Jeffrey Epstein, the hedge fund manager who rubbed elbows with Bill Clinton and Donald Trump, was accused of soliciting underage prostitutes to entertain him and his guests. Due in large part to enlisting the aid of criminal heavyweights like Alan Dershowitz, federal prosecutors offered him a sweetheart deal in which he pleaded guilty to solicitation charges. Typically, sexual predation of the sort that Epstein faced would result in a double-digit prison term, but Epstein, among the richest men in America was able to get off with time served. He will, however, have to register as a sex offender.
Victims, however, were outraged at the lenient sentence and have decided to pursue the matter in civil court targeting Epstein’s significant wealth as a means of remuneration where justice failed them. The case will take place right here in West Palm Beach. It will, if nothing else, allow his victims the chance to be heard for the first time in a court of law—something that was denied them in the wake of prosecutorial cowering in the face of the country’s most notable defense attorney.
This, of course, is reminiscent of one of Dershowitz’s other clients, O.J. Simpson, who was cleared on criminal charges but pursued in civil court where he lost. Like Simpson, Epstein will face a lower standard of proof while plaintiff’s attorneys parade his victims one-by-one to testify to their subjection at the hands of Epstein.
Fresh Outrage at Allegations of “Forcible Rape”
According to the evidence that the prosecutor had, Epstein solicited prostitutes as young as 14 and 15 years old to perform “nude massages”, oral sex. There is at least one allegation of forcible rape. Since his ties with both Clinton and Trump are noteworthy, allegations targeting President Trump made international headlines. Due to the dubious nature of the individual encouraging the criminal charges to be brought forth and a complete lack of any other evidence from which to draw, the charges were dismissed in the media before they ever had a chance to be heard in court. Likely, an investigation into Trump may lead to a cascade effect of major power brokers being named as defendants in statutory rape lawsuits. Thus, such an investigation will never take place.
The prosecutor tasked with accepting Epstein’s plea deal, R. Alexander Acosta, has recently been named the Labor Secretary in the Trump Administration, but it’s likely the prosecutors were simply terrified of facing an all-star defense team in court. This may have something to do with the debacle that came of the O.J. Simpson trial. The original indictment drafted by Acosta carried a potential penalty of life in prison. According to the Miami Herald, there may be as many as 60 victims.
Epstein eventually pleaded guilty to a single charge of solicitation of a child (Florida Statutes Section 796.07(4)) which is a third-degree felony and punishable by up to five years in prison. Epstein faced no jail time but was forced to make restitution to the victims. He may have more restitution to make.
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If you’ve been charged with a crime, call the Skier Law Firm P.A. at (561) 820-1508 or contact us online. Our West Palm Beach legal team is eager to assist you today.