of any sort (including lawyers' fees). But he
also knew that if the government, urged by Jeffrey Epstein, had
entered into a contract that improperly or illegally violated the
rights of Epstein's victims, then that contract, by nature, would
have been improper in and of itself-in which case, the only
remedy would have been to have the contract invalidated. And
while it is difficult to know what, exactly, would happen if the
contract is overturned, one possibility is that the government
could prosecute Epstein for crimes against his victims, if the
statute of limitations on those crimes has not expired.
At the time of this writing, that case is winding its way
through the courts. It has all the earmarks of a modern-day
Bleak House-the Charles Dickens novel about a legal case that
is so massive and so complex that it drags on forever and drags
everyone involved into the mire.
CHAPTER 50
secution agreement, a fifty-threeederal prosecutors had prepared
-one that claimed he'd abused
ever was filed.
enting Epstein's victims were conims were not consulted about the
as inexcusable. The "government
'in the dark' so that it could enter
ned to prevent the victims from
ould argue, in documents filed on
onths, the lawyers claimed, from
signed, on September 24, 2007,
in's bidding, [had] concealed the
" and continued to do so until the
190
191
HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_009020



JAMES PATTERSON
* * *
In the meantime, Epstein began to settle out of court with his
victims.
In February of 2008, a Virginia woman who went by the alias
Jane Doe #2 brought a fifty-million-dollar lawsuit against Epstein.
At the time of their meeting, she claimed, Epstein was fifty-two
years old. She was a teenager, and her complaint, which was
made public, gave the rest of the world an early glimpse of what
Epstein, and the inner workings of his secret world, looked like
from a victim's perspective.
"Epstein is a financier and money manager with a secret clientele limited exclusively to billionaires," the lawsuit alleged.
"He is himself a man of tremendous wealth, power and influence. He maintains his principal home in New York and also
owns residences in New Mexico, St. Thomas and Palm Beach,
FL. The allegations herein concern Epstein's conduct while at his
lavish estate in Palm Beach." The complaint continued:
Upon information and belief, Epstein has a sexual preference
and obsession for underage minor girls. He engaged in a plan
and scheme in which he gained access to primarily economically disadvantaged minor girls in his home, sexually
assaulted these girls, and then gave them money. In or about
2004-2005, Jane Doe, then approximately 16 years old, fell
into Epstein's trap and became one of his victims.
Upon information and belief, Jeffrey Epstein carried out
his schemes and assaulted girls in Florida, New York, and on
his private Island, known as Little St. James, in St. Thomas.
Epstein's scheme involved the use of young girls to recruit
192
F:
underage girls. (Upon inf
who brought Jane Doe to
of Epstein, and will ther
plaint.) Under Epstein's p
ostensibly to give a weal
compensation in his Pal
would be contacted when
Palm Beach residence or
Epstein or someone on hi
to bring one or more un
recruiter, upon informati
economically disadvantag
Palm Beach County who
being offered-generally
session-and who were p
to authorities or have cre
conduct were made. Thi
Epstein's plan.
Epstein's plan reflected
Upon arrival at Epstein's
would be introduced to Sar
gathered the girl's persona
and telephone number. Ms
up a flight of stairs to a b
table in addition to other
graphs of nude women lin
bedroom. The girl would tl
with Epstein, who would b
then remove his towel and
and direct the girl to remov
HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_009021



TERSON
*
to settle out of court with his
a woman who went by the alias
1-dollar lawsuit against Epstein.
ie claimed, Epstein was fifty-two
and her complaint, which was
world an early glimpse of what
of his secret world, looked like
oney manager with a secret clillionaires," the lawsuit alleged.
ndous wealth, power and influal home in New York and also
o, St. Thomas and Palm Beach,
:rn Epstein's conduct while at his
e complaint continued:
Epstein has a sexual preference
inor girls. He engaged in a plan
d access to primarily economigirls in his home, sexually
n gave them money. In or about
approximately 16 years old, fell
e one of his victims.
rief, Jeffrey Epstein carried out
rls in Florida, New York, and on
Little St. James, in St. Thomas.
I the use of young girls to recruit
192
FILTHY RICH
underage girls. (Upon information and belief, the young girl
who brought Jane Doe to Epstein was herself a minor victim
of Epstein, and will therefore not be named in this Complaint.) Under Epstein's plan, underage girls were recruited
ostensibly to give a wealthy man a massage for monetary
compensation in his Palm Beach mansion. The recruiter
would be contacted when Epstein was planning to be at his
Palm Beach residence or soon after he had arrived there.
Epstein or someone on his behalf would direct the recruiter
to bring one or more underage girls to the residence. The
recruiter, upon information and belief, generally sought out
economically disadvantaged girls from western
Palm Beach County who would be enticed by the money
being offered-generally $200 to $300 per "massage"
session-and who were perceived as less likely to complain
to authorities or have credibility if allegations of improper
conduct were made. This was an important element of
Epstein's plan.
Epstein's plan reflected a particular pattern and method.
Upon arrival at Epstein's mansion, the underaged victim
would be introduced to Sarah Kellen, Epstein's assistant, who
gathered the girl's personal information, including her name
and telephone number. Ms. Kellen would then bring the girl
up a flight of stairs to a bedroom that contained a massage
table in addition to other furnishings. There were photographs of nude women lining the stairway hall and in the
bedroom. The girl would then find herself alone in the room
with Epstein, who would be wearing only a towel. He would
then remove his towel and lie naked on the massage table,
and direct the girl to remove her clothes. Epstein would then
193



