Prosecutors moved to drop the child sex trafficking and conspiracy charges against Jeffrey Epstein on Monday, following his death over a week ago in what the chief medical examiner ruled was a suicide.
U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Berman of the Southern District of New York sent yesterday’s proposed order of nolle prosequi, essentially a request to dismiss the case since Epstein can no longer be tried, to U.S. District Judge Richard Berman, who had been presiding over the case since the jet-setting financier’s arrest in early July.
The prosecutor said that “the filing of this nolle prosequi will dispose of this case” regarding Epstein, and the letter was also signed by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alison Moe, Alex Rossmiller, and Maurene Comey, who helped lead the prosecution of the convicted sex offender.
“Because Jeffrey Epstein, the defendant, died while this case was pending, and therefore before a final judgment was issued, the indictment must be dismissed under the rule of abatement,” the lead prosecutor wrote to the judge. “Accordingly, I recommend that an order of nolle prosequi be filed as to defendant Jeffrey Epstein.”
Berman noted his obligations under the Crime Victims Rights Act, and said the government “has made efforts to contact all identified victims since learning of the death” of Epstein and promised to “similarly notify all known victims” of the case being dismissed once the judge approves the order.
“As this office has previously stated publicly, it remains committed to doing its utmost to stand up for the victims who have already come forward, as well as for the many others who have yet to do so,” Berman said.
The day Epstein was found dead in his prison cell, Berman said that “today’s events are disturbing” and that “we are deeply aware of their potential to present yet another hurdle to giving Epstein’s many victims their day in court.”
“To those brave young women who have already come forward and to the many others who have yet to do so, let me reiterate that we remain committed to standing for you,” Berman continued. “And our investigation of the conduct charged in the indictment — which included a conspiracy count — remains ongoing.”
Prosecutors believe Epstein had help committing his crimes, and there are believed to be many other alleged Epstein victims out there, and Epstein’s indictment referenced co-conspirators.
Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s longtime associate and intermittent girlfriend, is alleged in civil lawsuits to have helped Epstein carry out his criminal activities, according to numerous victims. Epstein’s suicide came the day after 2,000 pages of court records were unsealed related to the defamation lawsuit brought by Epstein accuser Virginia Giuffre against Maxwell.
Giuffre has accused Maxwell of helping Epstein abuse her and others when Giuffre was underage. The records included allegations by Giuffre that Maxwell instructed her to have sex with high-profile figures.
No criminal charges are known to have been filed against Maxwell at this time.
