Introduction
Jeffrey Epstein's name has become synonymous with sex trafficking and the abuse of underage girls. But the full story behind Epstein's criminal operation and how he managed to evade justice for so long is not widely known. In her book "Perversion of Justice," investigative journalist Julie K. Brown uncovers the disturbing details of Epstein's crimes and the failures of the justice system that allowed him to continue abusing girls for decades.
This eye-opening book reveals how Epstein built a fortune and a network of powerful connections that enabled him to prey on vulnerable teenage girls with impunity. It exposes the mishandling of Epstein's initial criminal case by prosecutors and how a questionable plea deal allowed him to serve minimal jail time. Through meticulous reporting, Brown shines a light on the survivors' stories and the ongoing fight for justice.
While the subject matter is undoubtedly dark, this is an important story that needed to be told. Brown's reporting played a crucial role in finally bringing Epstein's crimes to light and spurring renewed investigations. This book provides a comprehensive look at one of the most shocking criminal cases in recent memory and the perversion of justice that allowed it to continue for far too long.
Brown Begins Investigating the Epstein Case
In 2016, Miami Herald reporter Julie K. Brown began digging into the Jeffrey Epstein case, eight years after he had pleaded guilty to procuring an underage girl for prostitution in Florida. The plea deal that Epstein had struck with prosecutors had always seemed questionable to Brown. As she started looking into it, she quickly realized just how expansive and disturbing the case really was.
Several factors had brought renewed attention to Epstein around this time. During the 2016 presidential campaign, multiple women had come forward to accuse Donald Trump of inappropriate sexual behavior. One woman had even filed a lawsuit claiming she had been raped by both Trump and Epstein when she was only 13 years old.
Additionally, Brown discovered that since Epstein's 2008 criminal case had closed, around 30 civil lawsuits had been filed by women with similar stories of being entrapped and sexually abused by Epstein as minors. This suggested his criminal behavior went far beyond what he had been charged with.
The final piece that convinced Brown's editor to greenlight a deeper investigation was Trump's appointment of Alexander Acosta as U.S. Secretary of Labor in 2017. Acosta had been the U.S. Attorney for Southern Florida who oversaw the controversial plea deal with Epstein back in 2008. His involvement in the case wasn't getting much media scrutiny at the time.
As Brown dug deeper, she uncovered a shocking level of injustice. While Epstein's plea deal was based on charges related to one or two victims, police and prosecutors were aware of dozens of victims. And it seemed likely that those known victims were only a small fraction of the total number of girls Epstein had abused over the years.
The scale and scope of Epstein's criminal operation was far greater than what had been publicly revealed. Brown realized she had stumbled onto a major story of justice denied and abuse covered up at the highest levels.
Epstein's Mysterious Rise to Wealth and Power
One of Brown's main goals was to tell the stories of Epstein's victims - something other reporters had largely failed to do. But this proved challenging, as many of the women didn't want to be publicly identified and were listed in court documents only as Jane Doe 1, Jane Doe 2, and so on. Many who had come forward in 2008 were also understandably trying to move on with their lives.
So as Brown worked to track down victims willing to speak with her, she also delved into Epstein's mysterious background and rise to wealth and power.
Jeffrey Epstein was born in Brooklyn in 1953. He showed signs of intelligence from a young age, often helping classmates with homework. He skipped two grades and graduated high school at just 16 years old. Some who knew him then considered him a prodigy in both math and piano.
After high school, Epstein's path becomes murkier. He attended New York University for a few years but never graduated. Then in 1974, at age 21, he was hired as a math teacher at the prestigious Dalton School in New York City. This was unusual given his lack of a college degree or teaching experience.
The headmaster who hired Epstein was Donald Barr, father of William Barr who would later serve as U.S. Attorney General under Trump. Oddly, Donald Barr had published a science fiction novel the year before about aliens kidnapping humans as sex slaves. He left Dalton shortly after hiring Epstein.
By 1976, Epstein had moved on to work at the Bear Stearns brokerage firm. How someone with no degree or finance experience landed this job is unclear. But within a few years, Epstein was being profiled in magazines as a financial whiz who only took on billionaire clients.
