This morning, Federal prosecutors with the Southern District of New York (SDNY) released the grand jury indictment against Jeffrey Epstein, a registered sex offender and friend of sociopathic liar and sexual predator Donald "Grab 'Em" Trump. You can read the indictment here. Epstein was arrested by a joint FBI - NYPD team on Saturday as he deplaned from a trip to Europe. He's been indicted on charges of sex trafficking conspiracy and sex trafficking minor girls over many years at his Manhattan home, and his other residences, including Palm Beach, FL.
Of particular note on page 2 of the indictment, paragraph 4, is the reference to others involved in the trafficking conspiracy:
"In creating and maintaining this network of minor victims in multiple states to sexually abuse and exploit, JEFFREY EPSTEIN, the defendant, worked and conspired with others, including employees and associates who facilitated his conduct by, among other things, contacting victims and scheduling their sexual encounters with EPSTEIN at the New York Residence and at the Palm Beach Residence." (our emphasis)On page 8 of the indictment, the prosecution alleges a conspiracy, paragraph 20 and continuing:
"From at least in or about 2002, up to and including in or about 2005, in the Southern District of New York and elsewhere, JEFFREY EPSTEIN, the defendant, and others known and unknown, willfully and knowingly did combine, conspire, confederate, and agree together and with each other to commit an offense against the United States, to wit, SEX trafficking of minors, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section, 1591(a) and (b)." (our emphasis)It's the "others known and unknown" that will be the parlor guessing game going forward. The prosecutors are counting of Epstein to cooperate and name the "others" that were involved in the conspiracy, working up the "food chain."
It's clear that Epstein had very powerful friends, not just Trump but Bill Clinton and others. After law enforcement had a clear case of sex trafficking against him at his Palm Beach mansion, he got an outrageous slap on the wrist from then-U.S. Attorney Alex Acosta, who now serves as Trump's Labor Secretary. Given the extraordinary treatment Acosta gave Epstein, he may be one of the pivotal "known and unknown" conspirators. This case is just heating up.
