JAMES PATTERSON F1 A: I left that to my lawyers. I know that we did produce telephone records during the relevant periods of time when Virginia Roberts knew Jeffrey Epstein, and those telephone records established that I could not have been at the locations and at the times that Virginia Roberts claimed to have had-falsely claimed to have [had] sexual contact with me. Q: I promise you we’re going to get to those. A: Good. Q: Promise you. Along with all the flight logs that you claim exonerate you. 11:11 a.m. Q: Let’s go to the very second contact that you had with either Michael or Rebecca. Who initiated the second contact? A: I think I did. I called and got Michael on the phone. Q: Where did you call from? A: I think New York. Q: Tell me in as much detail as your superb memory allows you to recall everything that was said during the course of that phone conversation. [Dershowitz’s lawyer]: Let’s object to the form and the continued use of the word superb. He’s described his memory. That’s your characterization. Go ahead. Q: No, I think that that was Mr. Dershowitz’s characterization, which I have adopted. [Lawyer]: Okay. Go ahead. A: I called, spoke to Michael. I asked Michael if he had spoken to his wife. She said yes, and she was still reluctant to talk to me. 260 Q: I’m sorry-she said yes spoken to his wife? A: He said yes. And that sh suggested to him that p just so that she hears wh and remain on the phone wanted. And there cam when she did get on the | She said she had grown were very, very close frie Roberts came to stay with was over Halloween, and just the two of them. An Roberts confided in Rebe mention me in any of the by her lawyer into doing s the object of this effort. T| aire who lives in Columb Secret and Limited Too. I the name of that billionai yers hoped to get one billi dollars, or half of his net w had improperly engaged in Roberts. That money woul it to Virginia Roberts, a tl her lawyers were setting u of it to the lawyers. She then told me that to interview Virginia Robe order to pressure the billic HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_009341¶
ATTERSON know that we did produce telelevant periods of time when Vir- Epstein, and those telephone could not have been at the loca- Virginia Roberts claimed to have ve [had] sexual contact with me.¶
get to those. ll the flight logs that you claim contact that you had with either nitiated the second contact? t Michael on the phone. s your superb memory allows you as said during the course of that ject to the form and the continued e’s described his memory. That’s head. Mr. Dershowitz’s characterization, asked Michael if he had spoken to he was still reluctant to talk to me. 260 FILTHY RICH Q: I’m sorry-she said yes when you asked Michael if he had spoken to his wife? A: He said yes. And that she was still reluctant to talk to me. I suggested to him that perhaps she could talk to me briefly just so that she hears what I have to say. And he could listen and remain on the phone, and she could stop at any time she wanted. And there came a time during that conversation when she did get on the phone, and here’s what she told me. She said she had grown up with Virginia Roberts. That they were very, very close friends as young people. That Virginia Roberts came to stay with her for a number of days, I think it was over Halloween, and they had gone out and had dinner, just the two of them. And that she confided in her; Virginia Roberts confided in Rebecca that she had never wanted to mention me in any of the pleadings, but she was pressured by her lawyer into doing so. Rebecca then said that I was not the object of this effort. The object of the effort was a billionaire who lives in Columbus, Ohio, and who owns Victoria’s Secret and Limited Too. Rebecca told me she did not know the name of that billionaire, but that Virginia and her lawyers hoped to get one billion dollars, b-i-l-l-i-o-n, one billion dollars, or half of his net worth, from him by alleging that he had improperly engaged in sexual misconduct with Virginia Roberts. That money would be divided three ways: a third of it to Virginia Roberts, a third of it to a charity that she and her lawyers were setting up for battered women, and a third of it to the lawyers. She then told me that they were trying to get ABC News to interview Virginia Roberts so as to give her credibility in order to pressure the billionaire from Columbus, Ohio, into 261 HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_009342
