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FBI VOL00009
EFTA00214702
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12/07/07 FRI 15:38 FAX 1 213 680 8500
K I RICLAND&ELL I 5 LLP
al 017
Alan Dershowitz, Esq
December 7, 2007
Page 10
statute was designed to reach.
Mr. Epstein's situation has nothing in common with the scenario Congress acted
to address. In Mr. Epstein's case, even assuming for purposes of this memorandum that
there was inappropriate sexual contact with minors, there was no use whatsoever of the
internet, or any other communication device, in an attempt to induce a minor.
The statutorily proscribed act is the use of a channel of interstate commerce to
persuade, induce, entice or coerce. "The underlying criminal conduct Congress expressly
proscribed in passing § 2422(b) is the persuasion, inducement, enticement, or coercion of
the minor rather than the sex act itself. That is, if a person persuaded a minor to engage in
sexual conduct (e.g. with himself or a third party), without then actually committing any
sex act himself, he would nevertheless violate §2422(b)." United States v. Murrell, 368
F.3d 1283, 1286 (11th Cir. 2004). See also United States v. Bailey 228 F.3d 637, 639 (02'
Cu. 2000) ("Congress has made a clear choice to criminalize persuasion and the attempt
to persuade, not the performance of the sexual acts themselves."). The forbidden conduct
is the actual or attempted persuasion, inducement, enticement, or coercion; if there has
been sexual misconduct without persuasion, there is no violation of this law.
Furthermore, the persuasion must be first directed at an individual known by the
defendant to be younger than 18. Second, its subject must be the minor's participation in
prostitution or sexual activity that would be a criminal offense under state law. Confining
the statute's reach to such situations is precisely what eliminates what would otherwise be
First Amendment problems. See Bailey 228 F.3d at 639 ("Defendant simply does not
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12/07/07 FRI 15:38 FAX 1 213 680 8500 K I RKLAND&ELLI S LI.P 2018 Alan Dershowitz, Esq. December 7, 2007 Page II have a First Amendment right to attempt to persuade minors to engage in illegal sex acts."). As the plain language of the statute and the legislative history shows, the use of the Internet, telephone, or mail is not merely a jurisdictional "hook"; it is the very crux of the crime. Congress was not addressing face to face interactions between adults and minors during which inducement might be used, but rather interactions that occurred over the Internet, sometimes followed by the phone or the mail. The statute requires that the persuasion must occur "knowingly". Thus, someone commits the offense only if (I) he knows (or believes) that person is under 18, and (2) knows that the activity he is proposing would be illegal with a person of the age he believes that person to be. Since the age of consent varies from jurisdiction to jurisdiction within the United States, and is generally 16 or 17, even an actor's knowledge that the individual he is attempting to persuade is not yet 18 does not mean that he is knowingly seeking to persuade or induce someone to engage in activity that would constitute a crime. See Richard A. Posner & Katharine B. Silbaug, A Guide to America's Sex Laws 44 (Univ. of Chi. Press 1998). Accordingly, to violate § 2422(b), an actor must know that he is trying to persuade not only someone under 18, but someone who is considered a minor in the jurisdiction, and that the sexual conduct contemplated would constitute a crime. EFTA00214723
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12/07/07 FRI 15:38 FAX 1 213 680 8500 R I RKLANT4ELL15 LLP Wo19 Alan Dershowitz, Esq. December 7, 2007 Page 12 Thus, if u defendant believes he is interacting with an adult, he is not guilty of the federal crime even if he is dealing with a minor pretending to he a grown-up. See Unite! States v. Thomas, 410 F.3d 1235 (10th Cir. 2005). Mr. Epstein did not use any facility of interstate commerce to do the forbidden act - to persuade, entice, induce, or coerce - nor did he attempt to do so. His staff used the phone to make a variety of arrangements for Mr. Epstein's stays in Palm Beach, including getting the house ready for his arrival, checking movie schedules, and making phone calls to schedule doctors' appointments, business appointments, personal training, physical therapy and massages Even if Mr. Epstein could be held responsible for his assistant's use of the telephone, her calls regarding massages were not the statutorily proscribed persuasions or enticements of a minor to do illegal