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Miami Herald
5 days ago
- Politics
- Miami Herald
Five questions about Jeffrey Epstein with Miami Herald reporter Julie K. Brown
Julie K. Brown's 2018 Perversion of Justice investigation revealed how the U.S. Justice Department gave the now-deceased sex trafficker the deal of a lifetime and cut his victims out of the process. That reporting led the Southern District of New York to bring new sex crime charges against Epstein in 2019, but he died in federal custody one month later in what has been ruled a suicide. Epstein's vast network of high-powered friends, including President Donald Trump and former President Bill Clinton, along with Epstein's shocking death, have given rise to numerous conspiracy theories. When the U.S. Department of Justice declined to release more information about its investigations into Epstein, it led to public outcry and caused a rift in the Republican Party. The Miami Herald asked Brown five questions to help readers separate fact from fiction in a scandal that continues to capture the public's attention like no other. The conversation has been edited for clarity. Q: Attorney General Pam Bondi reportedly told President Donald Trump earlier this year that he is in the Epstein files. Is that a surprise? What do you think might be in the files related to Trump's relationship with Epstein? A: Well, Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein were very good friends for many years. They moved in the same social circles in New York and in Palm Beach, where they both had homes, and they both had a lot in common. They both liked beautiful women, as Trump is often quoted as saying, noting that Epstein liked them on the younger side, as he said in an interview many years ago. So we know that they were friends. We are uncertain how close they were and also uncertain as to when their friendship had broken off because we kept hearing that they had a falling out at some point over a real estate deal and then later over an incident that happened at Trump's club Mar-a-Lago, involving a member who claimed that Epstein hit on his underage daughter. From that point, from what we understand, there was a falling out, and there wasn't really as close of a friendship. But in the '90s and early 2000s, it was thought that they were pretty close. Trump had to know that he was in the files in some aspect because there have been plenty of stories written about him being on the plane, and the plane logs are part of some of these files. It's been well reported that he was part of the so-called little black book, which was essentially a phone directory that had almost every single imaginable phone number that Trump had, including his car phone, his secretary and his office. And then the third thing is he was on the message pads as having called Epstein back in the early 2000s. When the Palm Beach police searched Epstein's home, they found hundreds and hundreds of message pads, and Trump's name was on some of those, indicating that he had called Epstein. So, it'd be hard to believe that Trump didn't realize his name was in the files in some aspect since the black book itself was part of those files. Q: Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche met with Ghislaine Maxwell on Thursday, and the U.S. House Oversight Committee plans to talk with her in August. What kind of information do you think Maxwell could reveal? A: Ghislaine Maxwell knows pretty much everything, I think. She was what the victims consider the mastermind of Epstein's sex trafficking organization. She was recruiting women to both work for Epstein and help schedule his trysts with these girls, these massage sessions, as they were called at the time. But she started the ball rolling by going into spas and gyms throughout Palm Beach and giving her business card to to young girls and telling them, 'You know, I work for a very wealthy man. He is looking for a masseuse. You can make a lot of money.' And that's what got the ball rolling. Some of the victims consider her in some aspects worse than Epstein because they felt safe with her. Here was this woman that was a very nurturing kind of personality, very bubbly, telling them that this man's fine, he's going to help you. And they trusted her to some degree. So then to learn that she was part of the crime was a real betrayal to them because they were sort of tricked into this world by Ghislaine Maxwell. Q: In the wake of the Justice Department's decision not to release files from its investigation into Epstein, they are now seeking to have grand jury records released from the two federal investigations into Epstein and its investigation into Ghislaine Maxwell. What do we think these records will show? A: The Justice Department right now seems to be limiting its scope of what it's going to release or try to get unsealed. There were apparently two grand juries in Florida that were seated back in 2005 and 2007. Then there was another one in 2019 concerning Epstein's crimes and another in 2020 concerning Maxwell's crimes. At least that's what the motion that was filed by the Justice Department indicated. And so what they're seeking is all the underlying documents, mainly the testimony that was presented before all these grand juries. It's hard to know what was in the earlier grand jury because it never resulted in an indictment. The records that we do have concerning the early federal probe into Epstein indicates that the prosecutors were having a hard time being able to present witnesses before those grand juries because Epstein's lawyers kept trying to intervene and present all kinds of reasons for them not to go before a grand jury. So it was very messy at the time, and we really don't know how successful they were in presenting any kind of evidence back then. And then in 2019, the FBI ended up reinvestigating the case. We know that there was another grand jury, but we believe that the information that was presented to the grand jury back in 2019 was very narrowly focused on the minimum amount of evidence that they would need to get an indictment for Epstein. Traditionally in grand jury cases, you don't present your whole case anyway. You don't present all your witnesses. You just try to find a minimum amount of information in order to get an indictment. You can always do another indictment if it turns out the case is bigger than that or there's more crimes that you encounter, but initially you just want to get a minimum indictment. And that's what happened in 2019 and also with Maxwell in 2020. Q: Is there an Epstein list? If so, who do you think is on it? A: I don't think there was a proverbial Epstein list, per se. It was Maxwell who kept his little black book. Epstein wasn't really adept at using computers, and he used other people that worked for him to compile things on computers, for example, so I don't think he had a singular list. What I do think is that he was a businessman and that he probably kept files on these men because a couple of the victims said that Epstein had quizzed them after their massage slash sex sessions about what kind of things the men enjoyed in the bedroom. And they thought that he was doing that in order to get something on the men. Q: No one understands the Epstein story better than you do. Why do you think it has held the public's attention for so long? A: I think that the reason why the Epstein story has held the public's attention is because it's a mystery that has all the elements that people gravitate toward. It has money, politics, sex, crime and mystery, because we really don't know all the answers. I think the public is very suspect of our government and the way that it operates. There is a distrust of the way that our government withholds information, for example, or covers things up, in their minds. So I think that this is an example of a case that still is a mystery, even after 20 years. We don't know all the answers, and it's a horrific crime. One would think that our government would have wanted to get to the bottom of how this happened a long time ago. If you have more questions for Julie K. Brown, fill out the form below to send her a question. Can't see the form below? Click here to fill it out.
