House Oversight OCR Search

“ERSON sed since Epstein’s case first lled me.” said Krischer. “The in being pulled into that con- chief didn’t think the case was a cop and I’m a prosecutor.” torney’s office in 2009, is still a » Commission in Palm Beach »s volunteered one morning a ney and two mornings 4 week i's Office. ld welfare issues, working with ren and Families. yement with local law enforce- el Reiter in years. pstein filed suit, under Florida’s in, the jailed Ponzi king; Bradley stked, briefly, in Rothstein's law eral of Epstein’s victims, and one 4 al referred to in the lawsuit a5 ~ lief,” the suit stated, “EDWARDS * that ROTHSTEIN was utilizing © Ponzi scheme and/or were selling ‘ mnt in the Civil Actions (and on € e suit also claimed that, “By usite NY GE en a ~ Fitryuy RicwH Civil Actions against EPSTEIN as ‘bait’ and fabricating settle- ments regarding same, ROTHSTEIN and others were able to lure investors into ROTHSTEIN’S lair and bilked them of millions of dollars which, in turn, was used to fund the litigation against EPSTEIN for the sole purpose of continuing the massive Ponzi scheme.” Moreover, the suit claimed, L.M. had “testified she never had sex with Epstein; worked at numerous strip clubs; is an admitted prostitute and call girl; has a history of illegal drug use (pot, painkillers, Xanax, Ecstasy); and continually asserted the 5th Amendment during her depositions in order to avoid answering relevant but problem questions for her.” (The suit made similar claims about t

JAMES PATTERSON More than a decade had passed since Epstein’s case first landed on the state attorney’s desk. “The New York Times has called me,” said Krischer. “The British papers. I'm not interested in being pulled into that con- versation. I know that the police chief didn’t think the case was handled right, but that’s why he’s a cop and I’m a prosecutor.” Krischer, who left the state attorney's office in 2009, is stilla member of the Criminal Justice Commission in Palm Beach County. Since his retirement, he’s volunteered one morning a week at the office of the state attorney and two mornings a week at the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office. He still remains active in child welfare issues, working with the Florida Department of Children and Families. Despite his continued involvement with local law entorce- ment, he hasn’t spoken to Michael Reiter in yeats. Bradley Edwards In December of 2009, Jeffrey Epstein filed suit, under Florida’s RICO act, against Scott Rothstein, the jailed Ponzi king; Bradley Edwards, the lawyer who'd worked, briefly, in Rothstein's law firm, RRA, and represented several of Epstein’s victims; and one of those victims, an individual referred to in the lawsuit as Be: “| MM.” RRA as a front for the massive Ponzi scheme and/or were Se an alleged interest or investment in the Civil Actions (and other ‘ claims) involving Epstein.” The suit also claimed that, “By usimg = 278 “Upon information and belief,” the suit stated, “EDWARDS © knew

\TTERSON 10 was arrested for hiding more of jewelry. r people involved in Rothstein's enced. ration with the feds, his was the | which all the victims recovered in was put into a witness protec- fifty-year sentence anonymously, mM. *rshowitz arrived at Shriver Hall, s University, in Baltimore, to talk so obvious,” he said. “There has k, a group of women—students opkins Feminists—stood up in ‘ith duct tape over their mouths, d out of the hall. n read. > student paper asked Dershowitz ~ 7s victims. Wasn't it true that Der q ; té . Fo those victims was “asking for it! showitz replied. “I have an obliga- q ‘ovide a full and zealous detense (og all the things you had just listed, T P \ (sa ” und incompetent as counsel. ' i 72 FirtHy Ricy He asked the reporter, “Would any defense lawyer not look on the websites, look on social networks, find out what the woman who was accusing my client was doing? We were able to disprove many of the charges, just like how I was able to dis- prove the charges against me. Falsely charging somebody with rape is a heinous thing to do. First of all, it creates horrors for the person who has been falsely accused. Second, it so hurts real rape victims because it makes it clear that some women lie for money. Our country, unlike others, requires that everybody be detended, and I’m going to continue to do that whether my cli- ents are guilty or innocent. Let me tel] you, most of my clients have been guilty. They deserve a zealous defense ju