acts but simply to set up appointments. Assuming Mr. Epstein persuaded individuals to engage in forbidden conduct with him in his home, he did not violate the statute. There was no inducement by or on the telephone or on the interne, mid none is alleged. For example, if during a massage, Mr. Epstein inquired if the masseuse was interested in doing something more, and she said yes, the inducement, if any, occurred face to fact and without the use of any telephone or the intemet. Any subsequent telephone call by his staff for scheduling purposes for another massage was for that purpose and not for an inducement, which had already occurred face to fact. In sum, whatever sexual contact occurred, occurred face to face, without the use of EFTA00214724
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12/07/07 FRI 15:39 FAX 1 213 680 8500 K I RKLANT&ELLIS L LP Bozo Alan Dershowitz, Esq. December 7, 2007 Page 13 an instrumentality of interstate commerce to persuade or induce it, and therefore, was not an act proscribed by the statute. Accordingly, Mr. Epstein committed no crime within the scope of § 2422(b). & 2423(b) (Travel with Intent to Engage in Illegal Sexual Conduct) Similarly, the facts of this case do not make out a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2423(b). Section 2423(b) provides that: A person who travels in interstate commerce ... for the purpose of engaging in any illicit sexual conduct with another person shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 30 years, or both. ["Illicit sexual conduct" means a sexual act that occurs with a person under age 16, or a commercial sex act with a person under age 18. See §2423(1) and 18 U.S.C. 2243(a).] Mr. Epstein did not violate 18 U.S.C. § 2423(b) because his travel to Florida was not for the purpose of engaging in a sexual act with a person younger than 16, nor a commercial sex act with a person under 18. Assuming that Mr. Epstein purposefully engaged in a proscribed act in Florida, it arose long after his travel to Florida was complete, while a massage with a particular masseuse was in progress. Like § 2422(b), § 2423(b) does not criminalize sexual conduct, with any person, regardless of that person's age. Rather, it criminalizes travel for the Purpose of engaging in unlawful sexual activities. United States v, Hayward 359 F.3d 631, 638 (3d Cir. 2004). See also United States v. Tykarsky 446 F.3d 458, 471 (3d Cir. 2006): EFTA00214725
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Alan Dcrshowitz, Esq.
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The relationship between the wens rea and the actus reus
required by § 2423(b) is neither incidental nor tangential.
Section 2423(b) does not simply prohibit traveling with an
immoral thought, or even with an amorphous intent to
engage in sexual activity with a minor in another state. The
travel must be for the purpose of engaging in the unlawful
sexual act.
See
so Hansen v. Huff, 291 U.S. 559, 562-63 (1934) and Mortensen v. UnitekStates,
322 U.S. 369, 374 (1944) ("An intention that the women or girls shall engage in the
conduct outlawed by Section 2 must be found to exist before the conclusion of the
interstate journey and must be the dominant motive of such interstate movement")
(emphasis added)• Cleveland v, United States, 329 U.S. 14, 20 (1946) ("There was
evidence
that the unlawful purpose was the dominant motive.").2
Under these standards, there is no basis for concluding that Mr. Epstein's principal
purpose in going to Florida was to engage in illicit sexual conduct, as defined by the
statute, even if we assume that some such conduct occurred while he was there. Given the
other purposes of his 50 or more Florida trips, the act of going there cannot itself give rise
to any inference of improper purpose. On the contrary, it is evident that the principal
purpose of his trips to Florida was to go to his Palm Beach home for reasons that were
professional, personal and financial, including to minimize his taxes by establishing a
residence, and to visit his family, in particular his brother, his ailing mother and after his
mother passed away, the grave sights of both of his parents. Mr. Epstein surely did not go
Some Courts have held that the illicit sexual conduct must be: an "efficient and compelling purpose,"
United Stake v. Meacham 115 F.3d 1458, 1495 (10° Cir. 1997); a "motivating purpose " United Suites v.
clugfc1.1, 49 F.3d 1079, 1083 (5° Cir. 1995). Of "at least one of the defendant's motivations for taking the
trip in the first place," united States v. Sail 935 F.2d 385, 389 (I° Cir. 1991). SLAWUnited States v.
ffotchouez, 224 Fed. Appx. 923 (11° Cir. 2007) (unpublished).