In July 1980, Cosmopolitan magazine even featured him as their "Bachelor of the Month." Epstein's rapid ascent into the world of high finance and New York society remains largely unexplained to this day.
Epstein's Criminal Operation Takes Shape
In the late 1980s, Epstein began amassing a fortune by working as a financial advisor and fixer for some of the world's wealthiest people. He used this money to buy lavish properties in New York City, Paris, Palm Beach, and even his own private island in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
But it was Epstein's mansion in Palm Beach, Florida that would become the center of his criminal operation targeting underage girls. In 2005, Palm Beach Police Chief Michael Reiter and Detective Joe Recarey began investigating Epstein after a 14-year-old girl reported being lured to his mansion and sexually abused.
As Brown dug through police files and court records from this investigation, a disturbing pattern of abuse emerged. Epstein and his former girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell would prey on vulnerable teenage girls who needed money. They would offer the girls hundreds of dollars to come to Epstein's mansion to give him a massage or just "hang out."
When the girls arrived, they were asked to leave their names and phone numbers, instantly making them part of Epstein's database of potential victims. They would be escorted to a room with a massage table and told Epstein would come in for a massage.
The accounts from victims were remarkably consistent: Epstein would enter wearing only a towel, lie on the table, and have the girls massage him. He would then remove the towel, expose himself, and tell the girls to undress. This would escalate to Epstein fondling the girls and masturbating. He would tell them how pretty they were and how he wanted to see them again.
Epstein would pay the girls a few hundred dollars and encourage them to return, promising even more money next time. He knew how to target girls from struggling families who needed the cash. Some girls did return, only to face escalating sexual demands and abuse, including rape.
To expand his operation, Epstein would tell girls they could make even more money by recruiting other underage girls to come to his house. This created a degrading scheme where victims were incentivized to bring in new victims. One girl claimed she had recruited at least 25 others for Epstein.
The scale of Epstein's criminal enterprise was staggering. Dozens of victims were identified, but it was likely only a small fraction of the total number of girls he abused over the years across multiple locations.
The Initial Criminal Case Against Epstein
In 2005, one of Epstein's victims finally contacted the Palm Beach police, launching a lengthy undercover investigation. Over the following months, police identified and interviewed dozens of girls with similar stories of being lured to Epstein's mansion and sexually abused.
Some victims described being flown on Epstein's private jets to other locations where they were abused. Others had their passports and phones taken while trapped at his compound in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Many were threatened by Epstein and his associates to keep quiet.
Epstein became aware early on that he was being investigated. When police finally obtained a warrant to search his Palm Beach mansion, they found only dangling cables where cameras and computers had been hastily removed.
As the case moved forward, it became clear that Epstein's wealth and connections were having an influence. He was a major political donor in Palm Beach and beyond. Despite the abundance of evidence and victims, the case kept facing resistance from higher-ups in the state prosecutor's office.
Rather than building the strongest possible case, prosecutors began negotiating with Epstein's high-priced lawyers on a plea deal. Many of the victims were being sidelined in the process. Some prosecutors debated the reliability of witnesses they feared would be characterized as prostitutes by the defense. The fact that some victims had turned to drugs or alcohol to cope with their trauma made prosecutors view them as even less credible.
But it went beyond that. As police uncovered more evidence and identified more victims, prosecutors kept turning them away. It began to look like the state was intentionally weakening its own case against Epstein. Palm Beach Police Chief Reiter and Detective Recarey were baffled by what was happening.
The Controversial Plea Deal
The way Epstein's plea deal was reached raised many red flags. Rather than simply bringing charges based on the mountain of evidence, prosecutors hastily convened a grand jury. They gave no time for witnesses to prepare and planned to call only one victim to testify. This deliberate weakening of the case convinced Detective Recarey that the lead prosecutor, Barry Krischer, was trying to bury it.
On October 12, 2007, with negotiations still ongoing, U.S. Attorney Alexander Acosta met privately with one of Epstein's lawyers, Jay Lefkowitz. A letter from Lefkowitz detailed the agreement reached in that meeting, which included a promise that victims in the case would not be notified of the pending plea deal.
