A batch of secret documents has just been unsealed by a Florida judge that includes transcripts of a 2006 grand jury investigation into Jeffrey Epstein.
The judge unexpectedly released the documents on Monday afternoon after they had been sealed for 16 years.
The transcripts delve into allegations of sex trafficking and rape against the late financier, stemming from incidents that initially surfaced in Palm Beach County.
The documents also expose the deep ties between Epstein and former President Bill Clinton, revealing their relationship was much closer than previously claimed.
“It is our hope that the release of these records gives peace of mind to our community and gives Jeffrey Epstein’s victims the closure they deserve,” said Joseph Abruzzo, the Clerk of the Circuit Court in Palm Beach County, Florida, in a press release.
“The details in the record will be outrageous to decent people,” Circuit Judge Luis Delgado wrote in his ruling.
“The testimony taken by the Grand Jury concerns activity ranging from grossly unacceptable to rape — all of the conduct at issue is sexually deviant, disgusting, and criminal.”
“For almost 20 years, the story of how Jeffrey Epstein victimized some of Palm Beach County’s most vulnerable has been the subject of much anger and has at times diminished the public’s perception of the criminal justice system,” the judge continued.
“Epstein is indeed notorious and infamous and is widely reported to have flaunted his wealth while cavorting with politicians, billionaires, and even British Royalty.
“It is understandable that given those reports the public has a great curiosity about what was widely reported by news (agencies) as ‘special treatment’ regarding his prosecution.”
The release of the documents was earlier than expected because the judge had a hearing scheduled for next week discussing when and how they would be disbursed, according to The Associated Press.
In February, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a bill that allowed the documents to be released.
The Epstein documents are a trove of released legal and court documents related to his criminal cases and civil suits brought by his alleged victims.
These documents include depositions, police reports, and correspondences.
They shed light on Epstein’s activities and the network of contacts that were scrutinized during the investigations.
In one of the transcripts, a witness confirms that Epstein and Clinton spoke to each other on the phone.
The newly released grand jury transcripts discussed the 2006 investigation after the initial 2005 report, according to Palm Beach Police Detective Joe Recarey’s testimony.
In March 2005, a woman reported that her stepdaughter who was in high school had received $300 in exchange for “sexual activity with a man in Palm Beach,” Recarey testified.
Another teenager, whose name was redacted, told police she was just 17 when she was approached by a friend who said she could make $200 if she gave a massage “to a wealthy man in Palm Beach,” the transcript read.
She went to his house and was led to a room by Epstein’s assistant.
He entered soon after and demanded she remove her clothes which she did and then began the massage, according to the docs.
However, when Epstein tried touching her, she said she was uncomfortable.
Recarey testified that Epstein told the girl he would pay her if she brought “girls” to his home.
She agreed to his request, according to the October 2005 interview with detectives, Recarey recalled.
“And he told her, ‘The younger, the better,'” Recarey said.
The girl eventually brought over a 23-year-old friend, but Epstein told her she was too old.
Over an undetermined amount of time, the girl brought six friends from her high school to Epstein’s home, including a 14-year-old girl.
However, according to the transcript, she lied and said the girl was 18.
The teen also affirmed each girl was aware of what would happen at his home.
Each time she brought a girl over, using a rental car paid for by Epstein, she would receive $200.
“The more you did, the more money you made,” Recarey said the teen told him.
“She explained that there was going to be a massage or some possible touching, and you would have to provide the massage either topless or naked.”
On Monday afternoon, Circuit Judge Luis Delgado released the 2006 grand jury investigation transcript regarding Jeffrey Epstein’s sex trafficking and rape allegations.
Judge Luis Delgado spoke about his findings and conclusion on the records in the transcript release:
“The Court finds that the request involves a matter of public interest.
“The criminal prosecutions of the most infamous pedophile in American history began in Palm Beach County – with much controversy.
“For almost 20 years, the story of how Jeffrey Epstein victimized some of Palm Beach County’s most vulnerable has been the subject of much anger and has at times diminished the public’s perception of the criminal justice system.
“Adding to the public interest, Epstein is indeed notorious and infamous and is widely reported to have flaunted his wealth while cavorting with politicians, billionaires, and even British Royalty.
“It is understandable that given those reports the public has a great curiosity about what was widely reported by news agencies as ‘special treatment’ regarding his prosecution.
“This matter is clearly the subject of public interest.
“The Court finds that this request is made by the news media, specifically The Palm Beach Post.
“The Palm Beach Post is a daily newspaper that was founded in 1916 as a local publication in West Palm Beach.
“For decades, the Palm Beach Post was printed and published daily in Palm Beach County.
“The Court finds that despite its many changes, The Palm Beach Post has a long and rich history documenting our local community.
“Many local residents still rely on The Palm Beach Post to obtain information on national, state, and local events. The Palm Beach Post remains a newspaper of record in our county.
“The Court finds Epstein is also widely reported to have been deceased since August 10, 2019, under controversial and ‘newsworthy’ circumstances, while under ‘supervision’ at Metropolitan Correctional Center in the state of New York.
“This adds to the public interest.
“Having reviewed the testimony, the Court also finds the testimony relates to sexual activity between Epstein and child victims of sex trafficking.
“Again, it is widely accepted that Epstein is a notorious and serial pedophile.
“The testimony taken by the Grand Jury concerns activity ranging from grossly unacceptable to rape – all of the conduct at issue is sexually deviant, disgusting, and criminal.
“The details in the record will be outrageous to decent people.
“It is also important to note that some of the testimony in the records of Epstein’s pedophilia involved other people, but there is nothing in this record that was outside the knowledge of law enforcement or Prosecutors – there is no new information.
“Tragically, the record reveals that Epstein used children to find more victims.
“The record also shows that some of the children knew the type of people they could be exposed to and the infamous nature of such ‘notable‘ people.
“The Court also notes the testimony was previously disclosed to law enforcement agencies.
“Furthermore, the State Attorney was properly noticed and long ago withdrew any objections to release the records and early on even did his best to disclose the information in his office’s possession without delay via an internet portal.
“As a result, he was eventually dropped as a named party in this action after much inconvenience and expense.”
Following the grand jury investigation in 2006, Epstein took a plea deal with South Florida federal prosecutors in 2008.
The deal, which has been criticized for being too lenient, allowed him to get away with several federal charges of abuse against underage girls if he pleaded guilty to Florida state charges.
Epstein pleaded guilty to soliciting and procuring a minor for prostitution.
He was able to avoid a potential life sentence and instead spent 13 months in jail in a work-release program.
The millionaire was also required to pay the victims and register as a sex offender.
Epstein, 66, was found dead in August 2019 while being held at the Metropolitan Correctional Center.
His previous partner, Ghislaine Maxwell, 62, was found guilty of child sex trafficking and other crimes relating to her time with Epstein in 2021.
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