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Case 9:08-cv-80736-KAM Document 361-26 Entered on FLSD Docket 02/10/2016 Page 1 of 5
EXHIBIT
26
EFTA00020757
Case 9:08-cv-80736-KAM Document 361-26 Entered on FLSD Docket 02/10/2016 Page 2 of 5
DECLARATION OF
1. My name is
and I was born
2. I was molested by Jeffrey Epstein as a minor on dozens of
occasions in his mansion in Palm Beach, Florida from around 2002
to 2005. I understand that evidence collected from Mr. Epstein's
home showed conclusively that I was there as a minor, along with
many other underage girls. Given how many girls Epstein was
abusing, there could not have been any doubt in anyone's mind that
had access to the testimonial and other evidence that Epstein
molested me (and many others).
3. I cooperated fully with the FBI while they investigated Epstein's
illegal activities with minors.
4. During the investigation, Epstein had investigators following and
harassing me. I continued to cooperate with the investigation
despite this intimidation.
5. In late 2007, FBI agents met in person with me. During this
meeting, the agents explained that Epstein was also being charged
in State court and may plea to state charges related to some of his
other victims. I knew the State charges had nothing to do with me.
During this meeting, the Agents did not explain that an agreement
had already been signed that precluded any prosecution of Epstein
for federal charges against me. I did not get the opportunity to
meet or confer with the prosecuting attorneys about any potential
federal deal that related to me or the crimes committed against me.
6. My understanding of the agents' explanation was that the federal
investigation would continue. I also understood that my own case
would move forward towards prosecution of Epstein.
7. Confirming my understanding, in about January 2008, I received a
letter from the FBI that told me that "this case is currently under
investigation. This can be a lengthy process and we request your
continued patience while we conduct a thorough investigation."
My understanding of this letter was that my case was still being
investigated and the FBI and prosecutors were moving forward on
the Federal prosecution of Epstein for his crimes against me.
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8. At this time, I was not told about any non-prosecution agreement
or any potential resolution of the federal criminal investigation I
was cooperating in. If I had been told about a non-prosecution
agreement, I would have objected.
9. Criminal prosecution of Epstein for crimes against me was
extremely important to me. I wanted to be consulted by the
prosecutors before any resolution. In light of the letter I had
received, I had confidence that I would be contacted by the federal
government before it reached any final resolution of the
investigation into my case and that I would likely be needed to
testify if the case went to trial, which I was willing and anxious to
do.
10.
When I had not heard from the prosecuting attorney for a
while, I met with attorney Brad Edwards wanting him to find out
when Epstein was going to be federally charged and prosecuted for
the crimes he committed against me and others. Epstein's
investigators were harassing me, and that interfered with my life
dramatically. My attorney, Mr. Edwards, was hired to make sure
the prosecutor knew how eager I was to have Jeffrey Epstein
prosecuted, and I understand that he did convey that to the
prosecutors numerous times in around June 2008.
11.
At some point, I understood that Mr. Edwards was getting
responses from the prosecutor that were making him suspicious of
the motivations of the U.S. Attorney's Office. I then understood
that Mr. Edwards' suspicions were that the prosecutors were
conferring with Epstein and not with me and the other victims.
12.
I authorized Mr. Edwards to do anything possible to ensure
that Epstein was prosecuted, and that I was able to meet with
prosecutors and participate in the process. I agreed to file a lawsuit
against the U.S. Attorney's Office to get them to speak with me
about any possible case resolution or the terms and to answer
questions about the case, and to generally treat me fairly, to notify
me about any court hearing, and to otherwise enforce my rights as
a crime victim.
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13.
Towards the end of June, 2008, I did not attend Jeffrey
Epstein's guilty plea hearing in state court involving another
victim of Epstein's abuse. I did not have reasonable notice of the
hearing, and I did not have any reason to attend that hearing
because no one had told me that this guilty plea was related to the
FBI's investigation of Epstein's abuse of me. I had always
understood generally that the State and Federal criminal systems
were different and that one had nothing to do with the other.
Based on what the FBI had been telling me, I thought they were
still investigating my case. If I had been told that this plea had
some connection to blocking the prosecution of my case, I would
have attended and tried to object to the judge and prevent that plea
from going forward. Many other victims would have done the
same. I think that after hearing from me and some of the other
girls who were abused by Epstein, a judge would not have allowed
such a plea deal to go forward. It is my belief that the US
Attorney's Office and Epstein's attorneys conspired to prevent my
attendance at this hearing as well as the attendance of the many
other victims.
14.
I learned about the existence of a secret non-prosecution
agreement only in July 2008, after my lawyer had filed court
pleadings trying to give me a chance to talk to prosecutors about
my case. I would never have learned of that agreement if I had not
authorized my attorney to sue the United States. Nobody would
have.
15.
I wanted to cooperate in the prosecution more than anything
else in my life; I was scared of Epstein; I was scared of what he
had done to me and others, and of how he was continuing to harass
me, and also what he could do to me and others. The criminal case
against Epstein was my main focus in life.
16.
When I attended a court hearing with Mr. Edwards in federal
court, I learned for the first time that my rights had been
extinguished through a secret deal between the prosecutors and Mr.
Epstein. I received no explanation about exactly how the deal
occurred or about whether my rights were gone forever. The
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prosecutors were, at that time, trying to even keep me from seeing
a copy of the secret plea deal. I wanted to meet with the
prosecutors and tell them why they should prosecute my case, but
it became clear that without ever talking to me, they had bargained
my case away.
17.
In about 2010, I had the chance to meet with the U.S.
Attorney, Mr. Wilfredo Ferrer. I told him all about how I had been
mistreated in the process. Mr. Ferrer seemed to be interested in
this, but nothing ever came of the meeting. And unfortunately it
seems to me that Mr. Ferrer's office is continuing to try to block
me and other girls from learning anything about the secret deal
with Epstein or how our rights were violated, even though they
know what they did was wrong.
18.
I later came to understand that crime victims in the federal
system have the right to meaningfully confer with the prosecutor
for the government in the case, which at least means to explain
how my case would be concluded; the right to be heard at
important hearings; and the right to be treated with "fairness." I
strongly believe that the way I was treated was unfair and violated
my rights.
19.
I think that the secret non-prosecution agreement should be
declared illegal and that I should have the right to have crimes
against me prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney's Office, and that Mr.
Epstein should be treated the same as other defendants with less
money and connections are treated for these crimes.
20.
I declare under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true
and correct to the best of my knowledge and belief.
Executed this 2p.
, day of January, 2015.
EFTA00020761