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12/07/07 FRI 15:40 FAX 1 213 680 8500 K RK LANDLELL LIP fril 022 Alan Dershowitz, Esq. December 7, 2007 Page 15 to Florida because its laws governing sexual conduct with young people are particularly lax.3 Moreover, no violation of § 2423(b) occurred because, even assuming at some point during the massages Mr. Epstein knew that the particular masseuse was under 18 years old and that certain behavior could be illegal, such knowledge would have come into being when he was already in Palm Beach and could not have been a factor motivating him to go there. Since the vast majority of his masseuses were over 18, and he usually did not know who his masseuse would be until she arrived at his home, sexual contact with a minor could not have been a factor motivating his travel.4 18 U.S.C. § 195640O) (Money Latutderine) No reasonable reading of the money laundering statute can countenance a charge against Mr. Epstein, for the statute on its face, and as applied by the courts, has absolutely no application to the alleged misconduct. Under the facts of this case, to charge Mr Epstein with violating the money laundering statute would be unprecedented. The Eleventh Circuit has held that "[go prove money laundering under § 1956(aX3), the government must show that the defendant (1) conducted or artentptedlo conduct a The age of consent varies from state to sate. In Connecticut, it is 16 for intercourse, Conn. Oen. Stat. Ann. § 53a-71, and 15 for sexual contact. Conn Gen. Stat. Ann. § 53a-73a. In Massachusetts and New Jersey, the age of consent Is 16. Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 265, § 23; Mass. Gen, Laws ch. 272, § 35A; NJ. Stat. Ann. § 2C:14.2. New York sets the age of consent at 17. N.Y. Penal Law § 130.05(3). Nor are any of the other sections of 18 U.S.C. 2423 prohibiting •'sex tourism" applicable. Section (a) prohibits transporting a minor (under Ill) in interstate or foreign commerce for sexual purposes. Section (c) prohibits traveling to a foreign county to engage in illicit sexual conduct Section (d) prohibits facilitating travel of a person for the purpose of engaging in illicit sexual conduct for financial gain. All that has been alleged is that Mr. Epstein traveled to his home Si Florida and engaged in sexual activities with local Florida residents. There are no allegations whatsoever that he ever transported a minor or an adult to another state or foreign country for sexual purposes, or for that matter, that he traveled to a foreign country to engage in illicit sexual activities. EFTA00214727
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12/07/07 FRI 15:40 FAX I 213 880 8500 K I RKLANDSSLI. 15 I.LP Z023 Alan Dcrshowitz, Esq. December 7, 2007 Page 16 financial transaction (2) involving property represented to be the proceeds of specified unlawful activity, (3) with the intent (a) 'to promote the carrying on of specified unlawful activity,' (b) 'to conceal or disguise the nature, location, source, ownership, or control of property believed to be the proceeds of sps-sified unlawful activity,' or (c) 'to avoid a transaction reporting requirement under State or Federal law'," United States v. puche, 350 F.3d 1137, 1142-43 (11* Cir. 2003).' See also United States v. Arditti 955 F.2d 331 (5* Cir. 1992). Thus, it is clear that the statute unquestionably requires (a) the use of proceeds of specified unlawful activity; 0/ (b) cash which is or was represented to be the product of unlawful activity, with neither paradigm being applicable in the ease. Mr. Epstein did not receive money or funds from any criminal conduct which he then used in a financial transaction. 5_ee, e.g., United States v, Taylor, 239 F. 3d 994 (9* Cir. 2001) (defendant charged with running an illegal escort service and using proceeds from that business to pay credit cards used to purchase airline tickets to fly prostitutes to Las Vegas). Nor did Mr. Epstein use money he knew to be unlawfully tainted in a financial transaction designed to promote prostitution or other criminal conduct. Rather, to the extent the evidence may show that Mr. Epstein paid for sexual services, he most certainly did so with untainted, legitimately earned funds. • • • • s Instructive is the Eleventh Circuit Pattern Jury Instrucuun 70.4 which states that the defendant can be found guilty of § 1956(aX3XA) only if (I) he knowingly conducted a financial transaction; (2) the transaction involved property represented to be the proceeds of specified unlawful activity or that was used to conduct or facilitate specified unlawful activity, and (3) the defendant engaged in the transaction with the intent to promote the carrying on of specified unlawful activity. EFTA00214728
