Recently released documents about Jeffrey Epstein show that prosecutors knew he raped teenagers

Several teenagers told investigators that Jeffrey Epstein raped them in the early 2000s, but authorities still got him to confess, allowing them a fair trial, according to grand jury transcripts released Monday.

The girls, some as young as 14, testified before a Palm Beach County grand jury in 2006. They told police and prosecutors they were sexually abused at Epstein’s county mansion and were instructed to recruit other girls.

“He told (a victim), ‘The younger the better,'” a detective testified.

News organizations fought for years to gain access to the documents. The Palm Beach Post first filed suit in 2019. In February, Governor Ron DeSantis ruled that District Judge Luis Delgado could release the documents as early as July 1. Delgado followed through on his decision on Monday.

“The grand jury’s testimony concerns activities ranging from grossly unacceptable to rape — the entire conduct involved is sexually deviant, repulsive and criminal,” Delgado wrote in his order. “The details in the record will outrage decent people.”

One of Epstein’s victims testified before the grand jury that she had sex with Epstein the day before her 18th birthday and that he paid her $300 for it and never contacted her again.

Despite the extensive evidence against Epstein – more than 60 women and girls eventually claimed to have been victims of Epstein’s abuse – former U.S. Attorney for South Florida Alex Acosta agreed to a lenient plea deal with Epstein. Epstein served 13 months in prison for solicitation of sex while the government decided not to pursue possible sex trafficking and rape charges.

In November 2018, the Miami Herald published a comprehensive investigation into Epstein and the deal titled “Perversion of Justice.” In July 2019, Epstein was arrested in New York on numerous sex trafficking charges. A month later, he committed suicide in a Manhattan jail cell.

Epstein’s death was the subject of suspicion because of his ties to powerful figures such as Prince Andrew and former presidents Donald Trump and Bill Clinton. However, investigators blamed the incompetence of prison staff for his death.

With News Wire Services