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2.59 MB

Extraction Summary

3
People
5
Organizations
2
Locations
1
Events
1
Relationships
5
Quotes

Document Information

Type: Legal submission / legal brief
File Size: 2.59 MB
Summary

A legal submission by Kirkland & Ellis LLP to the Office of the Deputy Attorney General arguing against federal prosecution of Jeffrey Epstein. The document characterizes Epstein as a 'successful businessman' and an 'ordinary John,' arguing that his conduct constitutes state-level prostitution offenses rather than federal crimes like sex trafficking. It asserts he did not use interstate commerce (internet/phone) to induce minors and claims the relevant conduct is time-barred under Florida state law.

People (3)

Name Role Context
Jeffrey E. Epstein Subject of investigation
Described by his lawyers as a 'successful businessman and noted philanthropist' and an 'ordinary John'.
Justice Scalia Supreme Court Justice
Authored a decision referenced to argue for narrow construction of federal statutes.
Justice Thomas Supreme Court Justice
Authored a decision referenced to argue for narrow construction of federal statutes.

Organizations (5)

Name Type Context
Kirkland & Ellis LLP
Author of the submission representing Epstein.
Office of the Deputy Attorney General
Recipient of the submission.
CEOS
Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (implied); conducted a limited review.
Supreme Court
Decisions cited as legal precedent.
House Oversight
Source of the document leak/release (via Bates stamp).

Timeline (1 events)

Prior to June 20, 2005
Offense conduct at issue in the federal investigation.
Palm Beach
Jeffrey Epstein

Locations (2)

Location Context
Location where Mr. Epstein lived.
State whose statute of limitations is discussed.

Relationships (1)

Jeffrey Epstein Legal Representation Kirkland & Ellis LLP
Header indicates Kirkland & Ellis LLP is submitting this document In the Matter of Jeffrey E. Epstein.

Key Quotes (5)

"Jeffrey Epstein, a successful businessman and noted philanthropist with no prior criminal record"
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Quote #1
"Mr. Epstein’s conduct—including his misconduct—falls within the heartland of historic state police and prosecutorial powers."
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Quote #2
"matters involving prostitution have always been treated as state-law crimes even when they involve minors."
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Quote #3
"He was an ordinary 'John,' not a pimp."
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Quote #4
"Mr. Epstein did not use the internet (either via email or chatrooms) to communicate with any of the witnesses in this investigation."
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Quote #5

Full Extracted Text

Complete text extracted from the document (3,377 characters)

KIRKLAND & ELLIS LLP
SUBMISSION TO THE OFFICE OF THE DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL
IN THE MATTER OF JEFFREY E. EPSTEIN
Jeffrey Epstein, a successful businessman and noted philanthropist with no prior criminal
record, has been investigated for potential violations of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1591, 2422(b) and 2423(b).
Since the limited review conducted by CEOS, two Supreme Court decisions—one authored by
Justice Scalia and the other by Justice Thomas—have revitalized the bedrock principles that
federal criminal statutes must be narrowly construed, that they may not be stretched to federalize
conduct not clearly covered by their prohibitions, and that whenever there are two plausible
constructions of a criminal statute, the narrower construction (hich safeguards liberty) rather than
the broader construction (which expands the federal prosecutor’s arsenal) controls under the
venerable rule of lenity.
Mr. Epstein’s conduct—including his misconduct—falls within the heartland of historic
state police and prosecutorial powers. Absent a significant federal nexus, matters involving
prostitution have always been treated as state-law crimes even when they involve minors. Mr.
Epstein’s conduct lacks any of the hallmarks that would convert this quintessential state crime
into a federal one under any of the statutes prosecutors are considering.
Mr. Epstein lived in Palm Beach, and his interstate travel was merely to go home. Any
sexual conduct that occurred after he arrived was incidental to the purposes for his travel. Even
CEOS admitted that applying § 2423(b) to a citizen traveling home would be “novel.” In fact, it
would be both unprecedented and in conflict with Supreme Court cases that have withstood the
test of time for over 60 years.
Moreover, Mr. Epstein did not use the internet (either via email or chatrooms) to
communicate with any of the witnesses in this investigation. Indeed, he did not use any other
facility of interstate commerce, including the phone, to knowingly persuade, entice, or induce
anyone to visit his home—the “local” locus of all the incidents under investigation—much less
to persuade, entice, or induce a known minor to engage in prohibited sex acts, as § 2422(b)
requires. Nor did anyone on his behalf “persuade” or “induce” or “entice” or “coerce” anyone as
these words are ordinarily understood and as the new Supreme Court decisions mandate they be
applied: narrowly, without stretching ordinary usage to conform to a prosecutor’s case-specific
need for a broad (and in this case unprecedented) application. In addition, as will be shown
below, § 2422(b) requires that the object of the communication be a state law offense that “can
be charged.” Yet because the state of Florida’s statute of limitations is one year for the first
prostitution offense and three years for other targeted offenses, and because all or virtually all of
the offense conduct at issue in the federal investigation occurred prior to June 20, 2005, those
acts can not be charged by the State, and thus cannot meet this essential element of federal law.
Finally, Mr. Epstein neither coerced, nor enslaved, nor trafficked, nor derived any profit
from his sexual conduct. He was an ordinary “John,” not a pimp. But § 1591 is directed only
against those who engage in force or fraud or coercion or who are in the business of commercial
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