The Miami Herald's excellent journalistic takedown of Secretary of Labor Alex Acosta with regard to Jeffrey Epstein (Update 8/10/19:Good Riddance)

[TitanTiger 20,472]

1 minute ago, AUDub said:

By the sound of it, he recorded his clientele.

Would love to see the offenders' names made public. 

Oh, so this wasn't just pics of the girls he liked, it was pics/video of various men with the girls, so he could have blackmail material on them?

[AUDub 11,143]

9 minutes ago, TitanTiger said:

Oh, so this wasn't just pics of the girls he liked, it was pics/video of various men with the girls, so he could have blackmail material on them?

Certainly looks that way.

 

[TitanTiger 20,472]

 

Quote

Why the Jeffrey Epstein Arrest Is a Huge Deal

July 8, 2019

 

On Saturday, powerful and influential billionaire financier Jeffrey Epstein was arrested on charges of sex trafficking dozens of minors in the U.S.  between 2002 and 2005. An unsealed criminal indictment detailed the crimes of which Epstein is accused and they are bone chilling. Federal prosecutors claim Epstein lured girls as young as 14 to his home where he would molest them, and promise them cash if they would bring other young girls back with them in the future. The U.S. attorney’s office says that this is how Epstein built a “vast network of underage victims” who he would exploit sexually “often on a daily basis.”

This is not the first time the former hedge fund manager has faced these kinds of charges, but Epstein dodged serious repercussions a decade ago with an appallingly lenient “sweetheart” plea deal of 18 months in county jail, only 13 of which he actually served. During that sentence, he was allowed to work at his office twelve hours a day, six days a week, as part of a “work release program.” Epstein and several colleagues were shielded from federal prosecution.

Now, however, Epstein is facing prosecution from the Southern District of New York — a notoriously tough district that will likely send him to jail for a very long time. But Epstein’s case is rumored to be just the tip of the iceberg for a potentially larger reckoning of the people who worked with him, protected him and looked the other way.

Here’s the breakdown of what we know.

Why is Epstein being charged now?

A November 2018 investigative report from the Miami Herald brought renewed interest to the old Epstein charges. According to The Daily Beast, the Southern District of New York’s anti-public corruption unit has spent the last few months building their case, and that includes a raid on Epstein’s Upper East side home, where nude photographs of what “appeared” to be young girls were found in volumes one journalist described as “extraordinary.”

Epstein currently faces one count of sex trafficking and one count of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking.

 

The team bringing the charges against Epstein are reportedly unconcerned about “double jeopardy”, meaning they likely have information about either new charges or new victims that Epstein wasn’t tried for in 2008.

How many alleged victims were there?

The FBI is asking anyone with any information about possible victims to call 1-800-CALL FBI. We will probably never know the full extent of Epstein’s crimes, but what we do know is astonishing.

The Miami Herald has identified 80 girls who were allegedly molested by Epstein, most of whom are only identified as “Jane Doe” to protect their identities, and most of whom were between 13 and 16 years old when he abused them. But according to the Herald, the indictment also included “new victims and witnesses who spoke to authorities in New York over the past several months.”

Whether or not this is an exhaustive list seems impossible to say, and when you consider that Epstein is also accused of facilitating the abuse of girls at the hands of his rich friends, the scope becomes even more difficult to quantify.

What rich friends? Are they in trouble too?

That’s a big question moving forward. Epstein is well connected to a number of influential people, not least of all the current and former presidents Donald Trump and Bill Clinton. According to The Herald, two of Epstein’s connections most likely to be implicated as enablers are British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell and Epstein’s modeling company partner Jean-Luc Brunel.

Maxwell, who counts the Clintons and several members of the British royal family among her friends, is accused of utilizing a network of recruiters who promise young women careers in modeling or fashion as a ruse to lure them into a global sex ring. Bill Clinton, of course, has been credibly accused of sexual misconduct and his time spent on Epstein’s private plane has come under scrutiny.

And then there’s an infamous quote now-President Donald Trump gave to New York Magazine in 2002, in which he says “I’ve known Jeff [Epstein] for 15 years. Terrific guy. He’s a lot of fun to be with. It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side. No doubt about it — Jeffrey enjoys his social life.”

During the 2016 presidential campaign, a woman identified as Jane Doe said she was raped by Trump at a 1993 party in Epstein’s New York home when she was 13 years old. Trump denied the claim through a lawyer and the lawsuit was dropped.

