Speaker 1: What's up, everyone, and welcome to another episode of the
Epstein Chronicles. In this episode, we're going to pick up
where we left off with the emails that were sent
by the Southern District of Florida's Prosecutor's office to each
other and to Epstein's lawyers as they were trying to
hammer out the plea deal. Message from Matthew Minchell to
Marievilla Fauna, August first, two thousand and seven, just letting
you know that we didn't receive anything from the defense today.
Lily Sanchez called late in the afternoon to say it'll
be coming tomorrow. Response to that message by Marivia Lafauna, Hi, Matt, thanks,
I think I just figured out a way to do
a federal plea with a two and a half year cap.
It's a little funky, but it matches the facts. Next
correspondence is a letter sent by Marievi La Fauna to
Lily Sanchez, who's one of Epstein's atorney. This letter was
sent on August third, two thousand and seven. Dear Lily,
thank you for your letter of August second regarding your
proposal on how to resolve the Epstein matter. As we
explained at our meeting on July thirty one, two thousand
and seven. The Office believes that the federal interest will
not be vindicated in the absence of a two year
term of state imprisonment for mister Epstein. That offer was
not meant as a starting point for negotiations. It's the
minimum term of imprisonment that will obviate the need for
federal prosecution. The Office has never agreed that a state
prison sentence is not appropriate for mister Epstein. Rather, we
simply stated that if mister Epstein preferred to serve as
sentence in a federal penitentiary, we would be willing to
explore a federal conviction that may allow that in lieu
of any state resolution. Further, as they made clear in
our follow up telephone conversation after the meeting, a plead
a too federal misdemeanors was never extended or meant as
an offer. We also would reiterate that the agreement to
section twenty two to fifty five liability applies to all
of the minor girls identified during the federal investigation, not
just the twelve that form the basis of an initial
plan charging instrument. As you know, the ability to engage
in flexible plea, negotiations is dramatically changed on the return
of an indictment. Once an indictment is returned, the office
does not intend to file a superseding information containing a
lesser charge or to dismiss the case in favor of
state prosecution. Please let us know your client's decision by
no later than August seventeenth. I've conferred with US Attorney Acosta,
who has asked me to communicate that the two year
term of incarceration is a non negotiable minimum to vindicate
a federal interest, and at this time he's not inclined
to meet with counsel for mister Epstein. Sincerely, Alex Acosta.
But it was signed by Matthew Minchell, all right. Moving
on to the next correspondence. This one was sent by
marievia Lafana to Cindy Campos and Frederica Devlin. Hi, Cindy
and Freddie, I need to check on whether matt sends
something out before he left. Jeff doesn't know if it
went out, and he suggested that I try m out
on his cell. I called the cell number on the roster,
but it seems to be disconnected. Do you have a
contact number for him. Thanks. Next correspondence by marievia Lafanna
to Jeff Slowman, and this was on August sixth, two
thousand and seven. Hi Jeff, sorry to bother you when
you're away. Do you know if the letter to Lily
went out on Friday? Thanks? The next correspondence we have
is Alex Acosta sending an email to Jeff Slowman, and
this was sent on August seventh, two thousand and seven.
Just tried to call yoursel. No need to call back.
I would really appreciate if you could loop him and
Marie in as appropriate. I'll have Cindy set up a meeting.
Sorry again to bother you, but everyone seems to be
out this weekend. Next message was from Andrew from Jeff Sloman,
excuse me to Andrew Osterbon with Marievilla Fauna, c Seed,
Marie and Drew. The chain of emails is self explanatory.
Next email sent by Marie Villa Fauna on Tuesday, August seventh,
two thousand and seven. FYI ps Matt's letter gave them
a deadline of August seventeenth. Next correspondence was August seventh,
two thousand and seven, and it was sent from alex
Acosta to Jeff Sloman, Jeff, apologies for the email in
the middle of your vacation with Matt Gohn and Andy Out.
I'm not sure who is speaking with CEOs on the
Epstein matter. His attorney want to go to DC on
the case on the grounds of Sess foul Ie that
I have not met with them. I'm concerned that this
will delay matters. I'm thinking of heading this off by
one agreeing to meet to discuss general legal policy only
the only matter in which DC has arguable jurisdiction, while
asking or while making it clear that we are not
talking about the details of the case, and two asking
the Drew Osterbon to participate by teleconference, thereby intercepting the
DC meeting thoughts. Next correspondence is from Marievi Lafauna August seventh,
two thousand and seven. This one's to Andrew Osterbon. Hi, Drew,
I don't know how much Jeff and Andy have been
keeping you in the loop, so let me know if
you need any info or if you just want to
talk before the meeting. Next email was sent by Marievi
la Fauna on Tuesday, August seventh. Once again, and this
email was sent to Andrew Lori Hi, Andy Fyi. Apparently
the defense displeased with Matt's letter which set a deadline
of eight seventeen and said that Alex wouldn't meet with them,
so they're demanding a meeting with CEOs. Alex and Drew
are going to try to do a conference call with
the defense to avoid the troop going to DC. Has
Drew been kept in the loop? Is there anything I
should send them? And the agents just interviewed another girl
who started going when she was fourteen. Next correspondence is
from Marie Villa Fauna on August eighth, two thousand and seven,
to Andrew Osterbon Hi, Drew, I've attached a plea term
sheet and the guidelines calculating that was given to mister
Epstein's attorneys on July thirty first. Lily's letter of August
second is sort of in response to that. Several months ago,
when the prosecution memo was first sent to you, you
mentioned adding a CEO's attorney to the team. We probably
should wait until this attempt at plea negotiations is finished,
but I hope to have a few motions responses in
the bag before I indict the two that spring to mind.