This was highly problematic, as the Crime Victims' Rights Act specifically requires that victims have the right to be notified and allowed to testify in court, even when a plea deal is being arranged. But Epstein and his lawyers didn't want dozens of women testifying, even if prosecutors agreed to a lenient sentence.
And lenient it was. On June 30, 2008, Epstein pleaded guilty to just two state felony prostitution charges. He was sentenced to 18 months in prison and required to register as a sex offender. But even these minimal conditions would prove negotiable.
Epstein's Time in "Prison"
Despite being sentenced to state prison, Epstein was allowed to serve his time in the much more comfortable Palm Beach County Jail. Even there, he received special treatment that made a mockery of his sentence.
The door to Epstein's cell was purposely left unlocked. At first, he was given access to the jail's attorney room to watch TV. Then he was granted permission to leave the jail six days a week, for 12 hours a day, to work from his office. Epstein paid the sheriff's office $128,000 for this privilege, plus overtime for the deputies who supervised him.
Epstein was even occasionally dropped off at his Palm Beach mansion during these work releases. When Brown later tried to obtain records about Epstein's time in custody, she hit numerous dead ends. Logbooks had vanished and other records were heavily redacted. One deputy told her that ensuring Epstein wasn't "doing anything wrong" during work release "wasn't my job."
Later, another young woman would testify that she was coerced into having sex with Epstein while he was out on work release, with sheriff's deputies stationed right outside his office door.
In total, Epstein served just 13 months of his 18-month sentence under these lax conditions. Upon release in June 2009, he immediately went to work trying to rehabilitate his image as a philanthropist and intellectual.
He established foundations, pledged to build schools and fund scientific research, and tried to maintain relationships with prominent figures like Stephen Hawking and Bill Clinton. But there is little evidence that many of his philanthropic promises ever materialized.
Brown's Reporting Reignites the Case
Through persistence and resourcefulness, Julie Brown managed to track down and personally interview several of Epstein's victims. She wanted to create a video allowing people to hear directly from the women - something the original plea deal had denied them. This would accompany her Miami Herald article detailing how the 2008 criminal case was mishandled.
When Brown's report entitled "Perversion of Justice" was published online on November 28, 2018, it quickly caught fire on social media and was picked up by news outlets worldwide. The impact was greater than Brown had anticipated.
In the past, those who went up against Epstein faced harassment from his lawyers, stalking by private investigators, and other intimidation tactics. But in 2018, in the midst of the #MeToo movement, these methods were less effective.
Brown's reporting landed at a time when attitudes toward sexual abuse cases were changing. More women began stepping forward with allegations against Epstein and his associates. Virginia Giuffre stated that when she was 17, she was sexually trafficked by Epstein and Maxwell and forced into sexual acts with Epstein's lawyer Alan Dershowitz and Britain's Prince Andrew.
The FBI and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York opened new investigations into Epstein. As this was happening, large sums of money - between $100,000 and $250,000 - began being transferred from Epstein to some of his alleged co-conspirators. Prosecutors viewed these as hush money payments.
On July 6, 2019, the FBI arrested Epstein as his private jet landed in New Jersey returning from Europe. He was charged with sex trafficking of minors and conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking of minors. The court made it clear that additional charges could be forthcoming.
Epstein's Second Arrest and Mysterious Death
In the wake of Epstein's arrest, Alexander Acosta resigned as Trump's Secretary of Labor. He tried to defend the original plea deal, but his excuses didn't hold up under scrutiny.
This time, Epstein's victims were finally able to speak at his bail hearing on July 18, 2019. Two women testified about being sexually abused by Epstein starting at ages 14 and 16. The judge denied bail.
But then strange events began to unfold. On July 23, Epstein was found unconscious in his cell with injuries to his neck. His cellmate at the time was Nicholas Tartaglione, a former police officer accused of multiple murders. Tartaglione's lawyer claimed the two got along and his client wasn't involved. The surveillance video of the incident mysteriously vanished.
Epstein was placed on suicide watch, but this ended on July 30. On August 9, his lawyers spent the day with him discussing strategy. That same day, Epstein's newest cellmate was transferred to another facility. Then, at some point that night, the two guards monitoring Epstein fell asleep. When they finally checked on him around 6:30 the next morning, he was dead.