TTERSON -arances, he could afford it: sev- 1, which had offices in Florida, t Rothstein’s millions actually scheme he'd been running since dwards joined Rothstein's firm. ; along, and Rothstein showed potential investors. In exchange ein said, investors would receive ‘er, which Epstein would pay in | say that Edwards had no knowl- scheme. (Prosecutors, and the -as soon as he caught wind of the But the few months he spent in howitz the opening he needed to usations. ce, Dershowitz would say, as well 2oberts added Dershowitz's name ad abused her. 'd been pulled into a billion- dollar tched. And for Edwards and Cas- 4 y benefit: Dershowitz had helped 7 ntial non-prosecution agreement i licating him directly in Epsteins 4 ershowitz claimed, Edwards ange p” that agreement. | Mary pass on the part of wn internal logic. 268 i ar ‘ek r Fiitay Ricw The idea that Bradley. Edwards and Paul Cassell were trying to blackmail Leslie Wexner—blackmail him for one billion dollars, no less—sounds highly improbable. But we do know for a fact that Edwards had worked with Rothstein—a man who'd been running his own billion-dollar con. Edwards may not have known that Rothstein was taking his files on Jeffrey Epstein and showing them to investors. But Edwards's proximity to Rothstein didn’t look good. It may not have been as damaging as Dershowitz’s close friendship with Epstein, but it was damaging nonetheless. It gave Dershowitz the opening he needed to make his argument. And th

JAMES PATTERSON Association. By all outward appearances, he could afford it: sev- enty lawyers worked in his firm, which had offices in Florida, New York, and Venezuela. But Rothstein's millions actually came from a $1.2 billion Ponzi scheme he’d been running since 2005. In April of 2009, Bradley Edwards joined Rothstein's firm. The lawyer brought his papers along, and Rothstein showed those pertaining to Epstein to potential investors. In exchange for a lump sum up front, Rothstein said, investors would receive a far larger chunk of money later, which Epstein would pay in future settlements. Edwards and Rothstein both say that Edwards had no knowl- edge whatsoever of the Ponzi scheme. (Prosecutors, and the Florida Bar, agree.) Edwards left as soon as he caught wind of the scheme, in November of 2009. But the few months he spent in Rothstein’s company gave Dershowitz the opening he needed to pry open Virginia Roberts's accusations. It was at Edwards’s insistence, Dershowitz would say, as well as Paul Cassell’s, that Virginia Roberts added Dershowitz's name to the list of men she claimed had abused her. According to Dershowitz, he'd been pulled into a billion-dollar extortion plot Edwards had hatched. And for Edwards and Cas- sell, there had been a secondary benefit: Dershowitz had helped to work out Epstein’s confidential non-prosecution agreement with the government. By implicating him directly in Epsteins abuse of underage women, Dershowitz claimed, Edwards and ~ Ca

\TTERSON Prince Andrew in there in order and the world. And every media ‘led me, from the BBC to CBS to ed to lies with the truth. apted to convey was that Bradley | Cassell were unethical lawyers ; against you, right? to convey was that the charges fabricated, that 1 never had any that I never had any sexual con- 3ecause Professor Cassell insisted that he was a former judge and — | that he was using — improperly, ‘y and name of his university to s, I felt that it was imperative for sngaging in improper and unethi- e been improper for me to have bility as a former federal judge, as ises, his university imprimatur— ne to attack the credibility of the - formation. And it was important = yublic that Bradley Edwards was 4 4 in, a man who is spending filty ~ ly creating a Ponzi scheme to sell q lidn’t exist. Va i” rs CHAPTER 67 Scott Rothstein: 2009 cott Rothstein was a flashy Fort Lauderdale ex-lawyer who parked his collection of cars in an air-conditioned ware- house, kept a copy of the Torah on his desk, and hung a portrait of Al Pacino as Michael Corleone outside his office. One of his nicknames was TPOFD, short for “the Prince of Fucking Darkness,” and in private, he'd say things like: “Understand that the repercussions of engaging me could open the gates of hell. _ Understand that I am capable of evil far beyond anything your _ imagination could ever conjure up.” Rothstein hosted receptions for prominent politicians —John ; McCain, Bobby Jindal, Arnold Schwarz