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JAMES PATTERSON FIL1 paying a large sum of money. And that I was named as an effort to try to show the billionaire what could happen to somebody if they were accused of sexual misconduct. And that would encourage him to settle a lawsuit or pay money in exchange for his name not being mentioned or revealed. I had no idea about this. And I didn’t—I didn’t ask about this. She just stated this. And I then corroborated the fact that she was absolutely correct in everything she had said to me. Q: You corroborated the fact that she was absolutely correct in everything that she had said to you? A: That’s right. Q: How? A: Okay. Let me answer that question. I was very—I wasn’t sure, so I called Leslie Wexner. I got his wife on the phone, Abigail Wexner. Obviously I knew that the only billionaire in Columbus, Ohio, who owned Limited Too and who owned Victoria’s Secret was Leslie Wexner. I had met Leslie Wexner on two occasions, I think, and his wife. I called Abigail on the phone and I said, “I think you ought to know that there is an extortion plot being directed against your husband by unscrupulous lawyers in—in Florida.” And she said, “Oh, we’re aware of that; they’ve already been in contact with us,” which surprised me. But [her statement] was confirmation of that. I then also—I can’t give you the chronology of that. I then was in touch with ABC and found out she was absolutely correct about her efforts to try to get interviewed on ABC television. In fact, I learned that your client, Brad Edwards, had sent a communication to people in the area urging them to watch her interview that was scheduled to be on three television programs. If I’m not mistaken, it was [the] Good Day Show, 262 the evening news, and th communication with ABC they would be putting fal allowed Virginia Roberts t to corroborate that. I then had never mentioned me television and publicly sta me in any of her descriptio contact with. So I was then was telling me the complete was an extortion plot direct nal extortion plot directed your clients were involved i 11:30 a.m. Q: Let’s see if we can make su another, sir. Do you reco between Virginia Roberts ha ally abused by you on multi name you as opposed to Vii you and never having been those two things different in A: Not in the context of this cas that she was going to seek j abused her. And if she didn’ inference is inescapable that that she had had any sexual tainly the inference I drew… 26. HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_009343¶
TTERSON y. And that I was named as an lionaire what could happen to sed of sexual misconduct. And settle a lawsuit or pay money in being mentioned or revealed. I I didn’t—I didn’t ask about this. en corroborated the fact that she rything she had said to me. at she was absolutely correct in to you? estlon. I was very—I wasn’t sure, ot his wife on the phone, Abigail at the only billionaire in Columed Too and who owned Victoria’s had met Leslie Wexner on two ife. I called Abigail on the phone it to know that there is an extornst your husband by unscrupu- “And she said, “Oh, we’re aware in contact with us,” which surent] was confirmation of that. I he chronology of that. I then was d out she was absolutely correct t interviewed on ABC television. client, Brad Edwards, had sent a 1 the area urging them to watch :d to be on three television en, it was [the] Good Day Show, 62 FILTHY RICH the evening news, and the show Nightline…I then was in communication with ABC and helped to persuade them that they would be putting false information on the air if they allowed Virginia Roberts to tell her false story. So I was able to corroborate that. I then also corroborated the fact that she had never mentioned me when her boyfriend appeared on television and publicly stated that she had never mentioned me in any of her description[s] of people who she had sexual contact with. So I was then completely satisfied that Rebecca was telling me the complete truth. And that in my view, there was an extortion plot directed against Leslie Wexner, a criminal extortion plot directed against Leslie Wexner, and that your clients were involved in that extortion plot. 11:30 a.m. Q: Let’s see if we can make sure that we’re understanding one another, sir. Do you recognize that there’s a distinction between Virginia Roberts having met you, having been sexually abused by you on multiple occasions, but not wanting to name you as opposed to Virginia Roberts never having met you and never having been sexually abused by you…? Are those two things different in your mind? A: Not in the context of this case. Because Virginia Roberts said that she was going to seek justice from everybody that had abused her. And if she didn’t want to name me, I think the inference is inescapable that I was not among those people that she had had any sexual contact with. So that was certainly the inference I drew… 263 HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_009344¶