Also under the microscope is former U.S. Attorney Alexander Acosta, who made the bizarre deal with Epstein’s legal team in 2008 that let him dodge what many expected to be a life sentence. Today, Acosta serves as secretary of Labor on Trump’s cabinet. Questions are mounting about how and why Acosta brokered this sweetheart deal with Epstein’s attorneys at the time, and calls for him to resign have begun. (Notably, as secretary of Labor, Acosta has oversight over the U.S.’s human trafficking laws).

In other words, Epstein’s arrest is awkward for several very prominent people on both sides of the political aisle, but there is currently nothing to suggest that any dramatic arrests are imminent.

As Herald reporter Julie K. Brown told MSNBC: “Needless to say, these are very powerful people and I think that they’re sweating a little bit, especially today. We don’t know how much, how deep this went, how far-reaching it went in government, but there have been a lot of names that I could see on these message pads on a regular basis as part of the evidence — these message pads where they would call and leave Epstein messages, such as, ‘I’m at this hotel.’ Why do you do that, unless you’re expecting him to send you a girl to visit you at your hotel? So there are probably quite a few important people, powerful people, who are sweating it out right now. We’ll have to wait and see whether Epstein is going to name names.”

So what’s next?

It remains to be seen whether or not Epstein will be interested in cooperating by giving out some big names — possibly his only chance at reducing his sentence, which carries a maximum penalty of 45 years.

But there is a larger system at play that is bigger than any one name, and it is the culture of wealthy people who see young girls as a sexual commodity. As author Summer Brennan points out “there is a world where this is the norm.”

“Young women who *were* shown this secret world of exploitative male power, often victimized themselves, were given the impression that this was just the way things were and they had no power to change it,” Brennan writes. “But it shouldn’t be that way.”

https://relevantmagazine.com/culture/politics-culture/why-the-jeffrey-epstein-arrest-is-a-huge-deal

 

[Auburnfan91 1,407]

Quote

In fact, Trump’s lawyers have insisted that the presidential candidate and Epstein have “no relationship” and they would only deal with each other because the convicted perv was once a member of the Mar-a-Lago Club.

According to an investigation by Radar, Trump was among dozens of renowned New Yorkers who knew Epstein socially but ostracized him after Palm Beach police uncovered the financier’s sleazy double life.

What’s more, Brad Edwards, a lawyer for Epstein’s favorite underage sex slave Virgina Roberts, subpoenaed Trump to give a deposition in the civil case against the sleaze bag

But it was eventually withdrawn because Trump voluntarily provided information.

“Around 2008 or 2009, Brad was issuing subpoenas to a lot of people who’d met Epstein,” the source told Radar. “He got a call back from Mr. Trump’s lawyer to say there was no need to subpoena him — Mr. Trump would call him immediately.”

The call followed quickly, Radar has been told.

“During the conversation, Mr. Trump was open and forthright,” Edwards said. “I cannot discuss the substance of the conversation. But I will say that it was obvious to me that he was in no way involved in any untoward activity.”

read all of the article at: https://radaronline.com/exclusives/2016/04/jeffrey-epstein-sex-slave-lawyer-donald-trump-accusations/

 

Here's a YouTube clip of the lawyer, Brad Edwards, from the Radar article talking about the Epstein prosecution that was uploaded in December 2018:

 

[Auburnfan91 1,407]

Quote

During the 2016 presidential campaign, another young woman, known in court records only as Jane Doe, said Trump had raped her when she was 13, in 1994, at a party at Epstein’s New York mansion. But the woman dropped her lawsuit and canceled a news conference at which she was expected to spell out her allegation. Her lawyer, Lisa Bloom, said the woman had received threats and was too scared to go ahead with her accusation. An attorney for Trump at the time called the allegation “categorically untrue.”

Trump barred Epstein from Mar-a-Lago “because Epstein sexually assaulted an underage girl at the club,” according to court documents filed by Edwards.

In the Palm Beach case, Epstein alleges that Edwards was part of a scam in which lawyers tried to win over investors by claiming to have garnered big-money settlements from famous people. Edwards denies having anything to do with the scam and has in turn sued Epstein, accusing him of filing his lawsuit as retribution for Edwards’s representation of the young women.

In a separate case, Edwards is trying to persuade a federal judge to reopen the investigation into Epstein that Acosta ended.

The Palm Beach case has dragged on for years in part because lawyers have clogged the court with all manner of attacks on each other. Along the way, both Epstein and Edwards have avoided saying much — Epstein by repeatedly invoking his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination, and Edwards by arguing that most of his communications about the matter are protected by attorney-client privilege.

