Secret Epstein documents show prosecutors knew about abuse two years before plea deal

Prosecutors knew Jeffrey Epstein was sexually abusing girls two years before they reached a deal that has long been criticized as a wasted opportunity to stop him, newly released transcripts show.

The grand jury investigation has begun Florida in 2006 – 13 years before he was charged with sex trafficking offences in one of the most high-profile cases in recent times.

The unexpected release of the transcripts came Monday, after a new law covering such cases was approved in February.

Typically, Florida jury records are sealed forever.

Documents show the jury heard evidence that Epstein – then in his 40s – raped girls as young as 14 at his Palm Beach mansion.

The victims testified that they were often paid, and if they brought him more girls, they were given extra cash and rental cars.

“The testimony before the grand jury involves conduct ranging from completely inappropriate to rape — all of the conduct at issue is sexually deviant, disgusting and criminal,” District Judge Luis Delgado said Monday.

He added that the transcripts show why Epstein was “the most infamous pedophile in American history.”

They detail how a police detective testified in 2006 that there had been a year-long investigation after a woman claimed her daughter had been paid $300 for “sexual activity with a man in Palm Beach.”

Detective Joe Recarey said the teen told him Epstein promised her an extra $200 if she brought other girls, telling her “the younger the better.”

She told police that she ultimately brought six girls home, including a 14-year-old, and that Epstein rejected one, in her 20s, because she was too old.

“She explained that there would be a massage or possible touching, and that the massage would have to be done topless or nude,” the detective testified to the grand jury.

Another girl testified that she visited Epstein’s home hundreds of times in the early 2000s, transcripts show, and was paid $1,000 when Epstein raped her.

Despite this evidence, Epstein agreed to a deal with Florida prosecutors in 2008 that allowed him to avoid more serious federal charges.

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He pleaded guilty to enticing a person under the age of 18 to engage in prostitution and soliciting prostitution, for which he was sentenced to just a year and a half in a Florida prison.

Epstein was allowed to come to the office every day as part of a rehabilitation program before being registered as a sex offender and sentenced to a year of house arrest.

“They had a chance to lock him up”

Brad Edwards, a lawyer for several victims, said the transcripts show that the lead prosecutor, State Attorney Barry Krischer, “brought the case to a grand jury with the intent of bringing minimal criminal charges, if any, against Jeffrey Epstein.”

“Some of the evidence was presented in a misleading manner, and the office portrayed the victims as criminals,” he said.

“It’s so sad how many victims Epstein was able to exploit because the state carried water for him when they had the opportunity to lock him up.”

Mr. Krischer has not yet commented on the release of the transcripts.

Epstein was not charged with federal crimes until 2019, after the Miami Herald published new stories, including interviews with victims who sued him.

The 66-year-old committed suicide in his New York prison cell in August 2019.

The fallout from the case exposed Epstein’s links to influential figures such as Prince Andrew and Bill Clinton – both of whom deny any wrongdoing.

Epstein’s estate has paid $155m (£122m) to more than 125 victims.