JAMES PATTERSON
perform one or more lewd, lascivious and sexual acts,
including masturbation and touching the girl's vagina.
Consistent with the foregoing plan and scheme, Jane Doe
was recruited to give Epstein a massage for monetary compensation. Jane was brought to Epstein's mansion in Palm
Beach. Once at the mansion, Jane was introduced to Sarah
Kellen, who led her up the flight of stairs to the room with the
massage table. In this room, Epstein told Jane to take off her
clothes and give him a massage. Jane kept her panties and
bra on and complied with Epstein's instructions. Epstein
wore only a towel around his waste [sic]. After a short period
of time, Epstein removed the towel and rolled over exposing
his penis. Epstein began to masturbate and he sexually
assaulted Jane.
After Epstein had completed the assault, Jane was then
able to get dressed, leave the room and go back down the
stairs. Jane was paid $200 by Epstein. The young girl who
recruited Jane was paid $100 by Epstein for bringing Jane to
him.
As a result of this encounter with Epstein, Jane experienced confusion, shame, humiliation and embarrassment, and
has suffered severe psychological and emotional injuries.
Jeffrey Epstein: June 30, 2
O
n June 30, 2008, more
Officer Pagan's investig
age girls, Jeffrey Epst
County jail.
A few days earlier, Epstein
New York Times. At the time, t
(the line having long since blu
Saint Jeff's.
"I respect the legal process
by this."
He'd spent years fighting
then the federal government, in
would have seen him emerge f
battle had aged him. Mellowed
all but boasted to a journalist fr
194
1
HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_009023



TTERSON
lascivious and sexual acts,
uching the girl's vagina.
ng plan and scheme, Jane Doe
1 massage for monetary comto Epstein's mansion in Palm
Jane was introduced to Sarah
t of stairs to the room with the
pstein told Jane to take off her
ge. Jane kept her panties and
pstein's instructions. Epstein
aste [sic]. After a short period
owel and rolled over exposing
masturbate and he sexually
ted the assault, Jane was then
room and go back down the
Epstein. The young girl who
by Epstein for bringing Jane to
ter with Epstein, Jane experiiation and embarrassment, and
cal and emotional injuries.
194
CHAPTER 51
Jeffrey Epstein: June 30, 2008
O
n June 30, 2008, more than three years after the start of
Officer Pagan's investigation into his dealings with underage girls, Jeffrey Epstein reported to the Palm Beach
County jail.
A few days earlier, Epstein had taken a phone call from the
New York Times. At the time, he'd been working, or vacationing
(the line having long since blurred), at his compound on Little
Saint Jeff's.
“I respect the legal process," Epstein had said. "I will abide
by this."
He'd spent years fighting the charges-fighting the state,
then the federal government, in an effort to avoid a sentence that
would have seen him emerge from prison an old man. But the
battle had aged him. Mellowed him, even. Months earlier, he had
all but boasted to a journalist from New York magazine.
195
HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_009024



JAMES PATTERSON
“It’s the Icarus story, someone who flies too close to the sun,”
that journalist said in reference to “the agony” of Epstein’s legal
“ordeal.”
“Did Icarus like massages?” Epstein responded.
But after Epstein’s indictment, there were no more boasts.
For the most part, he kept silent in public and retreated into his
Eyes Wide Shut world. And when the New York Times did manage
to get him to speak on the record, he spoke like a chastened man.
Sitting on his patio down on Little St. James, Epstein likened
himself to the shipwrecked Gulliver after he washes ashore on
Lilliput.
“Gulliver’s playfulness had unintended consequences,” he said.
On the eve of his departure, he had a few more things to say:
“That is what happens with wealth. There are unexpected
burdens as well as benefits....”
“Your body can be confined, but not your mind....”
“I am not blameless....”
Outside of the agreement he’d signed with the prosecutor’s
office, this was the closest Epstein had come to admitting his
guilt. But strange details were sprinkled throughout the story.
He had formed a “board of directors of friends” who would counsel him on his behavior. And, seemingly for the first time, he’d
hired a full-time masseur—a man.
Readers of the New York Times might have wondered: Epstein
was going to jail for eighteen months. What need would he have
for a full-time masseur?
The story’s last line hinted at the answer: in preparation for
incarceration, Epstein had set up an e-mail alert.
From then on, his automatic reply would read “On vacation.”
196
HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_009025



TERSON
who flies too close to the sun,"
o "the agony" of Epstein's legal
pstein responded.
it, there were no more boasts.
in public and retreated into his
the New York Times did manage
, he spoke like a chastened man.
Little St. James, Epstein likened
liver after he washes ashore on
intended consequences," he said.
ne had a few more things to say:
wealth. There are unexpected
but not your mind...."
'd signed with the prosecutor's
tein had come to admitting his
sprinkled throughout the story.
ors of friends" who would couneemingly for the first time, he'd
an.
es might have wondered: Epstein
onths. What need would he have
at the answer: in preparation for
p an e-mail alert.
: reply would read "On vacation."
96
PART V
Incarceration
HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_009026