One count of sex trafficking of minors
Jeffrey Epstein’s hobby may have caught up with him at last.
Billionaire pedophile Jeffrey Epstein was arrested for allegedly sex trafficking dozens of minors in New York and Florida between 2002 and 2005, and will appear in court in New York on Monday, according to three law enforcement sources. The arrest, by the FBI-NYPD Crimes Against Children Task Force, comes about 12 years after the 66-year-old financier essentially got a slap on the wrist for allegedly molesting dozens of underage girls in Florida.
For more than a decade, Epstein’s alleged abuse of minors has been the subject of lawsuits brought by victims, investigations by local and federal authorities, and exposés in the press. But despite the attention cast on his alleged sex crimes, the hedge-funder has managed to avoid any meaningful jail time, let alone federal charges.
The new indictment—which, according to two sources, will be unsealed Monday in Manhattan federal court—will reportedly allege that Epstein sexually exploited dozens of underage girls in a now-familiar scheme: paying them cash for “massages” and then molesting or sexually abusing them in his Upper East Side mansion or his palatial residence in Palm Beach. Epstein will be charged with one count of sex trafficking of minors and one count of conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking of minors—which could put him away for a maximum of 45 years. The case is being handled by the Public Corruption Unit of the Southern District of New York, with assistance from the district’s human-trafficking officials and the FBI.
Doesn’t sound as if they’re looking for a slap on the wrist.
I wonder if there’s a Trump connection in this? They were buddies (or at least acquaintances) weren’t they?
I wonder…
I hope they get everyone involved in this, including Acosta.
My understanding is that Epstein, like most wealthy weasels, can count as former associates both Trump and Bill Clinton, so there’s a limit to be made in terms of political advantage due to guilt by association. Personally, I’m fine with letting Bill go down with Trump and Epstein, but unfortunately, a lot of well-meaning Democrats and progressives shy away from accountability on our side of the aisle, even to set a higher standard for all.
Let’s not forget Lawrence Krauss, who back in 2011 was such good friends with Epstein he assured us all that
At first I was all “only one charge??” from the title and but then I was “holy shit that’s a helluva charge” from the max penalty. Not that the sleazy wealthy are likely to face maximum penalties at all, but goddamn I hope it keeps his stomach in a cold churn.
“As a scientist celebrity who’s fond of parlaying that celebrity into sexual opportunities with nubile young women, the fact that another creepy old man likes to surround himself with nubile young women gives me absolutely no empirical evidence to infer anything other than the natural order of affairs. As a scientist celebrity, I reiterate.”
Jesus wept.
Freemage, I am no fan of guilt by association, since most of us probably have friends that are guilty of something. Now, if his friends know about his activities, and do nothing to stop him or turn him in, then, yes, by all means, they should go down no matter which side they are on. And Bill Clinton has his own history of some sleazy sexual antics, so that wouldn’t be totally surprising if he was involved with Epstein in a “naughty” way.
But just for being friends with someone who turns out to be a sleazebag is not reason enough to destroy someone, especially if that someone is likable (and a lot of sexual predators are, it makes it easier for them) and they knew nothing about it. Simple guilt by association is a problematic situation.
I’m good with guilt by guilt.
Trump’s had his photo taken with so many people that he’s bound to be in the frame with (another) sleazebag now and then. But Trump shares with Epstein a pervy, self-confessed interest in nubile young women, so there’s that connection they could have swapped stories about. If Clinton goes too, serves him right. Let the chips fall where they may. It will be interesting if the equivalent of an Epstein “little black book” comes to light. Let’s hope that he’s not had the opportunity to destroy any incriminating documentation; it might be that this sort of information was saved to use in case of emergency, as a get-out-of-jail card. Maybe it’s what got him off with just that slap on the wrist in the first place…