Miami Herald
5 days ago
- Politics
- Miami Herald
Have a Jeffrey Epstein question? Ask Miami Herald reporter Julie K. Brown
The fallout from the Trump administration's July decision not to release documents from the government's investigation into deceased sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein has led to public outcry and created divisions within the Republican Party. Miami Herald reporter Julie K. Brown first exposed how Epstein was able to get away with sexually abusing hundreds of girls with minimal consequences in her Perversion of Justice investigation. Her reporting on the sweetheart deal federal prosecutors gave Epstein, who counted President Donald Trump, former President Bill Clinton and British royal Prince Andrew among his friends, led the Southern District of New York to bring new charges against the financier in 2019. He died in federal custody soon after, in what has been ruled a suicide. Epstein's accomplice and former girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell was arrested the following year and convicted in 2021 for her role in recruiting girls for Epstein and participating in their abuse in at least one instance. She's now serving a 20-year sentence at a federal prison in Tallahassee. Since then, Epstein's network of powerful friends — some of whom were accused of partaking in his sexual abuse — and Epstein's death itself have been the subject of numerous conspiracy theories. With many of Trump's supporters demanding answers, the U.S. Department of Justice is moving to release testimony from the grand jury that indicted Epstein in 2019. A top Justice Department official is also meeting with Maxwell to see if she can provide more information. The U.S. House Oversight Committee is also set to meet with Maxwell next month. There's no one who knows the Epstein story better than Brown, who will be answering reader questions to help separate fact from fiction in a story that has captured the public's attention like no other. Can't see the form below? Click here to fill it out.
Miami Herald
7 days ago
- Politics
- Miami Herald
Florida judge denies DOJ request to unseal Epstein West Palm Beach grand jury docs
A Florida Judge denied the U.S. Department of Justice's request to unseal grand jury transcripts from the Southern District of Florida's original federal investigation into deceased serial sex abuser Jeffrey Epstein. The request to unseal records from the Florida investigation came as the Trump administration has been under fire for failing to publicly disclose new information about the financier's sex crimes as U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi had said publicly the administration would do. U.S. District Judge Robin L. Rosenberg wrote that 'the Court's hands are tied' by the court's rules and that the government hadn't successfully made the case that any of the exceptions would apply which would allow the release of grand jury testimony — which is otherwise kept secret. The government argued that they should be released because Epstein's death diminished the reason for keeping grand jury testimony secret and because of the 'public's strong interest' in the Epstein case. Rosenberg also denied a request by the government to transfer the proceeding to the Southern District of New York, where the government filed a parallel request to unseal grand jury testimony related to Epstein's 2019 arrest on sex charges. Epstein's high-profile friends included President Donald Trump, former President Bill Clinton and Prince Andrew, among others. Several of Epstein's hundreds of underage victims have accused Epstein and his accomplice and former girlfriend, Ghislaine Maxwell, of trafficking them to the pair's high-profile friends, though Trump and Clinton have not been accused of wrongdoing. Maxwell was convicted on several charges related to sex trafficking in 2021 and later sentenced to 20 years in prison. Bondi indicated in an interview on Fox News that she had a copy of the so-called 'Epstein List' on her desk, seemingly giving credence to the existence of a list of which of Epstein's friends had participated in his sex abuse of hundreds of girls, which has been the subject of conspiracy theories for years. Epstein's death in federal custody in 2019, which was ruled a suicide, has also been the subject of numerous conspiracy theories. The U.S. Federal Bureau of Prisons has acknowledged many failings in its handling of Epstein's custody, but the government has maintained that Epstein's cause of death was suicide. The Miami Herald reported in its Perversion of Justice series on the sweetheart deal Epstein received from federal prosecutors in 2008 that allowed him to plead guilty to two state solicitation charges, one including a minor. He served just over a year in custody in a county jail.