JAMES PATTERSON¶
11:35 a.m. Q: Who are the people that Rebecca says Virginia had previously told her that Virginia was abused by? A: I never asked her that question. Q: Did you ask her was Les Wexner one of the people that abused Virginia? A: I told you I never asked her the question. Q: Are you aware that years before December of 2014, when the CVRA pleading was filed, that your name had come up repeatedly in connection with Jeffrey Epstein’s abuse of minors, correct? A: I am aware that never before 2014, end of December, was it ever, ever alleged that I had acted in any way inappropriately with regard to Virginia Roberts, that I ever touched her, that I ever met her, that I had ever been with her. I was completely aware of that. There had never been any allegation. She claims under oath that she told you that secretly in 2011, but you have produced no notes of any such conversation. You, of course, are a witness to this allegation and will be deposed as a witness to this allegation. I believe it is an entirely false allegation that she told you in 2011 that she had had any sexual contact with me. I think she’s lying through her teeth when she says that. And I doubt that your notes will reveal any such information. But if she did tell you that, she would be absolutely, categorically lying. So I am completely aware that never-until the lies were put in a legal pleading at the end of December 2014, it was never alleged that I had any 264 F sexual contact with Vi alleged that I was a witn and that was false. I w Epstein’s sexual abuse. that you have falsely de record is clear that I ha witness to any abuse, th anybody. And-and th talk to Jeffrey Epstein w Virginia Roberts, which geous, so preposterous, lawyer associated with t erts said he couldn’t beli 12:24 p.m. Q: You engaged in a massworld that Bradley Edwai unethical lawyers who h you, correct? A: No, that’s not correct. I re ing the truth. My goal w ginia Roberts’s allegatio These two stories appeare newspaper in the world a of their plot and the plan absurdly mentioned Prin absurd way-that they m ing to lobby prosecutors t HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_009345¶
TTERSON FILTHY RICH * sexual contact with Virginia Roberts. I know that it was alleged that I was a witness to Jeffrey Epstein’s alleged abuse, and that was false. I was never a witness to any of Jeffrey Epstein’s sexual abuse. And I wrote that to you, something that you have falsely denied. And I stand on the record. The record is clear that I have categorically denied I was ever a witness to any abuse, that I ever saw Jeffrey Epstein abusing anybody. And-and the very idea that I would stand and talk to Jeffrey Epstein while he was receiving oral sex from Virginia Roberts, which she swore to under oath, is so outrageous, so preposterous, that even David Boies [a prominent lawyer associated with the firm representing Virginia Roberts] said he couldn’t believe it was true. 12:24 p.m. Q: You engaged in a mass-media campaign to convince the world that Bradley Edwards and Professor Paul Cassell were umethical lawyers who had fabricated false charges against you, correct? A: No, that’s not correct. I responded to press inquiries by telling the truth. My goal was to let the world know that Virginia Roberts’s allegations against me were totally false. These two stories appeared, as far as I can tell, in every single newspaper in the world and on every media, which was part of their plot and the plan of your clients, which is why they absurdly mentioned Prince Andrew, claiming in the most absurd way-that they mentioned him because he was trying to lobby prosecutors to get a reduced sentence for Jeffrey Rebecca says Virginia had previvas abused by? on. Wexner one of the people that the question. fore December of 2014, when the that your name had come up 1 Jeffrey Epstein’s abuse of minors, e 2014, end of December, was it acted in any way inappropriately erts, that I ever touched her, that r been with her. I was completely never been any allegation. She told you that secretly in 2011, but s of any such conversation. You, is allegation and will be deposed on. I believe it is an entirely false in 2011 that she had had any sexnk she’s lying through her teeth doubt that your notes will reveal if she did tell you that, she would lying. So I am completely aware were put in a legal pleading at the was never alleged that I had any 264 265 HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_009346¶