Among the 218 exhibits that Edwards’s lawyers plan to introduce are Epstein’s flight logs, phone records, notes found in his trash, and Amazon.com orders for books such as “SM 101: A Realistic Introduction” and “Slavecraft: Roadmaps for Erotic Servitude: Principles, Skills and Tools.”

read all of the article at: https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/palm-beach-trial-could-reveal-details-of-billionaires-alleged-abuse-of-teen-girls/2018/12/03/f42e0c4e-f4d0-11e8-bc79-68604ed88993_story.html?noredirect=on&utm_term=.c6e7ea1803dc

[homersapien 11,357]

32 minutes ago, Auburnfan91 said:

read all of the article at: https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/palm-beach-trial-could-reveal-details-of-billionaires-alleged-abuse-of-teen-girls/2018/12/03/f42e0c4e-f4d0-11e8-bc79-68604ed88993_story.html?noredirect=on&utm_term=.c6e7ea1803dc

Yeah, how could anyone even start to think Donald "grab 'em by the *****" Trump could possibly be involved? 

[AU64 10,122]

4 minutes ago, homersapien said:

Yeah, how could anyone even start to think Donald "grab 'em by the *****" Trump could possibly be involved? 

Media doing it's best to drag him into it....which thus far seems to be limited to  a quote from 2002 or something like that.....but who in Palm Beach had the juice to get this thing negotiated away by a Federal DA  ?      Somehow WJC was able to take repeated rides on the Lolita express and the MSM never raised much of an issue...then or now.  

JMO but another situation where the MSM will concentrate it's efforts trying to get DT while the actual culprits skate......like the so-called Russia collusion where best I can tell, young Biden has not been called to a single congressional committee. 

This guy is scum ….no doubt....but right away, the target by you and your like minded friends has already shifted to DT.   pathetic....

[TitanTiger 20,472]

40 minutes ago, homersapien said:

Yeah, how could anyone even start to think Donald "grab 'em by the *****" Trump could possibly be involved? 

Look, it's completely legitimate to look into the question of his involvement with Epstein and this sex ring.  But it's also not reasonable to assume that just because he's a serial adulterer that he's also essentially a pedophile (or at least an ephibophile).  He's clearly a crude, womanizing, misogynist jackass.  But as pervy as he's been, his history hasn't exactly been one of hitting on teens. 

[TexasTiger 12,828]

5 minutes ago, TitanTiger said:

Look, it's completely legitimate to look into the question of his involvement with Epstein and this sex ring.  But it's also not reasonable to assume that just because he's a serial adulterer that he's also essentially a pedophile (or at least an ephibophile).  He's clearly a crude, womanizing, misogynist jackass.  But as pervy as he's been, his history hasn't exactly been one of hitting on teens. 

Well, ...

https://www.google.com/amp/s/thinkprogress.org/trump-beauty-pageants-naked-2dc4b6c6d507/amp/

[TitanTiger 20,472]

1 minute ago, TexasTiger said:

Well, ...

https://www.google.com/amp/s/thinkprogress.org/trump-beauty-pageants-naked-2dc4b6c6d507/amp/

I stand corrected.

[AU64 10,122]

55 minutes ago, TitanTiger said:

I stand corrected.

not talking about 14 year old girls …..

So why not be upset about the actual skuzzball and maybe the former president who seemed to travel around with him on a regular basis.    

[Auburnfan91 1,407]

Esptein was banned from Mar-a-Lago in 2007 after he had sexually assaulted an underage girl who worked as a masseuse at the Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach.

Quote

Meanwhile, the Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach last night confirmed a Web site report that Epstein has been banned there. “He would use the spa to try to procure girls. But one of them, a masseuse about 18 years old, he tried to get her to do things,” a source told us. “Her father found out about it and went absolutely ape-[bleep]. Epstein’s not allowed back.” Epstein denies he is banned from Mar-a-Lago and says, in fact, he was recently invited to an event there.

https://pagesix.com/2007/10/15/sex-case-victims-lining-up/

[DKW 86 7,419]

1 hour ago, TitanTiger said:

Look, it's completely legitimate to look into the question of his involvement with Epstein and this sex ring.  But it's also not reasonable to assume that just because he's a serial adulterer that he's also essentially a pedophile (or at least an ephibophile).  He's clearly a crude, womanizing, misogynist jackass.  But as pervy as he's been, his history hasn't exactly been one of hitting on teens. 