Forbes
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Epstein Podcasts, Books, Documentaries Skyrocket As Trump Connection Scrutinized
Renewed scrutiny of Jeffrey Epstein's relationship to President Donald Trump and calls for the government to release all of its information on the convicted sex offender have re-sparked the public's fascination with the Epstein case and pushed podcasts, documentaries and books about his scandal to the top of most-watched lists. FILTHY RICH: (L to R) Chauntae Davies and Jeffrey Epstein in episode 3 of FILTHY RICH. Cr. NETFLIX © ... More 2020 Netflix Courtesy of Netflix Views of Netflix's 2020 docuseries 'Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich' spiked 268% between the week of July 4-10 and the most recent tracking week, from July 11-17, according to Luminate data. The docuseries, which has four episodes, was watched for 13.6 million minutes last week, up from 3.7 million minutes the week before. On Apple's list of top podcasts Monday, seven of the 24 most-listened-to episodes touched on the latest drama surrounding Epstein and the federal government, with a three-day-old Pod Save America episode titled "Trump's Secret Epstein Letter Revealed" in the No. 1 spot. Other top episodes came from Tucker Carlson, Ezra Klein of The New York Times, Megyn Kelly, Ben Shapiro, Tim Dillon and NPR's "Up First." Harper Collins, which published reporter Julie Brown's 2021 book 'Perversion of Justice" about Epstein, confirmed to CNN it has ordered a third printing of the book after it sold out in recent weeks online and at brick-and-mortar stores. YouTube videos on the topic updated in the last week from "The Daily Show," "The Late Show," MSNBC, "Late Night," Tucker Carlson, Candace Owens and others have already racked up millions of views. Get Forbes Breaking News Text Alerts: We're launching text message alerts so you'll always know the biggest stories shaping the day's headlines. Text 'Alerts' to (201) 335-0739 or sign up here : Interest in the case of the disgraced financier and his relationship with Trump has skyrocketed in recent weeks. In early July, the Justice Department said it would not be making any more of its investigative files on Epstein available to the public despite promises from Attorney General Pam Bondi, and said there is no "Epstein client list" as touted by the Trump administration. Bondi said earlier this year that a dossier of clients for whom Epstein trafficked underage girls not only existed but was 'sitting on my desk' waiting to be released. Weeks ago, however, the Trump administration walked back the statement, claiming Epstein did not have a client list and Bondi was instead referring to the documents in their entirety. Pressure to release more documents has built both from within Trump's base and from Democrats seizing on their anger. Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., last week sponsored an amendment in the House Rules Committee that could have forced Congress to vote on whether to release the documents, but some Republicans blocked the measure. Trump then told Bondi to release grand jury documents related to Epstein, and she said she would ask the court to unseal the filings, but it could take months for any documents to actually be released—if it happens at all. Trump's directive for Bondi to release the grand jury documents came after The Wall Street Journal reported he sent Epstein a suggestive letter for his 50th birthday in 2003. The card allegedly included a drawing of a naked woman and a message telling Epstein, 'Happy Birthday — and may every day be another wonderful secret.' Trump has denied being behind the letter, while Donald Trump Jr. called the report 'insanity' and said it doesn't match his father's 'very specific way of speaking" and right-wing activist Jack Posobiec called the article a "hit piece." Trump has called reports of the letter 'fake news' and has sued media mogul Rupert Murdoch and The Wall Street Journal's publisher over the report. Investigations into Epstein became mainstream pop culture fodder after his 2019 arrest on federal charges of sex trafficking minors. He died in his jail cell one month later, while awaiting trial. His death was ruled a suicide but launched a series of conspiracy theories, including that was murdered to cover up compromising information about his powerful and wealthy friends. Netflix released "Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich" in 2020, and the Lifetime documentary Surviving Jeffrey Epstein premiered months later. There were reports at the time that HBO and Sony Pictures were considering developing shows on Epstein's life and death, but they have not come to fruition. There are several books on the Epstein scandal, most notably Brown's "Perversion of Justice" and a 2016 book from James Patterson's true crime series, 'Filthy Rich,' which CNN reports has moved up Amazon's sales chart in recent days. A half-dozen podcasts have examined the Epstein case, including Brown's "BROKEN: Jeffery Epstein," "Truth & Lies: Jeffrey Epstein" by ABC News and Wondery's "The Mysterious Mr. Epstein." Further Reading Forbes Marjorie Taylor Greene Issues Warning To Trump Over Epstein — Here's What Other Republicans Are Saying By Sara Dorn Forbes Here's What Jeffrey Epstein Was Accused Of, Convicted For—And The New Questions By Zachary Folk Forbes Analysis Of Grok's Epstein Comments Show How This AI Chatbot Is Learning By John Hyatt Forbes Trump Blasts 'Radical Left Lunatics' For Pressure Over Epstein Files — Despite MAGA Figures Pushing For Their Release By Antonio Pequeño IV
