Jeffrey Epstein’s effort to be released pending trial took a major hit before a court ruled against bail. It was reported earlier that Epstein’s safe in his New York mansion was found with a huge amount of cash, diamonds, and a false passport. Now prosecutors have disclosed that Epstein actually used the passport to travel internationally. This follows a disclosure that Epstein was accused of “improper sexual contact” during his prior criminal sentence. That makes for a bad bail case that is steady getting far worse.
The foreign passport with a fake name was defended by his lawyers as a precaution during foreign travel to hide his Jewish roots and his name from possible terrorists and kidnappers. Yet prosecutors told the court that the passport shows entry and exit stamps.
The passport with the $70,000 in cash and 48 loose diamonds in the safe can easily be construed as an escape package for someone who could spend the rest of his days in jail.
That could easily satisfy a court that Epstein is a flight risk. Most people do not even know how to get a false passport and both the acquisition and use of such a passport for travel would be a crime.
We have also not heard about the pornography found in Epstein’s safe, including pictures thought to be child pornography. Such a find would simplify matters for prosecutors who could face objections tied to the earlier plea bargain. A safe with child porn would offer an easy criminal case unburdened by questions of the statute of limitations or other complications.
Update: Judge Richard Berman specifically noted the statements of two women who alleged that Epstein abused them and that they “feared for their safety.” According, the the 66-year-old Epstein will remain in jail until a verdict and a possible sentence of up to 45 years in prison. That is just on the pending counts. More counts are likely to come.