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870 KB
Extraction Summary
5
People
3
Organizations
1
Locations
6
Events
2
Relationships
5
Quotes
Document Information
Type:
Legal document
File Size:
870 KB
Summary
This legal document details the significant reluctance of Jeffrey Epstein's victims to participate in a public trial, primarily due to privacy concerns, fear of public exposure, and emotional distress. Statements from officials Villafaña and Lourie, along with a declaration from an FBI agent, indicate that this victim sentiment was a major factor for the U.S. Attorney's Office in its handling of the case. The document highlights specific instances of victim trauma, such as a teenager's distress when her parents discovered her involvement after the FBI left a business card at their home.
People (5)
| Name | Role | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Epstein |
Mentioned as the subject of an investigation and the perpetrator against victims.
|
|
| Villafaña |
Provided an interview to OPR describing victims' reluctance to go to trial. Her full name, A. Marie Villafaña, is men...
|
|
| Lourie |
Provided a written response to OPR about concerns within the USAO regarding the Epstein case and potential trial.
|
|
| Doe | Petitioner |
Mentioned in the case name 'Doe v. United States', indicating an anonymous party in a lawsuit.
|
| A. Marie Villafaña |
Full name provided in a footnote for a declaration in the case Doe v. United States.
|
Organizations (3)
| Name | Type | Context |
|---|---|---|
| OPR | Government agency |
Office of Professional Responsibility, which conducted interviews and received written responses regarding the handli...
|
| USAO | Government agency |
U.S. Attorney's Office, which was involved in the original investigation and had concerns about going to trial.
|
| FBI | Government agency |
Federal Bureau of Investigation, whose case agent filed a declaration about victim concerns and who conducted intervi...
|
Timeline (6 events)
2015-07-24
An attorney for several victims filed a pleading to protect their anonymity in the CVRA litigation.
attorney for victims
2017
An FBI case agent filed a declaration in the CVRA litigation describing victim concerns.
FBI case agent
2017-06-02
A. Marie Villafaña filed a declaration in the case Doe v. United States.
S.D. Fla.
Locations (1)
| Location | Context |
|---|---|
|
Mentioned in a footnote as the location for the case 'Doe v. United States', referring to the Southern District of Fl...
|
Relationships (2)
Both were involved in the USAO's handling of the Epstein case and provided recollections to OPR about the decision-making process.
The document describes victims of Epstein and their concerns related to the investigation and prosecution against him.
Key Quotes (5)
"[W]hen we would meet with victims, we would ask them how they wanted the case to be resolved. And most of them wanted the case to be resolved via a plea. Some of them wanted him not to be prosecuted at all. Most of them did not want to have to come to court and testify. They were very worried about their privacy rights."Source
— Villafaña
(Quoted from her OPR interview, describing victims' general reluctance to go forward with a trial.)
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Quote #1
"[M]y vague recollection is that I and others had concerns that there was a substantial chance we would not prevail at both trial and on appeal after a conviction, resulting in no jail time, no criminal"Source
— Lourie
(From his written response to OPR, recalling concerns within the USAO about the potential outcome of a trial.)
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Quote #2
"During interviews conducted from 2006 to 2008, no victims expressed a strong opinion that Epstein be prosecuted."Source
— FBI case agent
(From a 2017 declaration filed by the agent in the CVRA litigation.)
DOJ-OGR-00021345.jpg
Quote #3
"Throughout the investigation, we interviewed many [of Epstein’s] victims. . . . A majority of the victims expressed concern about the possible disclosure of their identities to the public. A number of the victims raised concerns about having to testify and/or their parents finding out about their involvement with Mr. Epstein. Additionally, for some victims, learning of the Epstein investigation and possible exposure of their identities caused them emotional distress. Overall, many of the victims were troubled about the existence of the investigation. They displayed feelings of embarrassment and humiliation and were reluctant to talk to investigators. Some victims who were identified through the investigation refused even to speak to us. Our concerns about the victims’ well-being and getting to the truth were always at the forefront of our handling of the investigation."Source
— FBI case agent
(From a 2017 declaration, further describing the concerns of some of the victims.)
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Quote #4
"nervous, scared, and ashamed"Source
— Anonymous victim
(Describing the state of a teenage victim at the time of the USAO's investigation.)
