There was no settlement reached Monday in a case filed against the Department of Justice by two women who say their rights as crime victims were ignored when a federal prosecutor reached a plea deal with billionaire financier — and friend of Donald Trump, who called him ‘a terrific guy’ – and Bill Clinton — Jeffrey Epstein.
Identified only as Jane Doe 1 and 2, both women have said that Epstein abused them in their teens. Epstein later reached confidential financial settlements with both of the women.
In 2008, Epstein pleaded guilty to related state sex charges and served 13 months in prison with a year of house arrest.
On Monday, Jane Doe 1 and her lawyers met privately with the federal prosecutors and U.S. Magistrate Judge Dave Lee Brannon to settle the case regarding their rights. No settlement was reached. Brannon, however, told the Sun Sentinel that “vigorous and fruitful” negotiations will continue in the next few weeks.
According to the Sentinel, both sides have agreed to return to court on June 28.
The women were both classified as victims in the Epstein case and allege that federal prosecutors did not abide by crime-victims rights legislation during the trial. The legislation requires prosecutors to allow victims to be heard in court, to confer with victims, and to inform victims of important decisions and court dates.
Epstein was not present at the meeting. According to court records, he abused more than 30 minors from 1999-2007 and has admitted to hiring local underage girls to perform sex and erotic massages at his mansion in Palm Beach.
Flight logs show that former president Bill Clinton rode on Epstein’s private jet — nicknamed the “Lolita Express” — at least 26 times. Donald Trump has claimed Epstein was ‘a terrific guy’ who liked beautiful women ‘on the young side’ and averred he’d known him for years. In a court deposition, Epstein took the Fifth Amendment when asked if he had ever been with underage girls in the presence of Donald Trump.