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12/07/07 FRI 15:41 FAX I 213 880 8500 K IRKLANIMELLIS LLP itt1024 Alan Dershowitz, Esq. December 7, 2007 Page 17 Having demonstrated that there is no real federal interest in this case, because there is no federal crime, it is apparent that the United States Attorney's Office is simply attempting to dictate the procedures and outcome of a state prosecution in which federal authorities can have no legitimate interest_ It may be that some law enforcement authorities in other jurisdictions, state or federal, might choose to handle this matter differently from the way chosen by the State of Florida, but that does not permit or even excuse their outside interference. Moreover, were there in fact a federal crime of some sort here that could be prosecuted - - and I suggest there is none - - traditional notions of prosecutorial discretion would mitigate against such a prosecution un the facts of this case. The Factors That Federal Prosecutors Are Mandated To Consider in Determining Whether To Bring A Prosecution Militate Against Prosecution. I have also reviewed the submissions made on behalf of Mr. Epstein which addressed the Petite Policy, which is set forth in the United States Attorney's Manual, and concluded that even assuming that there is a valid basis for federal charges, those charges would be barred by that Policy. In my professional opinion that conclusion was the correct one. My review of the USAM not only supports this conclusion regarding the Petite Policy but also reveals that there arc other sections of the I JSAM which would bar any federal prosecution or interference with state proceedings. EFTA00214729
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12/07/07 FRI 15:41 FAX 1 213 680 8500 K RKLANDRE L L IS LLP WI 025 Alan Dershowitz, Esq. December 7, 2007 Page 18 A. DeclipioCro Prosecute The United States Attorney's Manual [hereinafter "USAM") sets forth when to initiate or decline prosecution. Section 9-27.220 provides, in pertinent part: The attomey for the government should commence or recommend Federal prosecution if he/she believes that the person's conduct constitutes a Federal offense and that the admissible evidence will probably be sufficient to obtain and sustain a conviction, unless, in his/her judgment, prosecution should be declined because: 1. No substantial Federal interest would be served by prosecution; 2. The person is subject to effective prosecution in another jurisdiction; or 3. There exists an adequate non-criminal alternative to prosecution. Mr. Epstein has been prosecuted in Florida, which considered all of the issues and determined the appropriate crime to charge him with. As shown above, there is no federal interest here. Moreover, were we to assume that Mr. Epstein's conduct constitutes a federal crime that can be proved, nevertheless, no "substantial Federal interest" would be served by prosecuting him. On this question, the USAM Section 9-27.230 gives specific guidance: In determining whether prosecution should be declined because no substantial Federal interest would be served by prosecution, the attorney for the government should weigh all relevant considerations, including: I. Federal law enforcement priorities; EFTA00214730
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12/07/07 FRI 15:42 FAX 1 213 680 8500 K I RK LAND&ELL I S LLP fm 026 Alan Dcrshowitz, Esq. December 7, 2007 Page 19 2. The nature and seriousness of the offense; 3. The deterrent effect of prosecution; 4. The person's culpability in connection with the offense; 5. The person's history with respect to criminal activity; 6. The person's willingness to cooperate in the investigation or prosecution of others; and 7. The probable sentence or other consequences if the person is convicted. 6 Each of these factors militates against prosecution. As indicated, federal law enforcement priorities focus on the use of the internet to target minors, or trafficking in minors. The conduct in which Mr. Epstein arguably engaged was different in nature. Given its essentially sui genesis character, its prosecution would have little or no deterrent effect. Mr. Epstein has no criminal history. If prosecuted under statutes designed to address far more serious conduct and far more dangerous offenders, he would be subject to punishment that is grossly disproportionate to his behavior. Clearly, whatever phone calls may have been made by Mr. Epstein's staff were merely incidental; they were not a means to lure underage women into illicit sexual acts while taking advantage of anonymity and distance. Likewise, Mr. Epstein's interstate travel was of no federal interest. He spent a great deal of his time in Florida because he has ' Each of these fac-tors is discussed m greater detail in USAM 9-27 230(8). EFTA00214731