JAMES PATTERSON Epstein; they obviously put Prince Andrew in there in order to get massive publicity around the world. And every media in the world, practically, called me, from the BBC to CBS to ABC to CNN, and I responded to lies with the truth. Q: And the truth that you attempted to convey was that Bradley Edwards and Professor Paul Cassell were unethical lawyers who fabricated false charges against you, right? A: The truth that I intended to convey was that the charges against me were false and fabricated, that I never had any sexual contact- Q: Fabricated by whom, sir? A: Please don’t interrupt me…that I never had any sexual contact with Virginia Roberts. Because Professor Cassell insisted on conveying to the public that he was a former judge and that he was a professor and that he was using-improperly, in my view-the stationery and name of his university to add credibility to his claims, I felt that it was imperative for me to indicate that he was engaging in improper and unethical conduct. It would have been improper for me to have allowed his use of his credibility as a former federal judge, as a professor who uses, misuses, his university imprimaturit was very important for me to attack the credibility of the messengers of the false information. And it was important for me to also remind the public that Bradley Edwards was a partner of [Scott] Rothstein, a man who is spending fifty years in jail for fraudulently creating a Ponzi scheme to sell Jeffrey Epstein cases that didn’t exist. 266 Scott Rothstein: 2009 S cott Rothstein was a fla parked his collection ( house, kept a copy of 1 portrait of Al Pacino as Mich of his nicknames was TPOF Darkness,” and in private, he the repercussions of engagin Understand that I am capabl imagination could ever conju Rothstein hosted reception McCain, Bobby Jindal, Arno out hundreds of thousands contributions. He gave millio the Joe DiMaggio Children’ HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_009347¶
TTERSON Prince Andrew in there in order and the world. And every media led me, from the BBC to CBS to ed to lies with the truth. napted to convey was that Bradley 1 Cassell were unethical lawyers against you, right? to convey was that the charges fabricated, that I never had any . that I never had any sexual conbecause Professor Cassell insisted that he was a former judge and that he was using-improperly, y and name of his university to Is, I felt that it was imperative for engaging in improper and unethi- e been improper for me to have bility as a former federal judge, as ises, his university imprimaturne to attack the credibility of the formation. And it was important public that Bradley Edwards was a in, a man who is spending fifty ly creating a Ponzi scheme to sell lidn’t exist. 266 CHAPTER 67 Scott Rothstein: 2009 S cott Rothstein was a flashy Fort Lauderdale ex-lawyer who parked his collection of cars in an air-conditioned warehouse, kept a copy of the Torah on his desk, and hung a portrait of Al Pacino as Michael Corleone outside his office. One of his nicknames was TPOFD, short for “the Prince of Fucking Darkness,” and in private, he’d say things like: “Understand that the repercussions of engaging me could open the gates of hell. Understand that I am capable of evil far beyond anything your imagination could ever conjure up.” Rothstein hosted receptions for prominent politicians-John McCain, Bobby Jindal, Arnold Schwarzenegger-and handed out hundreds of thousands of dollars at a time in campaign contributions. He gave millions more to charitable institutions: the Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital; the American Heart 267 HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_009348¶
JAMES PATTERSON Association. By all outward appearances, he could afford it: seventy lawyers worked in his firm, which had offices in Florida, New York, and Venezuela. But Rothstein’s millions actually came from a $1.2 billion Ponzi scheme he’d been running since 2005. In April of 2009, Bradley Edwards joined Rothstein’s firm. The lawyer brought his papers along, and Rothstein showed those pertaining to Epstein to potential investors. In exchange for a lump sum up front, Rothstein said, investors would receive a far larger chunk of money later, which Epstein would pay in future settlements. Edwards and Rothstein both say that Edwards had no knowledge whatsoever of the Ponzi scheme. (Prosecutors, and the Florida Bar, agree.) Edwards left as soon as he caught wind of the scheme, in November of 2009. But the few months he spent in Rothstein’s company gave Dershowitz the opening he needed to pry open