From the Miami Herald.
After over a decade prosecutors want to interview an unspecified number of molestation and trafficking victims of Trump’s buddy Jeffrey Epstein and his sweetheart plea bargain. The FBI had identified 36 victims between the ages 13 and 16 and other older victims but instead of prison the multi millionaire was allowed to plead guilty to one charge and spent only 13 months of work release in the local jail. A plea bargain that was brokered by Trump’s current Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta. For a more complete explanation of the story read the Miami Herald’s in depth “A Perversion of Justice.”
In the latest development in the civil case brought by two victims the Prosecutor U.S. Attorney Byung “B.J.” Pak of the Northern District of Georgia now seeks permission to interview an unspecified number of other victims.
On the surface it sounds good and magnanimous. Remember, these women were not a party to the plea bargain. They were not told of its existence until afterward. They were never given a chance to tell their stories or object to the agreement. Epstein never once had to face his accusers. Now they would finally be heard from but the law and it’s legal wizards work in mysterious ways. It may just be more gaming of the system and further victimizing the victims.
While the victims’ lawyers do not oppose giving Epstein’s victims a voice, they say Pak’s proposal is so open-ended and vague that it obscures the fact that the government continues to propose solutions that will benefit Epstein, not his victims.
“There is no basis for continuing to delay the rights that federal law affords to Jane Doe No. 1 and and Jane Doe No. 2 because the government now wants to talk to two other victims, or 10 other victims or 80 other victims,’’ said Jack Scarola, of the legal team that represents Jane Does 1 and 2 and which brought the court challenge. “Every victim’s right exists independent of the interests of other victims. And there’s no way
The parties are under instruction to try and reach a solution specific to the case of the two victims or she will rule on the matter. The victim's lawyer, Jack Scarola, maintains that the other victims remain free to bring their own suits and that this vague and unspecified offer is a delaying tactic. Hopefully all who wish to will finally be heard in a way that doesn’t continue to use them as pawns in a legal chess game.