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12/07/07 FRI 15:42 FAX 1 213 680 8500 KIRKLAND&ELLIS LLP Qt027 Alan Dashowitz, Esq. December 7, 2007 Page 20 a home and family there, and for a variety of other reasons that had nothing to do with sexual behavior with underage woman. Given the attenuated relationship between sexual behavior with any person under 18 and the use of the phone (or interstate travel), the federal interest in this matter is slight, if existent at all. The conduct at issue is not an example of a widespread phenomenon that crosses state lines or that is difficult for local authorities to prosecute. It does not involve targeting of children. It does not involve organized prostitution, sex trafficking, or organized crime. It does not involve violence or threat of harm It does not involve child pornography. Indeed, the circumstances of this case are idiosyncratic. What is alleged here is entirely local sexual encounters - whether with an adult or a minor — which are, and always have been, the concern of local prosecutors. They are not what the federal statutes target, nor arc they the kind of cases that the U.S. Attorney's Office usually pursues. K. Petite Policy In addition to the factors discussed above, the Petite Policy (regarding dual and successive prosecutions), should also be a bar to any federal prosecution or involvement in the State proceedings. The USAM at 9-2.031 establishes guidelines for the exercise of discretion by appropriate officers of the Department of Justice in determining whether to bring a federal prosecution based on substantially the same acts involved in a prior state or federal proceeding. Though the Policy does not create any substantive or procedural EFTA00214732
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12/07/07 FRI 15:42 FAX 1 215 880 8500 KIRKLANDiELLIS LLP 11028 Alan Dershowitz, Esq. December 7, 2007 Page 21 rights enforceable by law, it nevertheless provides a valid basis for arguing against the institution of charges in this matter: This policy precludes the initiation or continuation of a federal prosecution, following a prior state or federal prosecution based on substantially the same act(s) or transaction(s) unless three substantive prerequisites are satisfied: first, the matter must involve a substantial federal interest; second, the prior prosecution must have left that interest demonstrably unvindicated; and third, applying the same test that is applicable to all federal prosecutions, the government must believe that the defendant's conduct constitutes a federal offense, and that the admissible evidence probably will be sufficient to obtain and sustain a conviction by an unbiased tier of fact. .. . Satisfaction of the three substantive prerequisites does not mean that a proposed prosecution must be approved or brought The traditional elements of federal prosecutorial discretion continue to apply. USAM 9-2.031(A) The Policy does not apply unless there has been a prior prosecution resulting in an acquittal or a conviction, including one resulting from a plea agreement. USAM 9- 2.031(C). While here there technically has not been a conviction in the state courts, there would have been one but for the interference of federal authorities. Thus under the spirit, if not the language itself, the policy should apply here. This matter does not involve a substantial federal interest, nor would the state prosecution leave a substantial federal interest "demonstrably unvindicated." "In general, the Department will presume that a prior prosecution, regardless of result, has vindicated the relevant federal interest." USAM 9-2.031(D). EFTA00214733
