Curious and Curioser
I pretty certain that I don’t have to tell you who Jeffrey Epstein is. He’s the guy who proved that some people are indeed above the law.
Epstein’s arrest, first reported by The Daily Beast, comes amid renewed scrutiny of a once-secret plea deal that ended a federal investigation against him.
That deal, which is being challenged in Florida federal court, allowed Epstein, who is now 66, to plead guilty to lesser state charges of soliciting and procuring a person under age 18 for prostitution.
He was given, and I do mean given with a bow on top, 13 months in jail, most of which was spent in his New York office building, where he was allowed to go 6 days a week.
The prosecutor who swung the deal was Alexander Acosta, who now serves as Trump’s labor secretary.
Here’s the curious part: The case is being handled by the Public Corruption Unit of the Southern District of New York, with assistance from the district’s human-trafficking officials and the FBI.
Hummmm … public corruption unit?
The Public Corruption Unit works, in close partnership with the FBI and other federal, state and city investigative agencies to maintain and protect the integrity of all levels of government. The unit oversees the investigation and prosecution of corruption crimes committed by elected and appointed officials, government employees, and individuals and companies doing business with the city, state, and federal government. Corruption crimes investigated by the unit include bribery, embezzlement, and frauds committed against local, state, and federal government agencies.
Sex crimes isn’t listed here.
And then the New York Times mentions …
Before the plea deal, Mr. Epstein, a former hedge-fund manager, had been friendly with Donald J. Trump, former President Bill Clinton and Prince Andrew, the Duke of York.
Oh crap.
Other names tied to the scandal, who are not public officials but very public persons, are Alan Dershowitz and Ken Starr, Epstein’s criminal defense attorneys.
Y’all, Ken Starr seems to be a sex scandal magnet.
Thanks to Alfredo over at the Dairy Queen for the heads up.
I don’t care who is touched by this scandal. Everyone who helped this monster escape justice needs to pay dearly. I’d like to think this would happen but in truth, his legal team that struck the horrible plea deal with a corrupt Alex Acosta will emerge unscathed.
1The creep in the White House knew that Epstein was a pedophile, yet he still considered him a friend and a great guy who liked women like he himself did. Here’s an excerpt from the site Think Progress:
“Trump told New York Magazine about his relationship with Epstein in 2002.
“I’ve known Jeff for fifteen years. Terrific guy. He’s a lot of fun to be with,” Trump said at the time. “It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side. No doubt about it: Jeffrey enjoys his social life.” ”
I hope that somehow either Trump will be embroiled in this sordid story or that Epstein will reveal things about Trump when he doesn’t get the help he wants from his friends in high places to get him out of this new serious predicament.
Trump’s supporters always turn a blind eye to every negative information about him. Maybe they will change their tune when some of his skeletons with Epstein are exposed.
2The Attorney General of New York, Letitia James, has vowed to really go after tRump and his administration. She was newly elected 2018. You go, Girl!
3@ Marthe, his supporters will never change their tune. Their loyalty goes way beyond this. An excellent article is The Cruelty Is The Point. Joy Reid’s new book also explains that blindness – he will never do anything to help them, but he will hurt brown people for them.
4I don’t care who (even if it means Bill Clinton) is involved in this, they all need to be brought to justice.
5It’d be interesting if Epstein tells all – I expect lots of his male friends are buying property in places with no extradition. Call it the Roman Polanski resort.
6It will be interesting to see how many agencies are in on this take down of
7this nasty shameless creature. Does he know enuff dirt on enuff people to slither away again?
DERSHOWITZ!!!!!
8If Epstein sings about Trump’s dirt and others, he might get less prison time. Though I’m not sure in my own mind that it would be enough justice served for the minors he exploited and raped.
9“Dershowitz, who has **invited the lawsuit for months**, said he was ready to go to court. “This is the opportunity I’ve been looking for,” he told the Daily News.” [My emphasis]
I know nothing of Epstein but Dershowitz strikes me as an exceedingly honourable man.
10There have to be pictures or people will claim that this is more deep state.
11Dershowitz has gotten increasingly weird in the last decade or so. He lost his honorable some time ago.
12Starr and sex scandals. I doubt he was partaking, but he sure likes to make sure #MeToo is quashed, squashed, and perps kept functioning in their money making roles…
13Wonder how many lawyers and “fixers” ( ala Cohen) are working this weekend?
14Hope government lawyers took a long weekend or are too busy trying to create a new excuse for census cases to answer the phones.
Arresting on Friday of long weekend, when many up market lawyers have already left for r & r, while leaving the “charges” to be introduced on monday creates a quandary.
Does the 3 day “heads up” give co-conspirators time to destroy evidence and create alibi’s?
Or
Does it create an atmosphere of fear that could be used to leverage them?
Think college entry scandal. Some used time to decide to cooperate with investigation.
Outside my realm of knowledge.
As disgusting as Jeffrey Epstein is those covering up for him are completely reprehensible.
15Here in NE, Ben Sasse issued a statement I found interesting. I don’t have a link handy to it but he referred to this guy as a ‘monster’ and demanded no deals be made this time and the one made earlier be investigated to the fullest. Gotta wonder what he knows or has heard. But then it may be just as simple as the fact that Sasse has teen daughters.
16@Cheryl, I have to admit that you are most likely right about Trump’s supporters never turning their backs on him. If they haven’t done so by now, nothing will sway them. I’ll read the article that you suggest The Cruelty Is The Point. Thanks for the tip.
17Joe Hill:
Hey, I’m in Nebraska as well (out in the Panhandle).
As for our so-called never Trumper Ben Sasse, he voted to approve Acosta for Labor Secretary.
Sasse talks a big anti-Trump game then votes in lockstep with his priorities.
As to what he knows or has heard, I’m guessing “about the same as the rest of us.” Ben Sasse strikes me as a very uncurious individual (which might explain why he’s a Republican).
18Never turn your back to a monster. The reason should be immediately obvious.
19James, Yeah Sasse is a dim bulb. Ever contact his office for anything? You get on his email list and your box then is full of stuff about abortion. Apparently he doesn’t like it. Lots of stuff about fetal heartbeats, marches, etc. You have to see to believe it. He’s trying very hard to fend off a primary challenge from his Right. Looks like it’d working. I know he hates Trump, maybe this is what he feels he has to do to hold on here.
20@Cheryl, thank you for the reference to the article, The Curelty is the Point. Powerful read.
21Could it be that what Putin has on Trump isn’t the pee tape but a tape of him with underage girls?
22Public Corruption Unit? Does that mean that the sharks are circling Alexander Acosta? I certainly hope so.
23Gives a whole new meaning to the Epstein-Barr virus.
24