Post by : Bianca
Haleem
The FBI spent years investigating Jeffrey Epstein, examining his bank records, emails, and homes, and interviewing dozens of victims. While they found clear proof Epstein sexually abused underage girls, the investigation did not find evidence he ran a sex trafficking ring for influential men, according to internal Justice Department records reviewed by the Associated Press.
Videos and photos seized from Epstein’s homes in New York, Florida, and the Virgin Islands did not show abuse or implicate anyone else. Investigators also reviewed his financial records, including payments to figures in academia, finance, and diplomacy, but found no criminal connection.
Some victims, including Virginia Roberts Giuffre, publicly claimed Epstein “lent” them to powerful men. FBI records show investigators could not confirm these claims, and no other victims reported similar experiences. Giuffre admitted parts of her memoir were partly fictionalized, with some inaccuracies in public interviews.
The investigation began in 2005 after a 14-year-old girl’s parents reported sexual abuse at Epstein’s Palm Beach home. At least 35 girls were later identified, who Epstein paid for sexualized massages. Epstein initially avoided federal charges due to a controversial plea deal in 2008 and served just 18 months in jail.
After renewed scrutiny in 2018, Epstein was arrested in July 2019, but died by suicide in jail a month later. Ghislaine Maxwell, his longtime associate, was convicted in 2021 for recruiting victims and serving as a participant in the abuse.
FBI and federal prosecutors reviewed claims of other possible abusers. Some allegations could not be verified, and prosecutors decided not to file charges against Epstein’s assistants or associates, including his business client Les Wexner and private equity investor Leon Black. Investigators also confirmed no evidence of a so-called “client list,” despite media reports.
Internal memos emphasize that all videos, photos, and financial records were thoroughly examined, but nothing connected other men to Epstein’s crimes. This explains why U.S. authorities ultimately closed the case without additional charges beyond Epstein and Maxwell.
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