THE FBI wanted to arrest pedophile Jeffrey Epstein at a Virgin Islands beauty pageant MONTHS before a sweetheart deal that saw him avoid jail, a new report states.
A 347-page report from the Department of Justice reveals that Federal authorities wanted to arrest the child sex abuser in 2007 – but it wasn't until the following year that Epstein surrendered to officials following a plea deal.
The full report, obtained by NBC, said the FBI "wanted to arrest [Epstein] in [the] Virgin Islands during a beauty pageant…where he is a judge.”
According to the report, an agent working on the case was "disappointed" when they were not allowed to arrest the pedophile in May 2007.
An FBI supervisor was "extremely upset" over the decision, the report said, according to NBC.
Fury erupted as the DOJ said U.S. Attorney Alex Acosta had no wrongdoing in the incidents – but "exercised poor judgement."
Two months after being denied to arrest Epstein at the pageant, Assistant U.S. Attorney Marie Villafaña wrote: "I feel like there is a glass ceiling that prevents me from moving forward while evidence suggests that Epstein is continuing to engage in this criminal behavior.”
In communications between Epstein attorneys, Villafaña and her supervisors, and Acosta, Villafaña said she thought Acosta "was influenced by the stature of Epstein’s attorneys," NBC reported.
The Justice Department released a statement and summary on the report, which was sent to victims – and said lawyers did not engage "in professional misconduct.
The Justice Department said, however, that "Acosta exercised poor judgment by deciding to resolve the federal investigation through the non-prosecution agreement" and not ensuring that Florida state "would notify victims identified through the federal investigation about the state plea hearing."
According to the 13-page report summary from the DOJ, Epstein ultimately signed the NPA in 2007 – but did not plead guilty in court until June 30, 2008.
Epstein plead guilty to felony solicitation of prostitution and per the NPA, procurement of minors to engage in prostitution.
Epstein was sentenced to a total of 18 months in jail, along with 12 months of community control.
He avoided much of his jail time, however, as he was sent to a minimum-security Palm Beach County facility – and in October, began a work release program where he was let out of jail for 12 hours a day.
Due to "gain time" for good behavior, Epstein only served 13 months, the DOJ summary states.
In 2019, Epstein was charged on a new sex trafficking case by federal prosecutors in Manhattan.
While awaiting trial, Epstein killed himself in jail at the Metropolitan Correctional Center.
The pedophile's alleged accomplice, Ghislaine Maxwell, has since been arrested and charged with recruiting and grooming underage girls for abuse by Epstein.
Maxwell awaits trial.
If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call RAINN (Rape, Abuse, & Incest National Network) at 800-656-HOPE (4673).
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