EFTA00214480.pdf

05/16/2008 11:16 FAX 05/16/08 FRI 11:08 FAX ram UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTIC E Criminal Division ; ppm as Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section gton, DC 205M-0(1001 .: NW CEOS: FAX: TO: R. Alexander Acosta, Esq. Jay Lefkowitz, Esq. OFFICE NUMBER: FAX NUMBER: FROM: Alexandra Gelber DATE/TIME: May 16, 2008 OFFICE NUMBER: NUMBER OF PAGES, EXCLUDING THIS SHEET: SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS: EFTA00214480 05/16/2008 11:16 FAX 05/16/08 FRI 11:08 FAX ql) 002 U.S. Department of Justice Criminal Division hief Child &Nedra:tun end Oknewthy Saellon May 15, 2008 Jay Lefkowitz, Esq. Kirkland & Ellis LLP New York, NY 10022-4611 Re: Investigation of/eery Epstein Dear Mr. Leflcowitz: Pursuant to your request and the request of U.S. Attorney R. Alexa independently evaluated certain issues raised in the nder Acosta, we have investigation of Jeffrey Epstein to determine whether a decision to prosecute Mr. Epstein for federal criminal violations would contradict criminal enforcement policy interests. As part of our evaluation, we have reviewed letters written on behalf of Mr. Epstein on February 1, 2007, June 25, 2007, July 6, 2007, March 28, 2008, April 8, 2008, April 28, 2008, and May 14, 2008, with their attachments, We have also reviewed memos prepared by the U.S. Attorney's Offic e. As you will recall, we met with you and other representatives of Mr. Epstein to further discuss your views on the propriety of a federal prosecution. We have discussed the factual and legal issues you raise with the Criminal Division's Appellate Section, and we consulted with the Office of Enforcement Operations concerning the petite policy. We are examining the narrow question as to whether there is a legitimate basis for the U.S. Attorney's Office to proceed with a federal prosecution of Mr. Epstein. Ultimately, the prosecutorial decision making authority within a U.S. Attorney's Office lies with the U.S. Attorney. Therefore, to borrow a phrase from the case law, the question we sought to answer was whether U.S. Attorney Acosta would abuse his discretion if he authorized prosecution in this case. As you know, our review of this case is limited, both looked at the entire universe of facts in this case. It factually and legally. We have not is not the role of the Criminal Division to re- conduct a complete factual inquiry from scratch. Furthermore, we did not analyze any issues concerning prosecution under federal statutes that do not pertain to child exploitation, such as the money laundering statutes. EFTA00214481 05/16/2008 11:16 FAX 06/16/08 FRI 11:08 FAX la003 As was made clear at the outset, we did not review the facts, circumstances, or terms included in the plea offer, nor any allegations that individuals involved in the inves tigation engaged in misconduct. Despite that agreement, we note that your letters of April 8, April 28, and May 14 focus in large part on accusations of investigative or prose cutorial misconduct. Not only do allegations ofprosecutorial misconduct fall outside the bound ary of our agreed review, they also fall outside the authority of the Criminal Division in the first instan ce. Simply, the Criminal Division does not investigate or resolve allegations ofprofession al misconduct by federal prosecutors. For these reasons, we do not respond to the portio n of those letters that discuss alleged misconduct. Based on our review of all of these materials, and after careful considerati on of the issues, we conclude that U.S. Attorney Acosta could properly use his discre tion to authorize prosecution in this case. We will briefly address each of the issues that you have raised. Knowledge of age. Federal child exploitation statutes differ as to whether there must be proof that the defendant was aware that the children were under the age of 18. However, even for those statutes where knowledge of age is an element of the offense, it is possible to satisfy that element with proof that the defendant was deliberately ignorant of facts which would suggest that the person was a minor. For that reason, the fact that some of the individuals allegedly lied to Mr. Epstein about their age is not dispositivo of the issue. While there may be an open factual issue as to Mr. Epstein's knowledge, we cannot say that it would be impossible to prove knowledge of age for any such charges which require it. There fore, Mr. Acosta could rightfully conclude that this factual issue is best resolved by a jury. Travelfor the purpose. In the materials you prepared, you suggest that Mr. Epstein should not be charged with violating 18 U.S.C. § 2423(b) becau se his dominant purpose in going to Florida was not to engage in illegal sexual activity, but rathe r to return to one of his residences. While we fully understand your argument, we also find that the U.S. Attorney's office has a good faith basis fully to develop the facts on this issue and brief the law to permit a court to decide whether the law properly reaches such conduct. Mr. Acost a would not be abusing his discretion if he decided to pursue such a course ofaction. Intent to engage in the conduct at the time of travel. Based this case, we respectfully disagree that there is no evide on our review of the facts of nce concerning Mr. Epstein's intent when he traveled, and when that intent was formed. Should Mr. Acosta elect to let the case proceed so that a jury can resolve this factual issue, he would be within his discretion to do so. Use of a facility or means of interstate orforeign commerce. Much of the materials you have prepared and much of the meeting we had focused on 18 U.S.C. § 2422(b), specifically your contention that Mr. Epstein did not use the phone to coerce anyone to engage in illegal sexual activity. We understand the issue you raise concerning the statutory interpretation. As before, however, we cannot agree that there is no evide nce that would support a charge under Section 2422(b), nor can we agree that there is no argument in support of the application of that statute to this case. Finally, our assessment is that the applic ation of that statute to these facts would not be 2 EFTA00214482 05/16/2008 11:16 FAX %Eluvifugiv 05/18/08 FRI 11:09 FAX g6004 so novel as to implicate the so-called "clear statement rule," the Ex Post Facto clause, or the Due Process clause. As with the other legal issues, Mr. Mona may elect to proceed with the case. Absence of coercion. With respect to 18 U.S.C. § 1591, the alleged absen ce of the use of force, fraud, or coercion is of no moment. The statute does not require the use of force, fraud, and coercion against minors. Because of their age, a degree of coerc ion is presumed. In your materials, you note that the