Former prosecutor recounts FBI praise and defense tactics after Jeffrey Epstein plea deal

'‘ATTERSON a different. But they were not must be based on admissible 1 cases of this type, those are e victims are frightened and ‘ they do speak, they give con- ‘judgment in this case, based -he time, was that it was better time in jail, register as a sex ms restitution than risk a trial 1 of success. 1 supported that on the state law as it then stood - the time, I would support that hile in state custody, likewise hat the office should have been rms of confinement in a state priately left to the State of Flor- rities, without doubt, the treat- le in state custody undermined nce. ve that the prosecution should iliation for the defense’s tactics. ften failed to negotiate in good j concessions as part of a negotla- d, only to change their minds, q sition to Washington. The inves a lives of individual prosecutors | alled for, as were the accusallo t against individual prosecute 210 Fittay Ricw At times, some prosecutors felt that we should just go to trial, and at times I felt that frustration myself. What was right in the first meeting, however, remained right irre- spective of defense tactics. Individuals have a constitu- tional right to a defense. The aggressive exercise of that right should not be punished, nor should a defense coun- sel’s exercise of their right to appeal a U.S Attorney to Washington D.C. Prosecutors must be careful not to allow frustration and anger with defense counsel to influence their judgment. After the plea, I recall receiving several phone calls. One was from the FBI Special Agent-In-Charge. He called to offer congratulations. He had been at many of the meetings regarding this case. He was aware of the tactics of the defense, and he called to praise our prosecutors for holding firm against the likes of Messrs. Black, Dershow- itz, Lefkowitz and Starr. It was a proud moment. | also received calls or communications from Messrs. Dershow- itz, Lefkowitz and Starr. I had known all three individu- als previously, from my time in law school and at Kirkland & Ellis in the mid 90s. They all sought to make peace. I agreed to talk and meet with each of them after Epstein pled guilty, as I think it important that prosecu- tors battle defense attorneys in a case and then move on. I have tried, yet I confess that this has been difficult to do fully in this case. The bottom line is this: Mr. Jeffrey Epstein, a billionaire, 7 Served time in jail and is now a registered sexual offender. _ He has been required to pay his victims restitution, though » festitution clearly cannot compensate for the crime. And 211 HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_010551