James PATTERSON Epstein; they obviously put Prince Andrew in there in order to get massive publicity around the world. And every media in the world, practically, called me, from the BBC to CBS to ABC to CNN, and I responded to lies with the truth. - And the truth that you attempted to convey was that Bradley Edwards and Professor Paul Cassell were unethical lawyers who fabricated false charges against you, right? - The truth that I intended to convey was that the charges against me were false and fabricated, that I never had any sexual contact— - Fabricated by whom, sit? - Please don't interrupt me....that l never had any sexual con- tact with Virginia Roberts. Because Professor Cassell insisted on conveying to the public that he was a former judge and © that he was a professor and that he was using — improperly, in my view—the stationery and name of his university to add credibility to his claims, | felt that it was imperative for me to indicate that he was engaging in impropet and unethi- cal conduct. It would have been improper for me to have allowed his use of his credibility as a former federal judge, as a professor who uses, misuses, his university imprimatur — it was very important for me to attack the credibility of the messengers of the false information. And it was important ey: for me to also remind the public that Bradley Edwards was 4 partner of [Scott] Rothstein, a man who is spending fifty years in jail for fraudulently creating a Ponzi scheme to se

TTERSON *becca says Virginia had previ- vas abused by? on. Wexner one of the people that the question. | fore December of 2014, when the q that your name had come up 7 1 Jeffrey Epstein’s abuse of minors, 1 ‘-e 2014, end of December, was it acted in any way inappropriately erts, that I ever touched her, that + been with her. I was completely never been any allegation. She told you that secretly in 2011, but 3 ‘s of any such conversation. You, a 1is allegation and will be deposed 7 on. I believe it is an entirely false ‘ in 2011 that she had had any sex ~ nk she’s lying through her teeth 4 doubt that your notes will reveal if she did tell you that, she would lying. So I am completely a were put in a legal pleading at " was never alleged that I had am My \ . ‘eu - § 264 Firtuy Ricw sexual contact with Virginia Roberts. I know that it was alleged that I was a witness to Jeffrey Epstein’s alleged abuse, and that was false. I was never a witness to any of Jeffrey Fpstein’s sexual abuse. And I wrote that to you, something that you have falsely denied. And I stand on the record. The record is clear that I have categorically denied I was ever a witness to any abuse, that I ever saw Jetfrey Epstein abusing anybody. And—and the very idea that I would stand and talk to Jeffrey Epstein while he was receiving oral sex from Virginia Roberts, which she swore to under oath, is so outra- cous, So preposterous, that even David Boies [a prominent lawyer associated with the firm re

James PATTERSON number and they called, is my recollection. That’s my best recollection. 10:45 a.m. Q: So from the very first conversation that you had with this person, you had information indicating that this person was informing you that Bradley Edwards had engaged in unethi- cal conduct, correct? A: Let me just be very clear what she said to me. She said to me that she had been told directly by her friend Virginia Rob- erts, who stayed with her overnight for a period of time, that she never wanted to mention me in any of the pleadings. And that her two lawyers in the pleadings, or her lawyers who filed the pleadings, pressured her into including my name and details. Q: Did’Rebecca ever suggest to you that the details sworn to by Virginia Roberts were false? A: She certainly suggested that, yes. She mentioned to me that Virginia Roberts had never, ever mentioned [me to herl, among any of the people that she ha until she —until she was pressured into doing so by her law- © yers, yes. , Q: So from the very first conversation, the impression yo was that this was a witness who could provide information 4 that Bradley Edwards and Paul Cassell had acted unethically ; and dishonestly, correct? A: | wasn’t sure she could provide the information becau was very reluctant to come forward. She di 258 d had any contact with, § y had © se she © dn’t want to be’ F involved. But I knew shi i yes, but I didn’t know, < prepared to be a witne: 7 question. ; q 11:08 a.m.