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12/07/07 FRI 15:43 FAX 1 213 680 8500 K I RKLAND&ELL I S 1.LP 029 Man Dershowitz, Esq. December 7, 2007 Page 22 The presumption may be overcome when the prior prosecution resulted in a sentence which was manifestly inadequate in light of the federal interest involved or if the choice of charges in the prior prosecution was affected by certain inappropriate or irrelevant factors such as "incompetence, corruption, intimidation, or undue influence." No such factors exist here. The negotiations between Mr. Epstein and the State's Attorney's office were conducted at arms length, and sometimes in an atmosphere of mutual hostility. At no point was Mr. Epstein granted any sort of "break" in his ease due to his wealth, his political affiliations, or the prominence of his lawyers. If anything, those factors worked against him. The state prosecutors devoted enormous resources in a 13 month investigation. Ultimately, the State's Attorney's office charged Mr. Epstein with a more severe crime than originally contemplated. In determining the charges, that Office obviously took into account the fact that some of the alleged victims have serious credibility problems, including damaging histories of lies, illegal drug use, and crime and therefore was concerned with the substantial possibility that with these witnesses it might not be able to make any cast against Mr. Epstein. The charging decision was not an act of favoritism, but rather an appropriate exercise of the State's Attorney's office's discretion. The conduct of the United States Attorney here is not merely intrusive of these arms length negotiations, it is coercive of a defendant and requires him to ask the State to impose a harsher punishment upon himself than the State itself has determined appropriate. EFTA00214734
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12/07/07 FRI 15.43 FAX 1 213 680 8500 KIRKLAND&ELLIS LLP EZ030 Alan Dershowitz, Esq. December 7, 2007 Page 23 C. Prosecution in Another Jurisdiction Furthermore, another section of the USAM 9-27.240, Initiating and Declining Charges Because of a Prosecution in Another Jurisdiction, would also prohibit any federal charges here. In determining whether prosecution should be declined because the person is subject to prosecution in another jurisdiction, the attorney for the government should weigh all relevant considerations, including: 1. The strength of the other jurisdiction's interest in prosecution; 2. The other jurisdictions ability and willingness to prosecute effectively; and 3. The probable sentence or other consequences if the person is convicted in the other jurisdiction. There can be no dispute that the State of Florida had a strong interest in this prosecution and the ability and the willingness to prosecute it. Furthermore, the behavior alleged here is certainly one of local interest and of particular interest to the State authorities who conducted a 13 month investigation. 'Ibis is not a civil rights case from the 1960's brought half heartedly and resulting in an acquittal. The sentence agreed to by the State, while it may not be to the federal authorities liking, is certainly within the parameters of sentences for these types of crimes and does not warrant federal intervention. EFTA00214735
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12/07/07 FRI 15:43 FAX 1 213 080 8500 K IRKLANDLELL I S 01031 Alan Dershowitz, Esq. December 7, 2007 Page 24 D. Payments of Money The federal authorities have also insisted that any plea with the State of Florida must require Mr. Epstein to agree to be sued by as many as 40 of the women, that he not contest jurisdiction or the facts of those suits and that each woman be entitled to $150,000 in damages (or an amount agreed to by the parties). It is apparent that the federal authorities have inappropriately tried to impose upon Mr. Epstein penalties provided for in 18 U.S-C. § 2255(a). The federal prosecutors have attempted to circumvent the requirements of that statute by essentially making anyone who claims to be a victim automatically entitled to a $150,000 payment without any requirement of proof of injury, which the statute requires. Prosecutors shouldn't be in the business of helping alleged victims of state crimes secure financial settlements especially here where some of the victims may be suspect. In addition, a threat by a prosecutor to prosecute unless payments arc made to potential prosecution witnesses is highly inappropriate and not something that I have ever encountered before.' In United States v, Singleton 165 F.3d 1297, 1302 (10th Cir. 1999) the Court frowned upon such behavior: Our conclusion in no way permits an agent of the government to step beyond the limits of his or her office to make an offer to a witness other than one traditionally exercised by the sovereign. A prosecutor who offers something other then a concession normally granted by the 7 While federal law provides for restitution to victims and prosecutors have required restitution as part of plea agreements, it is done in situations where the victims arc readily identifiable and their losses are reasonably ascertainable. Here, without any proof the prosecutors demanded payments to unlatovm individuals who may not have been harmed at all. What is more, the government has stated that it takes no position as to validity of these alleged victim's claims. EFTA00214736