A makeshift cloth noose was found around Epstein's neck, reportedly tied to the top bunk. The chief medical examiner ruled it a suicide, but another pathologist who observed the autopsy said the broken bones in Epstein's neck and his bulging eyes were more consistent with strangulation.
Epstein's lawyers reject the suicide conclusion. Brown is also skeptical, as too many things don't add up. Either way, Epstein's death left many questions unanswered and denied his victims the chance to face him in court.
Aftermath and Ongoing Pursuit of Justice
In the wake of Epstein's death, attention has shifted to his longtime partner Ghislaine Maxwell and other alleged accomplices. Maxwell was arrested in July 2020 on charges related to her role in Epstein's sex trafficking operation. Her trial is set for November 2021.
A fund was established to provide settlements for Epstein's victims. So far, over 175 women have filed claims and over $67 million has been paid out. While it may not constitute full justice, it provides some measure of acknowledgement and compensation for the survivors.
The investigation into Epstein's crimes and co-conspirators is ongoing. His death in jail under mysterious circumstances was deeply frustrating, as it left so many questions unanswered. But the renewed scrutiny of the case, spurred by Julie Brown's reporting, has allowed more victims to come forward and seek justice.
Brown's book shines a light on the failures of the justice system that allowed Epstein to continue his abuse for decades. It exposes how wealth and connections can be leveraged to escape accountability. Most importantly, it gives voice to the survivors and reveals the full scope of Epstein's crimes.
While the story is disturbing, it's an important one that needed to be told. The "perversion of justice" in Epstein's case went beyond just one corrupt deal - it represented a systemic failure to protect vulnerable young women and hold a serial predator accountable.
Key Takeaways
Jeffrey Epstein ran a sophisticated operation to lure and sexually abuse underage girls for decades, leveraging his wealth and connections to escape justice.
The 2008 plea deal that allowed Epstein to serve minimal jail time was unlawful and denied victims their rights. It exemplified how the justice system can be manipulated by the wealthy and powerful.
Julie Brown's investigative reporting in 2018 finally brought renewed attention to Epstein's crimes and spurred new federal charges against him.
Epstein's death in jail in 2019 left many questions unanswered, but investigations into his co-conspirators are ongoing.
A victims' compensation fund has paid out over $67 million so far to more than 175 survivors.
The case exposes systemic failures in how sexual abuse cases are handled, especially when involving wealthy and influential perpetrators.
Giving voice to survivors' stories was crucial in finally bringing Epstein's crimes to light after years of cover-ups and plea deals.
Conclusion
Julie K. Brown's "Perversion of Justice" provides a comprehensive and disturbing look at Jeffrey Epstein's decades-long operation of sexually abusing underage girls. Through meticulous reporting, Brown uncovers how Epstein leveraged his wealth, connections and an army of lawyers to escape serious consequences for his crimes for years.
The book exposes major failures of the justice system, from the shockingly lenient 2008 plea deal to the lax conditions of Epstein's brief time in jail. It reveals how prosecutors repeatedly failed victims by sidelining their stories and denying them the chance to be heard in court.
Most importantly, Brown finally gives voice to the survivors, allowing their experiences to come to light after being silenced for so long. Their courage in coming forward was instrumental in finally spurring renewed investigations and charges against Epstein in 2019.
While Epstein's death in jail denied victims the chance to face him in court, the case against his alleged accomplices continues. The establishment of a victims' compensation fund has provided some measure of acknowledgement and restitution for survivors.
This book serves as a damning indictment of how wealth and power can pervert the course of justice. It's a cautionary tale about the need for greater accountability in prosecuting sexual abuse cases, especially those involving influential figures.
Ultimately, "Perversion of Justice" is a tribute to the power of investigative journalism and the importance of listening to survivors' voices. Brown's reporting played a crucial role in finally exposing the full scope of Epstein's crimes and the systemic failures that allowed them to continue for decades.
While the subject matter is undeniably dark, this is an important story that needed to be told. It shines a light on the ongoing fight for justice and accountability in the face of wealth, power and a system that too often fails society's most vulnerable.