There has long been a question about how Jeffrey Epstein was able to bend the justice system to his will, using a carefully collected network of politicians, media figures, academics, and financiers to fund a lavish lifestyle where he could prey on underage children in Florida and launder money.
Julie K. Brown co-wrote a report for the Miami Herald detailing new documents revealing how Epstein manipulated the system, and that those who enabled his schemes continue to get away with it.
While reports have focused on the rich and powerful, Brown explained that many low-level people in the criminal justice system could have stepped in.
It's important, she said, "because, had some of these figures rigorously investigated and monitored Epstein, he may not have been able to continue to sexually abuse women and girls for another decade."
Epstein reportedly charmed "state and federal prosecutors, assistant district attorneys, sheriff's deputies, probation officers, federal marshals and customs and border patrol officers. He even enlisted his court-approved sex-addiction doctor, Stephen Alexander, as a back channel to relay messages to government and law enforcement officials he wanted to secretly curry favor with."
Former Labor Secretary Alex Acosta, who was the U.S. Attorney in South Florida at the time and approved Epstein's plea deal, was just one of many names Brown lists in the Herald.
"Jeff Sloman, Acosta's former deputy in the South Florida U.S. attorney's office; Matthew Menchel, the South Florida U.S. attorney's former chief criminal prosecutor; Bruce Reinhart, a former South Florida federal prosecutor; Barry Krischer, the former Palm Beach state attorney; and Michael Gauger, who was the chief deputy of the Palm Beach County sheriff's office during Epstein's incarceration," were also among those who let Epstein off.
Epstein was able to secure a sweetheart deal for trafficking minors. He got 13 months in a county jail, where he was able to come and go as he pleased under the guise that he was performing public service. Records show that the service was his own nonprofit.
His lawyers tried to either relax or eliminate his status in New York by appealing to then-Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance.
Epstein also tried to use his political loyalists to appeal to Gov. Charlie Crist.
Documents show that there were investigations on whether Epstein was able to manipulate federal prosecutors on at least two occasions, in 2011 and 2020. The cases involved whether Epstein got U.S. Customs and Border Protection to "turn a blind eye to the young female passengers" that he was bringing into St. Thomas on his private jets. The two incidents never resulted in charges.
"In 2018, after the Miami Herald published an investigation into Epstein's crimes, the Justice Department's Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) opened another investigation at the behest of Congress into possible improprieties involving Florida prosecutors," the Herald reported. "Despite evidence that one of the Miami prosecutors, Reinhart, had started to lay the groundwork for working for Epstein, OPR concluded that there was no evidence of prosecutorial misconduct with any of the South Florida prosecutors."
Once he was out of prison, Epstein was faced with underage girls who wanted settlements for what transpired. He sought out a meeting with Acosta in February 2011, but by then Acosta was out of office.
Epstein wrote to Acosta's former deputy in the South Florida U.S. attorney's office, Matthew Menchel, on February 22, 2011.
"I am going to have lunch with Acosta on Monday," Epstein said. "Can we speak before? I can see you Sunday if you have time and inclination."
Menchel ultimately ended up in a "promising business and social relationship" with the sex offender.
"Jeffrey, I very much enjoyed our talk the other night. I look forward to the possibility of working together, but regardless, let's keep in touch. Best, Matt," Menchel said in an email in October 2010. Epstein had finished his prison sentence three months before.
The two exchanged emails more than 100 times, and the relationship continued into 2017 with Menchel visiting Epstein multiple times at several of his properties.
It was only the start of the ways Epstein tried to leverage Menchel. The report continues, detailing every relationship, how it came to be, and what Epstein did to try to manipulate those involved.