Most readily are an appeal to the district court if
he's released on bond, and my response to a motion
to dismiss the indictment on the basis that one or
all of the statutes are unconstitutional. Myisha Braden and I
have spoken about the case a few times when I
was doing research, and she's been wonderful. But if there
is someone else that you think would be better, I'm
all up for the help. Thank you, Signed Marie Villa Fanna.
Next correspondence from Villa Fanna to Alex Acosta Cindy Campos
with Jeff Sloman and Andrew Lowry and Andrew Osterbond, c Seed,
Alex and Cindy. I just got off the phone with Drew.
He's gone from August tenth through August twentieth, and he'll
be back in his office on August twenty first. He's
willing to participate by telephone if we want to stay
firm on our August seventeenth deadline, if the call is
going to wait until after then. He's also willing to
travel to Miami to attend the meeting in person, but
if we do that, we should probably not have the
meeting until August twenty third to give Drew some time
to recover and catch up on his work before he
hops on a flight down here. The agents and IOWA
are planning to go to New York for August twentieth,
twenty first twenty second to serve target letters on the
assistants and to interview some of Epstein's colleagues and former
employees whom we know were around the girls. I would
like to still do this trip, but I know there
was some concern about serving target letters while we were
trying to negotiate a plea. Can you give some guidance?
Thank you. Next correspondence from Alex Acosta to Marie Villafauna
Cindy Campos with Jeff Sloman, Andrew Lowry, and Andrew osterbon
c Seed Marie, I'll leave the target letter issue to
Andy and Jeff. The meeting, Cindy Campos will try to
schedule it. There are several vacations going on next week week,
so Drew is not the only conflict. If Drew can
come to Miami, that would be great. If not, we
can VTC Drew. I appreciate your doing this. The meeting
is to focus on constitutional and policy issues only. You're
being part of it. Will I hope intercept an eventual
appeal to DC. Maybe we can even interest you on
joining the trial team. Next correspondence from Andrew Osterbond to
Alex Acosta, Marievillafauna, Cindy Campos, and Jeff Sloman and Andrew
Lowry or C. Seed. I'm more than happy to help Alex.
It doesn't take much of a reason to get me
on a plane to Miami, and this meeting is certainly
a reason enough. If it's at any day after the twentieth,
I'll be there. As for joining the trial team, I'm
even rustier than Slowman and Lowry, but if Marie would
stand for it, count me in. Thanks very much. Next
correspondence was from Marievillafauna to Jeffrey Slowman on September sixth,
two thousand and seven. Hi, Jeff, funny you should ask,
I've been wondering the same thing. Here's the term sheet
and the guideline calculation that we provided the last meeting.
You and Matt and I also discussed possible federal plea
to an information charging a three seven to one conspiracy
with a Rule eleven plea with a two year cap.
But I think Matt must have asked Alex about it
and it was mixed. Just to be prepared for tomorrow,
I was just starting to draft a Rule eleven plea
agreement in case Alex changes his mind, and a formal
non prosecution agreement containing the state plea terms. As soon
as those are ready, I will email them to you.
There are three concerns that I hope we can address tomorrow. First,
that there is an absolute drop dead date for accepting
or rejecting, because it's strategically important that we indict before
the end of September, which means presenting the indictment on
September twenty fifth. Second, the agents and I have not
reach reached out to the victims to get their approval, which,
as Drew politely reminded me, is required under the law.
And Third, I do not want to make any promises
about allowing Epstein to self surrender because I still believe
that we have a good chance of getting them detained.
On another note, Junior Ot called today from Palm Beach
Police because he got information that there will be an
article released tomorrow about our meeting and that Epstein is
going to plead to a state charge, and the chief
wanted to know if the victims had been consulted about
the deal. There has been some coverage in New York
press about Ken Starr, but I haven't seen anything local yet.
All Right, folks, we're gonna wrap this one up right here,
and in the next episode dealing with the topic, we're
gonna pick up where we left off. All the information
that goes with this episode can be found in the
description box.