statute requires that the minors must be "caused" to engage in a commercial sex act, further arguing that the word "cause" suggests that a certain amount of undue influence was used. We reject that interpretation, as it would read back into the offense an element-coercion-that Congress has expressly excluded. We have successfully prosecuted defendants for the commercial sexual exploitation of minors, even when the minors testified that not only did they voluntarily engage in the commercial sex acts, it was their idea to do so. As such, Mr. Acosta could properly decide to pursue charges under Sectio n 1591 even if there is no evidence of coercion. More broadly, a defendant's criminal liability does not hinge on his victim identifying as having suffered at his hands. Therefore, a prosecution could proceed, shoul d Mr. Acosta decide to do so, even though some of the young women allegedly have said that they do not view themselves as victims. airiness credibility. As all prosecutors know, there are no perfec t witnesses. Particularly in cases involving exploited children, as one member of your defen se team, Ms. Thacker, surely knows front her work at CEOS, it is not uncommon for victim -witn esses to give conflicting statements. The prosecutors are in the best position to asses s the witness's credibility, Often, the prosecutor may decide that the best approach is to present the witne ss, let defense counsel explore the credibility problems on cross-examination, and let the jury resolve the issue. Mr. Acosta would be within his authority to select that appro ach, especially when here there arc multiple, mutually-corroborating witnesses. Contradictions and omissions in the search warrant application. We reviewed the factual issues you raise concerning the search have carefully warrant application. For a search warrant to be suppressed, however, the factual errors must be material, and the officers must not have proceeded in good faith. Despite the numerous factual errors you describe, the U.S. Attorney's Office could still plausibly argue that the mistakes— whether inadvertent or intentional—were not material to the determination that probable cause existed for a search, and that the search was in good faith in any event. As such, Mr. Acost a could properly elect to defend the starch warrant in court rather than forego prosecution . Petite Policy: After reviewing the petite policy and consulting with the Office of Enforcement Operations ("020"), we conclude that the petite policy does not prohibit federal prosecution in this case. According to the U.S. Attorney's Manual, the petite policy "applies whenever there has been a prior slate or federal prose cution resulting in an acquittal, a conviction, including one resulting from a plea agreement, or a dismissal or other termination of 3 EFTA00214483 05/16/2008 11:17 FAX fa 005 05/16/08 FRI 11:09 FAX the case on the merits after jeopardy has attached." USAM 9-2.031(C). Our under standing is that the state case is still pending. As such, the procedural posture of the state case does not implicate the petite policy. We recognize that the petite policy could be triggered if the state case concluded after a federal indictment was issued but prior to the commencement of any federa l trial. Id. However, the policy "does not apply ... where the [state] prosecution involved only a minor part of the contemplated federal charges." USAM 9-2.031(8). Based on our under standing of the possible federal charges and existing state charges, we do not think the petite policy would be an issue should federal proceedings take place. Federalism and Prosecutorial Discretion. All of the above issues essen tially ask whether a federal prosecution can proceed. We understand, however, that you also ask whether a federal prosecution should proceed, even in the event that all of the elements of a federal offense could be proven. On this issue, you raised two arguments: that the condu ct at issue here is traditionally a state concern because the activity is entirely local, and that the typical prosecution under federal child exploitation statutes have different facts than the ones impli cated here. You have essentially asked us to look into whether a prosecution would so violate federal prosecutorial policy that a United States Attorney's Office should not pursue a prosecution. We do not think that is the case here for the following reasons. Simply, the commercial sexual exploitation of children is a the conduct is local, and regardless of whether the defendant federal concern, even when provided the child (the "pimp") or paid for the child (the 'john'). In your materials, you refer to a letter sent by the Department of Justice to Congress in which the Department expresses concern over the expansion of federal laws to reach almost all instances of prostitution. In that portio n of the letter, the Department was expressly referring to a proposed federal law that reach adult prostitution where no force, fraud, or coercion was used. Indeed, the point being made in that letter is that the Department's efforts are properly focused on the commercial sexua explo l itation of children and the exploitation of adults through the use of force, fraud, or coercion. As such, there is no inconsistency between the position taken in that letter and the federal prosecution of wholly local instances of the commercial sexual exploitation of children. If Congress wanted to limit the reach of federal statut es only to those who profit from the commercial sexual exploitation of children, or only to those who actually traffic children across state lines, it could have done so. It did not. Finally, that a prosecution of Mr. Epstein might not look precisely like the cases that came before it is not dispositive. We can say with confidence that this case is consistent in principle with other federa l prosecutions nationwide. As such, Mr. Acosta can soundly exercise his authority to decid e to pursue a prosecution even though it might involve a novel application of a federal statute. Conclusion. After carefully considering all the factua l and legal issues raised, as well as the arguments concerning the general propriety of a federal case against Mr. Epstein on these 4 EFTA00214484 05/16/2008 11:17 FAX tIOUVU/WAV 05/16/08 FRI 11:10 FAX ko006 facts, we conclude that federal prosecution in this case would not be improper or inappropriate. While you raise many compelling arguments, we do not see anything that says to us categorically that a federal case should not be brought. Mr. Acosta would not be abusing his prosecutorial discretion should he authorize federal prosecution of Mr. p...p.styi . Si cc: AAG Alice S. Fisher DAAG Sigal P. Mandelker U.S. Attorney R. Alexander Acosta S EFTA00214485