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12/07/07 FRI 15:44 FAX 1 213 680 8500 KIRK LANDAE LL 15 LLP al 032 Alan Dershowitz, Esq. December 7, 2007 Page 25 government in exchange for testimony is no longer the alter ego of the sovereign and is divested of the protective mantle of the government. The demand for such payments for unproven "victims" in amounts unrelated to any rational standard is beyond the bounds of any legitimate or even rational governmental conduct. In sum, coercing Mr. Epstein to pay $150,000 to 40 or so "victims" when no determination has been made that they are entitled to any compensation, in any amount, is unknown to me in my experience and is beyond mere heavy handedness: it is oppressive. Conclusion There was no reason for federal authorities to interfere in this case. The State of Florida devoted substantial resources investigating the case and considered all the evidence, including its strengths and weaknesses, in determining the appropriate sentence to resolve this matter. That sentence would have ensured that the defendant would never engage in such conduct again In my experience, as a line prosecutor, as a prosecutor in charge of a United States Attorney's office, and as a defense attorney involved in criminal casts throughout the country, I have never encountered a situation like this one where a federal prosecutor injects himself into a state proceeding and used threats of federal prosecution to force changes in the outcome of a state proceeding not merely to one more to his liking, but one which has no rational relationship to the situation. As unusual as this would be if EFTA00214737
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12/07/07 FRI 15:44 FAX 1 213 680 8500 KIRKLAND&ELLIS LLP la 033 Alan Dershowitz, Esq. December 7, 2007 Page 26 there were a clear federal interest hem, it is all the more shocking in this instance: a matter that is solely of state concern - - local sex crimes having no interstate or national importance - - with no attendant federal crime. Furthermore, even if these federal statutes somehow applied to the situation here, it would still not be appropriate to bring these charges. The federal statutes were meant to address exploitation of minors, trafficking in illegal sex across state and national borders, and child pomogTaphy. What we have here is one individual seeking sexual gratification in the privacy of his own home and if he did something inappropriate, it is not for the federal government to intrude by ignoring the Petite Policy and other similar restrictions, as well as our traditional concepts of federalism. The situation here is not what Congress had in mind when it enacted these statutes. If the federal authorities believe that the states are not properly policing the sex trade, the remedy should be to lobby Congress for stronger statutes, not to interfere in a state proceeding in order to make some kind of statement. It is not the federal government's role to police the states' exercise of prosecutional discretion, barring a serious impropriety. Surely, this is not that situation. If the true motivation of federal prosecutors here is simply their personal dislike of Mr. Epstein, or mere personal dislike for the crime or of their sympathy for the women, those are clearly impermissible considerations and are improper. Sec USAM 9- 27. 260(AX2). In my judgment and experience, it would be most appropriate for the prosecutors in the United States Attorney's office to advise the State authorities that they have no EFTA00214738
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12/07/07 FRI 15;45 FAX 1 213 880 8500 RIRRLAND&ELLIS LLP l034 Alan Dershowitz, Esq. December 7, 2007 Page 27 finlher interest in these proceedings and that State and the defendant are free to negotiate whatever resolution they dean appropriate. Sincerely, 4ilifrtil- 5'}-ei, HJS:It Herbert J. Stan EFTA00214739
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