Jeffrey Epstein abused several underage girls from 1996 to 2008 at his Palm Beach mansion.
At least two girls molested by Jeffrey Epstein were labeled prostitutes, drug addicts, thieves and liars by a Palm Beach County prosecutor, according to a newly released grand jury report. transcription 2006. These documents were opened by judge Luis Delgado after 16 years, following legal actions filed by various media outlets.
Prosecutors questioned victims about prostitution and whether they could take any responsibility, despite Epstein being the accused in the case. The two girls were also questioned about their drug and alcohol use, piercings and posts on their MySpace accounts.
Epstein, a financier, abused several underage girls from 1996 to 2008 at his Palm Beach mansion. Despite the serious allegations, he was only charged with minor prostitution and solicitation.
Detective Joseph Recarey, who led the Jeffrey Epstein investigation, testified before the grand jury at the time. The investigation began after the stepmother of a 14-year-old girl reported that her daughter was paid $300 to massage an older man on Palm Beach Island, he said, according to ABC News.
The girl, then 15, testified that she went to Epstein’s mansion, where she was asked to take off her underwear and massage him. She also alleged that Epstein used a vibrator on her and paid her an extra $100. She admitted to lying about her age, telling Epstein she was 18. Her parents discovered her trip to Epstein’s house after finding the money in her purse.
Prosecutors then questioned the 15-year-old girl about her personal life, asking about her drug and alcohol use, piercings and social media posts. They asked about her MySpace page, where she joked about shoplifting, lied about her age and income, and claimed to earn $250,000.
The girl recognized that they were just games and that her friends were doing the same. A juror asked her if she knew her actions were wrong and she responded, “Yes, I did.”
Prosecutor Lanna Belohlavek asked her if she was “aware” that she had committed a crime, to which she responded that she didn’t know it was a crime at the time, but later realized it could be considered “prostitution or something like that.”
The witness’ attorney, Spencer Kuvin, found this exchange appalling but not surprising, stating that the prosecution’s focus on discrediting witnesses rather than prosecuting Epstein revealed their fear of taking on the case.
Detective Recarey testified that one victim visited Epstein’s mansion more than 100 times, receiving $200 each time and gifts including a rental car. On one occasion, Epstein had non-consensual sexual intercourse with her, despite her “screaming ‘no’”.
However, the prosecutor, Laana Belohlavek, focused on the victim’s income, asking the detective if she had been asked what she did with the money. The detective said the victim refused to answer, saying it was “too personal.”
The second victim, who visited Epstein’s mansion 10 times starting at age 16, said he knew her age “from the beginning.” The victim testified that Epstein’s sexual advances gradually increased over time, until he initiated sexual relations with her the day before her 18th birthday. She stated that she did not want to have sex, but did not ask him to stop.
The prosecutor questioned her about committing prostitution and she responded “Yes.”
Epstein was charged with solicitation of prostitution, arrested and released on bail. The Palm Beach police chief was furious and turned the case over to the FBI. Epstein later pleaded guilty to the original charge and an additional charge of solicitation of a minor, serving 13 months in a private wing of the county stockade with liberal work release. Following investigative reports in 2018, Epstein was arrested again in 2019 on sex trafficking charges but died in custody; he decided on suicide.
This story originally appeared on Ndtv.com read the full story