JAMES PATTERSON 10:18 a.m. Q: (: A: Which of my clients are you swearing under oath encour- aged Virginia Roberts to include allegations of an encounter with you at the New Mexico ranch? - Both of them—both of your clients, both Judge Cassell and Mr. Edwards—were both involved in encouraging [their] client to file a perjurious affidavit that they knew or should have known was perjurious recently when they sought to file another defamatory allegation in the federal proceeding. : Was the arrangement such that what you are charging Brad- ley Edwards and Professor Paul Cassell with doing was sub- orning perjury? - Absolutely. If you ask me the question, I am directly charging Judge Cassell and Bradley Edwards with suborning perjury. | have been advised that Virginia Roberts did not want to mention me, told her friends that she did not want to men- tion me. And was, quote, pressured by her lawyers into including these totally false allegations against me. Yes, your clients are guilty of suborning perjury. Who told you that Bradley Edwards pressured Virginia Rob- q erts into falsely identifying you? A friend of Virginia Roberts who called me out of the blue 3 and told me that she was horrified by what was happening to ~ me and that she recently had meetings with Virginia Roberts i and Virginia Roberts had told her that she never mentioned” f me previously. That the lawyers pressured her into mention i 254 ing me. And mentioni me, yes. 10:20 a.m. Q: What was t

JaMES PATTERSON , r “| don't know this woman. I've never been in the same place with Alan Dershowitz also § her. She’s made the whole story up out of whole cloth.” q are part of a plot to exto Bradley Edwards had already become involved in lawsuits : Edwards and Cassell have { against Epstein. In 2007, working with a former federal judge | he’s ever seen. and University of Utah law professor named Paul Cassell, he had 4 ; “They manipulated a y Gled a lawsuit on behalf of another unnamed woman. Six years 3 interested in money,” Ders later, that case is still pending, and now, Edwards and Cassell } offense, and they will be d: petition to have the two suits combined. ever made this false charge Allin all, four Jane Does take part in the lawsuit. = «Cute then, the allegations m Jane Doe 3 is Virginia Roberts, the girl who says that Ghis- i 15, 2015, in a declaration laine Maxwell recruited her for Epstein at Trump’s resort, : q attempt to overturn Jeffrey I Mar-a-Lago. f me re highly disturbing. Epstein had “lent” her and other young girls to prominent businessmen, important politicians, world leaders, and other 4q powerful men in order “to ingratiate himself with them for busi- ness, personal, political, and financial gain, as well as to obtain blackmail information,” Roberts claims. She says that Epstein forced her and other underage girls to take part in an orgy In the Virgin Islands. She names Prince Andrew and Alan Dershowitz as two of the 4 3 men she'd been forced to h

PATTERSON ag undersea earthquake and tsu- 1 by several feet, shifting the earth ; horrific and unprecedented. But evotes four pages and seven sepa- That same day, the Telegraph runs imes runs a two-page spread head- vAY OVER ANDREW. } CHAPTER 63 lian runs one more piece about HEADLINES DESPITE THE EARTHQUAKE, Alan Dershowitz: September 2014 { the ongoing lawsuits are costing Epstein millions, he has millions left to spare. Meanwhile, the FBI’s investigation into whether Epstein trafficked underage women across state lines seems to be going nowhere. As 2014 draws to a close, it’s begin- | ning to look as if Epstein is finally free and clear of the case. _ But for Epstein’s friend and sometime lawyer Alan Dershow- _ itz, things are about to get very unpleasant. _ At the start of 2008, Bradley Edwards, the Fort Lauderdale 3 lawyer, had filed a motion in a West Palm Beach court on behalf of two unnamed women accusing Prince Andrew and Alan Der- Showitz of participating directly in Epstein’s illegal activities. > Prince Andrew had had no comment to make, and Dershow- Mz had objected to the accusations in the strongest possible tcrims. | ‘There's absolutely no kernel of truth to this story,” he'd said. Al 241 HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_009322

