On Thursday, a judge in Manhattan Federal Court will determine if accused pedophile Jeffrey Epstein will be granted bail and placed under house arrest in his $77 million New York City townhouse or if he will remain in jail awaiting prosecution. Federal prosecutors believe that Epstein is a flight risk. He's already proven willing to use his wealth and influence to pay off and intimidate witnesses. Prosecutors have determined that Epstein has a net worth of at least $500 million –giving him plenty of means to pretty much hop on his private jet and disappear. We estimate that Epstein has a net worth of $1 billion
Late last year, the Miami Herald published a series of articles about Epstein and the many women who've alleged he sexually assaulted them when they were teenagers. Days after that, he wired $350,000 to two potential co-conspirators, who could have been witnesses against Epstein. Those two people were named in the now infamous nonprosecution agreement he signed with federal prosecutors in Florida in 2007. The government believes that those payments suggest that Epstein was attempting to influence former employees who could provide information against him. As a result of this, as well as the seriousness of the charges against him, prosecutors are urging the judge not to grant Epstein bail.
Prosecutors filed a document requesting that Epstein remain in jail based on his "extraordinary wealth, demonstrated willingness to interfere with victims and witnesses, continued possession of lewd photographs of young females, and both the incentive and means to flee prosecution." Prosecutors went on to say that Epstein shows "a shocking lack of understanding of the gravity of the harm he has perpetrated" and that any bail for his release must be in the "hundreds of millions of dollars."
via New York Sex Offenders Registry
Epstein was arrested Saturday July 6th in New Jersey as he stepped off his private plane from Paris. He was charged with conspiracy and sex trafficking in minors. He has pleaded not guilty. If convicted, Epstein could spend the rest of his life in prison. Child molesters do not fare well in prison.
Last week, Epstein's attorneys filed a 16-page document arguing for his release. They told Judge Richard Berman that Epstein could post a substantial bond, wear a GPS ankle bracelet, ground his private jet, and agree to be extradited from any country he might flee to. His attorney also said Epstein was willing to hire guards to watch over him 24/7.
Prosecutor Alex Rossmiller is slamming Epstein's attorney's stance that his sex with minors were acts of "simple prostitution." Rossmiller told the court that federal law does not recognize the concept of a child prostitute. "They are only trafficking victims, because a child cannot legally consent to being exploited," he said.
