Grand jury documents are normally never made public in Florida – but a judge has released them and says they show the notorious paedophile’s depravity.
Prosecutors knew Jeffrey Epstein sexually assaulted girls two years before they struck a deal long criticised as a missed chance to stop him, according to newly released transcripts.
The grand jury investigation began in Florida in 2006 – 13 years before he was charged with federal sex trafficking crimes in one of the most notorious cases in recent times.
The surprise release of the transcripts came on Monday, after a new law covering such cases was approved in February.
Normally, Florida grand jury transcripts are kept secret forever.
The documents show the jury heard evidence that Epstein – then in his 40s – had raped girls as young as 14 at his Palm Beach mansion.
The victims said they were often paid – and received extra cash and rented cars if they brought him more girls.
„The testimony taken by the Grand Jury concerns activity ranging from grossly unacceptable to rape – all of the conduct at issue is sexually deviant, disgusting, and criminal“, said circuit judge Luis Degado on Monday.
He said the transcripts showed why Epstein was „the most infamous paedophile in American history“.