ERSON Froray Rice industry — Model: The Ugly Business of Beautiful Women, by Michael Gross.) , But Brunel's reputation did not prevent Jeffrey Epstein from exner is more than a mentor. | getting involved in his business. f older men— father hgures— yhile making his way im the According to a summary judgment court fling by Bradley Edwards, a victims’ lawyer defending against a lawsuit by Jeffrey Epstein alleging fabrication of sexual assault cases against him, Epstein had provided support for Brunel's agency, which changed its name, in 2005, from Karin to MC2-—~as in E = me*. As a scout for MC2, Brunel traveled the world in search of undiscovered talent, favoring Scandinavia, Israel, central Europe, he former Soviet republics, and South America, setting up mod- ling competitions and negotiating with other international mod- indirect, source of beautiful in charge of Victoria’s Secret mpanies and—~ better yet- i catalog. What this means fo ‘like a fox that's gotten hold 9 according to evidence collecte ling agents and agencies. pstein victims, eventually prc But according to the court filing, in which Edwards detailed rodeling agency, and provils he information he had gathered in support of victims, Epstein d Brunel had used the agency to bring underage girls from for- that agency, in New York Cit nchman—a playboy model : who was an owner of the Ka g contracts. These girls were then housed in condominiums selonging to Epstein. “Epstein and Brunel would then obtain a s

Invoking the US constitution’s fifth amendment, which protects against self-incrimination, Polish-born Ross, 27, replied: “I refuse to answer.” She was also asked “Have you ever met Prince Andrew?” and “Have you ever flown on [Epstein’s| plane with Prince Andrew?” Ross refused to answer. Flight logs show that Andrew was a passenger on Epstein’s jet in May 2000. In Ross’s interview it was alleged that the former Elite agency model travelled on the aircraft more than 50 times. It has been claimed that Epstein abused young girls on the jet. There is no suggestion that Andrew had sexual contact with any of the girls or that he knew Epstein abused them. Ross’s deposition will raise more questions about the prince’s judgment after he met the billionaire in New York in December following Epstein’s release from prison. Allegations have been made against Epstein by up to 40 girls, with at least 17 cases settled out of court. Epstein is said to have abused girls as young as 12. He secured protection for his associates through a non- prosecution agreement. The federal document names Ross as a possible co-conspirator. Lawyers acting for Epstein’s victims in the civil courts are challenging the agreement and claim it may lead to Andrew being asked to give evidence. In an interview with Bradley Edwards, a lawyer who represents some of the victims, Ross said she moved to Florida in 2002 after Elite obtained a visa for her to work in America. The model was then hired to work in Epstein

CHAPTER 50 secution agreement, a fifty-three- -deral prosecutors had prepared —one that claimed he'd abused iever was filed. ting Epstein's victims were Con- ‘ms were not consulted about the b . is inexcusable. The “government J <n the dark’ so that it could enter a ned to prevent the victims from 4 ould argue, in documents filed on Z onths, the lawyers claimed, from © signed, on September 24, 2007, in’s bidding, [had] concealed the » and continued to do so until the x i i” re z Fittuy Ricw moment that Epstein had to plead guilty in court, which he finally did June 30, 2008. , In the interim, according to their lawyers, Epstein’s victims were only told, “This case is currently under investigation.” A lawsuit that Bradley Edwards, a victims’ rights attorney in Fort Lauderdale, filed in July of 2008 cited the Crime Victims’ Rights Act, or CVRA (title 18, section 3771, of the US Code), which states that “victims of federal crimes have rights, includ- ing the right to be heard in court, and most particularly, not to be precluded from court proceedings, and the right to be treated fairly.” According to him, prosecutors had violated the CVRA rights of the victims. Edwards, who said he was working pro bono, knew that this suit against the government would not allow for monetary recovery of any sort (including lawyers’ fees). But he also knew that if the government, urged by Jeffrey Epstein, had entered into a contract that improperly or illegally violated the rights o