That should be obvious to anyone. For AAALLLLLL the crap that Trump has failed at, being a pedo perv hasnt been on the list...SO FAR. Not saying it would be hard to imagine, but SO FAR, as close as i have followed this story for almost 10 years now, have I heard anything about trump liking underage girls, except for the Miss Tenn-USA barging into the dressing room. 

Sorry I should have read a few more posts first. Trump is addicted to beautiful blond women, bad business deals, screwing over everyone, etc. But as far as i can tell, other than the Miss teen USA pageant, I cant say i have seen much more evidence of underage girls. .  

[AU64 10,122]

PS to my earlier note....I 'm not defending DT because I have no idea and there is only speculation ...but I mostly consider DT and Acosta as diversions being raised by the real criminals in NY.   

I can't imagine that Acosta thought up that sweetheart deal on his own.   He did not seem to have anything to gain.   And I would bet most of what I own that someone put some pressure or made promises for him to do this in such a way that nobody else was named or went to jail.    Only thing I'm pretty sure of was that DT had no particular political influence back then...and that decision was purely political ….like the Weinstein stuff that was hidden for years by the MSM, especially in NYC.    So JE got a minor slap on the wrist and all of his pitiful friends were protected and life moved on.

 
And now, once again JE has been arrested for his pedophilic habits.....and the NYT is pushing their smoke screen theories to protect some powerful people in NY...again.     They show no interest in getting names of other people who actually attended these parties nor even identifying the people who joined JE and WJC on those Lolita flights for a number of years.  . 

A huge cover-up is in the works and all the MSM will focus on DT and Acosta without digging up the real story.  Some powerful people are making sure their involvement does not come to light and NYT (IMO) will be a co-conspirator)  

[TexasTiger 12,828]

1 hour ago, AU64 said:

not talking about 14 year old girls …..

So why not be upset about the actual skuzzball and maybe the former president who seemed to travel around with him on a regular basis.    

The Miss Teen USA behavior by Trump was pervy. 

As far as Epstein goes, I hope they follow wherever the facts lead.

Weird Barr connection. His Dad hires a nondegreed Epstein to teach in an elite prep school?

Ken Starr defends him?

[SaltyTiger 7,777]

2 hours ago, AU64 said:

not talking about 14 year old girls …..

So why not be upset about the actual skuzzball and maybe the former president who seemed to travel around with him on a regular basis.    

Brother Tex answered in his usual eloquent fashion. President Trump is the target. 

[TexasTiger 12,828]

2 minutes ago, SaltyTiger said:

Brother Tex answered in his usual eloquent fashion. President Trump is the target. 

I think there’s a number of folks who may get found out. I don’t know that Trump is on the list, but there are obviously powerful connected people who’ve protected this guy for years. I’m not sure why you’re so preemptively defensive about Trump. I suspect if he was worried there would be a tweet storm.

[AUFAN78 3,894]

https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2019-07-08/shtf-lets-revisit-jeffrey-epsteins-little-black-book

[TexasTiger 12,828]

6 minutes ago, AUFAN78 said:

https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2019-07-08/shtf-lets-revisit-jeffrey-epsteins-little-black-book

No speculation there. 🙄

[SaltyTiger 7,777]

11 minutes ago, TexasTiger said:

I don’t know that Trump is on the list

Really all that matters to you. This to shall pass.

[TitanTiger 20,472]

27 minutes ago, SaltyTiger said:

Really all that matters to you. This to shall pass.

Knock it off. You’re being preemptively defensive. Breathe. 

[TexasTiger 12,828]

31 minutes ago, SaltyTiger said:

Really all that matters to you. This to shall pass.

I haven’t jumped to anyone’s preemptive defense. I clearly said I hope they follow the facts where they lead. I will have zero sympathy for any guilty party. I hope anyone uncovered spends the remainder of their days in prison. Not sure why any decent person would find that position problematic.

[AUDub 11,143]

I’ll be very surprised for there’s anything in there implicating Trump.

Some of y’all need to relax. No need for a breathless defense of dear leader quite yet. 

[SaltyTiger 7,777]

15 minutes ago, TexasTiger said:

I will have zero sympathy for any guilty party.

Thanks and the same here. A lot of people concerned  I would imagine. Sad

[SaltyTiger 7,777]

4 minutes ago, AUDub said:

No need for a breathless defense of dear leader quite yet. 

I do not think anyone is breathless Ben. The Trump presidency has been tiring with this type of garbage day in and day out with opposition looking for a President Trump link.

Fact is the democrats have no answer right now.