Virginia Roberts’s accusations. It was at Edwards’s insistence, Dershowitz would say, as well as Paul Cassell’s, that Virginia Roberts added Dershowitz’s name to the list of men she claimed had abused her. According to Dershowitz, he’d been pulled into a billion-dollar extortion plot Edwards had hatched. And for Edwards and Cassell, there had been a secondary benefit: Dershowitz had helped to work out Epstein’s confidential non-prosecution agreement with the government. By implicating him directly in Epstein’s abuse of underage women, Dershowitz claimed, Edwards and Cassell were trying to “open up” that agreement. It might have been a Hail Mary pass on the part of Alan Dershowitz. But the argument had its own internal logic. 268 The idea that Bradley Edw blackmail Leslie Wexnerno less-sounds highly ir that Edwards had worked running his own billion-dc Edwards may not have files on Jeffrey Epstein al Edwards’s proximity to Roth been as damaging as Dersh but it was damaging noneth he needed to make his argu argument was that it wasn’t plot to blackmail Wexner. I after was the idea that a l non-prosecution agreement w erts. That would give Edwa agreement open. And in that pressuring Virginia Roberts Perhaps it wasn’t, in this felt reluctant to mention De matter of the three hundred she would stand to gain. Ar that goes to set up a charity Dershowitz had thrown out genius move on Edwards’s pa whole psychological picture for lying about Dershowitz, s battered women she’d end up HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_009349¶
ITPERSON FILTHY RICH¶
arances, he could afford it: sev- 1, which had offices in Florida, t Rothstein’s millions actually scheme he’d been running since dwards joined Rothstein’s firm. s along, and Rothstein showed potential investors. In exchange ein said, investors would receive ter, which Epstein would pay in say that Edwards had no knowlscheme. (Prosecutors, and the as soon as he caught wind of the But the few months he spent in how it the opening he needed to usations. ce, Dershowitz would say, as well Roberts added Dershowitz’s name ad abused her. ‘d been pulled into a billion-dollar tched. And for Edwards and Cas- y benefit: Dershowitz had helped ntial non-prosecution agreement licating him directly in Epstein’s ershowitz claimed, Edwards and p” that agreement. 1 Mary pass on the part of Alan wn internal logic. 268 The idea that Bradley Edwards and Paul Cassell were trying to blackmail Leslie Wexner-blackmail him for one billion dollars, no less-sounds highly improbable. But we do know for a fact that Edwards had worked with Rothstein-a man who’d been running his own billion-dollar con. Edwards may not have known that Rothstein was taking his files on Jeffrey Epstein and showing them to investors. But Edwards’s proximity to Rothstein didn’t look good. It may not have been as damaging as Dershowitz’s close friendship with Epstein, but it was damaging nonetheless. It gave Dershowitz the opening he needed to make his argument. And the genius of Dershowitz’s argument was that it wasn’t necessarily predicated on an actual plot to blackmail Wexner. Maybe the thing Edwards was really after was the idea that a lawyer who helped work out Epstein’s non-prosecution agreement was also having sex with Virginia Roberts. That would give Edwards leverage in trying to crack the agreement open. And in that case, was it so hard to imagine him pressuring Virginia Roberts to add Dershowitz’s name to the list? Perhaps it wasn’t, in this scenario. Virginia would have still felt reluctant to mention Dershowitz. If she was, there was the matter of the three hundred million dollars, and then some, that she would stand to gain. And the three hundred million or so that goes to set up a charity for battered women? If the scenario Dershowitz had thrown out was true, that would have been a genius move on Edwards’s part-the sort of detail that helps the whole psychological picture fall into place. If Virginia felt guilty for lying about Dershowitz, she could think of the thousands of battered women she’d end up helping. 269 HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_009350¶
