Jeffrey Epstein, accused of sexually abusing and trafficking dozens of underage girls in New York and Florida, has decided to appeal the Federal Court’s decision to deny him bail.
Epstein was denied bail by U.S. District Judge Richard Berman on July 18 during a hearing in federal court in Manhattan. The decision came days after Berman said he needed more time to make up his mind.
“The government has established a danger to others and the community by clear and convincing evidence,” Berman said in explaining his decision.
The court released a 37-page written opinion on Thursday explaining why the bail was denied, a copy of which was obtained by The Epoch Times.
Epstein’s appeal was made on Monday, four days after bail was denied and Epstein was left languishing at the Metropolitan Correctional Center while he awaits trial.
Epstein’s Attorney’s Proposal
The defense moved for pretrial release of Epstein on July 11, 2019, according to the court document.The defense had argued that Epstein had never tried to leave the United States and that his “strict compliance with the various monitoring requirements associated with his sex-offender registration actually decrease[s] any danger that he might otherwise pose.”
The defense had proposed “a stringent set of [14] conditions” to address the court’s concerns. The conditions included Epstein’s detention in his residence in Manhattan and surveillance through cameras in front and rare entrances. The conditions said he would leave his residence only with permission for medical appointments approved by pretrial services.
Response by Government
The court papers say the government responded to the defense’s motion on July 12, 2019.The government said Epstein “has a history of obstruction and manipulation of witnesses, including ... as recently as within the past year, when media reports about his conduct [in Florida] reemerged.”
The government filing said Epstein’s proposed conditions of release are “woefully inadequate.”
Order to Be Held Without Bail
The counsel submissions in the court document state that Epstein “poses an acute danger to the community” and if “allowed to remain out on bail, the defendant could attempt to pressure and intimidate witnesses and potential witnesses in this case, including victims and their families, and otherwise attempt to obstruct justice.”The court document also stated that if given bail there’s a risk of Epstein leaving the country because he has “access to private planes capable of international travel and his significant international ties.”
He cited testimony by Annie Farmer and Courtney Wild, two of a number of women who have accused Epstein of sexually abusing them when they were young.
The court documents also state that victims have told the court that they fear for their safety if Epstein is released.
“Victims have ’specifically conveyed' to the Government that any form of release of the Defendant, including home detention with full-time private guards, could ”result in [their] harassment and abuse,” said the court document.
The court also expressed its concerns for Epstein’s new victims.
“Mr. Epstein’s alleged excessive attraction to sexual conduct with or in the presence of minor girls—which is said to include his soliciting and receiving massages from young girls and young women perhaps as many as four times a day—appears likely to be uncontrollable,” said the court document.