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Quote #5
Full Extracted Text
Complete text extracted from the document (3,622 characters)
Case 22-1426, Document 77, 06/29/2023, 3536038, Page173 of 258
SA-171
Case 1:20-cr-00330-AJN Document 204-3 Filed 04/16/21 Page 171 of 348
SA-171
Case 1:20-cr-00330-AJN Document 204-3 Filed 04/16/21 Page 171 of 348
and guaranteed sexual offender registration by Epstein . . . were
among the factors [that led to the NPA].²¹⁵
among the factors [that led to the NPA].²¹⁵
During her OPR interview, Villafaña similarly described the victims’ general reluctance to
go forward with a trial:
go forward with a trial:
[W]hen we would meet with victims, we would ask them how they
wanted the case to be resolved. And most of them wanted the case
to be resolved via a plea. Some of them wanted him not to be
prosecuted at all. Most of them did not want to have to come to
court and testify. They were very worried about their privacy
rights.²¹⁶
wanted the case to be resolved. And most of them wanted the case
to be resolved via a plea. Some of them wanted him not to be
prosecuted at all. Most of them did not want to have to come to
court and testify. They were very worried about their privacy
rights.²¹⁶
In his written response to OPR, Lourie stated that although he did not specifically recall
the issues Villafaña set forth in her declaration, he believed they would have been important to the
USAO in 2007. Lourie also told OPR that he generally recalled concerns within the USAO about
the charges and a potential trial:
the issues Villafaña set forth in her declaration, he believed they would have been important to the
USAO in 2007. Lourie also told OPR that he generally recalled concerns within the USAO about
the charges and a potential trial:
[M]y vague recollection is that I and others had concerns that there
was a substantial chance we would not prevail at both trial and on
appeal after a conviction, resulting in no jail time, no criminal
was a substantial chance we would not prevail at both trial and on
appeal after a conviction, resulting in no jail time, no criminal
²¹⁵ Doe v. United States, No. 9:08-cv-80736 (S.D. Fla.), Declaration of A. Marie Villafaña in Support of
Government’s Response and Opposition to Petitioners’ Motion for Partial Summary Judgment and Cross-Motion for
Summary Judgment at 8-9 (June 2, 2017).
Government’s Response and Opposition to Petitioners’ Motion for Partial Summary Judgment and Cross-Motion for
Summary Judgment at 8-9 (June 2, 2017).
²¹⁶ These concerns are also reflected in a 2017 declaration filed by the FBI case agent in the CVRA litigation,
in which she stated, “During interviews conducted from 2006 to 2008, no victims expressed a strong opinion that
Epstein be prosecuted.” She further described the concerns of some of the victims:
in which she stated, “During interviews conducted from 2006 to 2008, no victims expressed a strong opinion that
Epstein be prosecuted.” She further described the concerns of some of the victims:
Throughout the investigation, we interviewed many [of Epstein’s] victims. . . .
A majority of the victims expressed concern about the possible disclosure of their
identities to the public. A number of the victims raised concerns about having to
testify and/or their parents finding out about their involvement with Mr. Epstein.
Additionally, for some victims, learning of the Epstein investigation and possible
exposure of their identities caused them emotional distress. Overall, many of the
victims were troubled about the existence of the investigation. They displayed
feelings of embarrassment and humiliation and were reluctant to talk to
investigators. Some victims who were identified through the investigation refused
even to speak to us. Our concerns about the victims’ well-being and getting to
the truth were always at the forefront of our handling of the investigation.
A majority of the victims expressed concern about the possible disclosure of their
identities to the public. A number of the victims raised concerns about having to
testify and/or their parents finding out about their involvement with Mr. Epstein.
Additionally, for some victims, learning of the Epstein investigation and possible
exposure of their identities caused them emotional distress. Overall, many of the
victims were troubled about the existence of the investigation. They displayed
feelings of embarrassment and humiliation and were reluctant to talk to
investigators. Some victims who were identified through the investigation refused
even to speak to us. Our concerns about the victims’ well-being and getting to
the truth were always at the forefront of our handling of the investigation.
In addition, during the CVRA litigation, an attorney representing several victims filed a pleading to protect
the anonymity of his clients by preventing disclosure of their identities to the CVRA petitioners. See Response to
Court Order of July 6, 2015 and United States’ Notice of Partial Compliance (July 24, 2015). It is noteworthy that in
2020, when OPR attempted to contact victims, through their counsel, for interviews or responses to written questions
regarding contacts with the USAO, OPR was informed that most of the victims were still deeply concerned about
remaining anonymous. One victim described to OPR how she became distraught when, during the USAO’s
investigation, the FBI left a business card at her parents’ home and, as a result, her parents learned that she was a
victim of Epstein. At the time, the victim was a teenager; was “nervous, scared, and ashamed”; and did not want her
parents to know about the case.
the anonymity of his clients by preventing disclosure of their identities to the CVRA petitioners. See Response to
Court Order of July 6, 2015 and United States’ Notice of Partial Compliance (July 24, 2015). It is noteworthy that in
2020, when OPR attempted to contact victims, through their counsel, for interviews or responses to written questions
regarding contacts with the USAO, OPR was informed that most of the victims were still deeply concerned about
remaining anonymous. One victim described to OPR how she became distraught when, during the USAO’s
investigation, the FBI left a business card at her parents’ home and, as a result, her parents learned that she was a
victim of Epstein. At the time, the victim was a teenager; was “nervous, scared, and ashamed”; and did not want her
parents to know about the case.
145
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