JAMES PATTERSON All these possibilities seemed bizarre. And yet everything connected with Epstein’s story seemed to be bizarre. Bill Clinton got the use of a jet out of Epstein-a trip to Africa. But he and Epstein weren’t bosom buddies. As for Prince Andrew, we already know how he feels about women. But what did Dershowitz get out of Epstein, aside from Epstein’s wise counsel on all the books he’d written? One advantage Dershowitz had, as he laid out his argument, was that when it came to Jeffrey Epstein, all bets were off. He didn’t have to establish his innocence. All he had to do was make sure that the waters stayed muddy. The more complicated things seemed to be, the better they were for Dershowitz. Thanks to Jeffrey Epstein’s actions, and the endlessly complicated cycle of suits and countersuits those actions inspired, those waters were very muddy indeed. Scott Rothstein On October 27, 2009, Floric Rothstein a voice-mail mess “Hey, Scott,” the govern Greek governor. Hope you’l touch base and let you know twenty-fourth, and it is go brother… Really enjoyed i watch[ing] a little football a me. We love you. Take care. That same day, Rothstei Casablanca, Morocco. For a running. But a few days late Fort Lauderdale. The Ponzi | The moment he did, he s for a lenient sentence. Roths the list included people at hi 270 HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_009351¶
TTERSON ed bizarre. And yet everything eemed to be bizarre. a jet out of Epstein—a trip to ‘t bosom buddies. ready know how he feels about get out of Epstein, aside from books he’d written? iad, as he laid out his argument, y Epstein, all bets were off. He cence. All he had to do was make dy. The more complicated things re for Dershowitz. ctions, and the endlessly complitersuits those actions inspired, ndeed. 270 Scott Rothstein CODA On October 27, 2009, Florida’s governor, Charlie Crist, left Scott Rothstein a voice-mail message. “Hey, Scott,” the governor said. “It’s Charlie, your favorite Greek governor. Hope you’re doing well, buddy. Just wanted to touch base and let you know I’m working Versace for November twenty-fourth, and it is going amazingly well-unbelievable, brother… Really enjoyed again seeing you and Kimmie and watch[ing] a little football and best to you guys from Carol and me. We love you. Take care. Bye-bye.” That same day, Rothstein took a chartered Gulfstream V to Casablanca, Morocco. For a while, it seemed as if Rothstein was running. But a few days later, the same Gulfstream returned to Fort Lauderdale. The Ponzi king had decided to turn himself in. The moment he did, he started to sing like a canary in return for a lenient sentence. Rothstein gave up dozens of associates— the list included people at his law firm, law enforcement officers, 271 HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_009352¶
JAMES PATTERSON and his own wife, Kimmie, who was arrested for hiding more than one million dollars’ worth of jewelry. All in all, more than thirty people involved in Rothstein’s schemes were arrested and sentenced. Thanks, in part, to his cooperation with the feds, his was the only Ponzi scheme in history in which all the victims recovered their money. In return, Rothstein was put into a witness protection program and is serving his fifty-year sentence anonymously, in an undisclosed prison location. Alan Dershowitz On November 10, 2015, Alan Dershowitz arrived at Shriver Hall, on the campus of Johns Hopkins University, in Baltimore, to talk about the Arab-Israeli conflict. “The outlines for peace are so obvious,” he said. “There has to be a two-state solution.” Fifteen minutes into the talk, a group of women-students belonging to a group called Hopkins Feminists-stood up in protest. Dressed all in black, with duct tape over their mouths, they held up a sign and marched out of the hall. YOU ARE RAPE CULTURE, the sign read. Afterward, a reporter for the student paper asked Dershowitz about Jeffrey Epstein and Epstein’s victims. Wasn’t it true that Dershowitz had implied that one of those victims was “asking for it?” “I’m a defense attorney,” Dershowitz replied. “I have an obligation under the Constitution to provide a full and zealous defense to my clients. If I have failed to do all the things you had just listed, I could be disbarred. I could be found incompetent as counsel.” 272 He asked the reporter, on the websites, look on woman who was accusing disprove many of the cha prove the charges against rape is a heinous thing to d person who has been fals rape victims because it ma money. Our country, unlik defended, and I’m going to ents are guilty or innocent have been guilty. They dese else. I’m very proud of wh don’t like the fact that I got The suits and countersuits Dershowitz filed against eac 2016-reaching a crescend the plot to blackmail Les W involved agreed to settle, i “Edwards and Cassell ackn filed sexual misconduct acci sexual misconduct accusatic ing all exhibits) are hereby draws his accusations tl unethically. Neither Edward intention of repeating the Dershowitz also hired form an independent investigatior HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_009353¶