Judge denies bail for registered sex offender Jeffrey Epstein

Judge denies bail for registered sex offender Jeffrey Epstein
By: Robert Foreman

Wealthy money manager Jeffrey Epstein has become a household name in recent weeks after he was arrested on federal charges for the sex-trafficking of minors in New York and Florida. Epstein, 66, had hoped to be free on bail, but the judge has forced him to cool his heels behind bars until his trial begins. The judge wisely believed that Epstein would be a flight risk and a threat to young women if he was given bail. However, this isn’t the first time that Epstein has come under scrutiny for his actions with underage females. In 2008, Epstein entered into a non-prosecution agreement in Florida after previously being accused of sexually abusing young women.

Under the terms of the Florida deal, Epstein avoided federal prosecution and served only 13 months in a private wing of a Palm Beach county jail under what was considered ‘custody with work release’. The light deal was hammered out by Alexander Acosta, who was the US Attorney for Miami at the time. Acosta eventually became the US Labor Secretary. However, after Epstein’s latest arrest more people began to question the sweetheart deal that he had gotten from Acosta. While Acosta insisted that the agreement was the best option to get Epstein registered as a sex offender, the growing backlash ultimately forced him to step down as Labor Secretary.

Personally, I had never heard of Epstein until I read the book ‘Filthy Rich’ a few years ago. The book was written by James Patterson along with reporter, and former NYPD officer, John Connolly and journalist Tim Malloy. To say that the book is an eye-opener is an understatement. Anyone looking to delve deeper into the Epstein story should definitely read it. Most people tend to think that the wealthy play by their own rules and that justice is often blind when it comes to those with money and power. That appears to be what has happened with Epstein for far too long.

Born in Brooklyn, Epstein came from humble beginnings and turned himself into the epitome of a ‘self-made man’ with all of the trappings of success. With multiple homes, a private plane and his own island, he is rumored to be worth over $500 million dollars. He has traveled in social circles that include some of the richest and most powerful people in the world. Yet, his dangerous obsession with underage girls is what has led to his downfall. In fact, the judge who denied his bail wrote, “Mr. Epstein’s alleged excessive attraction to sexual conduct with or in the presence of minor girls, which is said to include his soliciting and receiving massages from young girls and young women perhaps as many as four times a day, appears likely to be uncontrollable.”

According to published reports, the FBI had already prepared a 53-page sex crimes indictment against Epstein back in 2007. Yet it seems that Epstein’s attraction to underage girls was an open secret among many who knew him. If that is the case, then why weren’t those people sounding the alarm bells to get him locked up? Then again, it makes you wonder if the reason why some of Epstein’s rich and powerful friends didn’t turn him in was because they would find themselves implicated if they did. Before it’s all said and done, we may find a lot of dirty apples falling out of the tainted tree that is Epstein’s life.

However, Epstein is just the latest high-profile man to be brought down due to sexual misconduct during what has been dubbed the ‘Me Too Movement'. He joins the likes of Bill Cosby, Harvey Weinstein and R. Kelly. Hopefully, Epstein will get the justice he deserves and will be locked away where he can’t prey on anyone else. Of course, if he somehow manages to avoid prison again for the sex trafficking of minors, some as young as 14-years-old, then it really does confirm that justice can be purchased for the right price...even if you’re already a registered sex offender.