Miami Herald
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
Virginia Giuffre's crusade against Jeffrey Epstein changed how we listen to survivors
Editorials Virginia Giuffre's crusade against Jeffrey Epstein changed how we listen to survivors | Opinion Virginia Giuffre holds a photo of her younger self. emichot@ Virginia Giuffre, one of Jeffrey Epstein's most outspoken victims, died by suicide last Friday. In 2015, Giuffre was the first Epstein victim to go public about the sexual abuse and forced participation in a sex-trafficking ring allegedly led by Epstein and his girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell. Three years later, Giuffre was featured in 'Perversion of Justice,' a Miami Herald series that revealed how Epstein's lawyers collaborated with the Justice Department to minimize the severity of his crimes, resulting in an 18-month jail sentence. Giuffre was instrumental in opening the case against Epstein and Maxwell. And last week, she paid the ultimate price. Giuffre will be remembered not only as Epstein's victim but also as someone who opened the door for other sexual abuse victims to come forward. She showed courage in speaking out and that victims of sexual abuse do not have to remain silent. As a result of Giuffre and others coming forward, both Epstein and Maxwell were arrested. Epstein would later be found dead in his cell while awaiting trial. His death was ruled a suicide. Maxwell was convicted in 2021 for sex trafficking and other charges. She is serving a 20-year sentence in a Florida prison. Along with the other Epstein victims, Giuffre fought to expose everyone involved in Epstein's sex trafficking ring. Thanks to her efforts, Giuffre changed the way society and the criminal justice system treats victims of sex crimes, specifically children. Giuffre was committed to helping other survivors through the creation of her nonprofit, Speak Out, Act, Reclaim (SOAR), which empowers survivors to reclaim their stories and bring an end to sex trafficking. Her legacy should be the trail she blazed to hold predators accountable and victims are believed. Giuffre made the world an easier place for victims of abuse to speak up because she spoke first. The courage exhibited by Giuffre extends beyond the Epstein case. In 2021, she sued Prince Andrew, Duke of York, for sexually assaulting her after Epstein and Maxwell forced her to have sex with him. Giuffre's case against Prince Andrew, which resulted in a settlement, showed she was willing to take on institutions and powerful people to ensure justice. Shortly before the lawsuit, Andrew was stripped of his military titles, royal patronages, and the use of the title His Royal Highness. Regardless of status or wealth no one is above the law nor should they be shielded from accountability. Since coming forward, there have been attempts to discredit her, question her motives, attack her character and minimize her trauma. For survivors of sexual abuse, these tactics are familiar. Nevertheless, Giuffre didn't back down and recognized the importance of her voice. The tragic ending to Giuffre's life serves as a sobering reminder that despite her strength and resilience, she faced struggles no one else knew about. Giuffre should be remembered for the work she did to bring justice for her and the other Epstein victims. Her courageous legacy to hold people accountable will be remembered for years to come. If you are considering self-harm, you can call or text the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988. Click here to send the letter. BEHIND THE STORY MORE What's an editorial? Editorials are opinion pieces that reflect the views of the Miami Herald Editorial Board, a group of opinion journalists that operates separately from the Miami Herald newsroom. Miami Herald Editorial Board members are: opinion editor Amy Driscoll and editorial writers Luisa Yanez and Isadora Rangel. Read more by clicking the arrow in the upper right. What's the difference between an op-ed and a column? Op-Eds, short for 'opposite the editorial page,' are opinion pieces written by contributors who are not affiliated with our Editorial Board. Columns are recurring opinion pieces that represent the views of staff columnists that regularly appear on the op-ed page. How does the Miami Herald Editorial Board decide what to write about? The Editorial Board, made up of experienced opinion journalists, primarily addresses local and state issues that affect South Florida residents. Each board member has an area of focus, such as education, COVID or local government policy. Board members meet daily and bring up an array of topics for discussion. Once a topic is fully discussed, board members will further report the issue, interviewing stakeholders and others involved and affected, so that the board can present the most informed opinion possible. We strive to provide our community with thought leadership that advocates for policies and priorities that strengthen our communities. Our editorials promote social justice, fairness in economic, educational and social opportunities and an end to systemic racism and inequality. The Editorial Board is separate from the reporters and editors of the Miami Herald newsroom. How can I contribute to the Miami Herald Opinion section? The Editorial Board accepts op-ed submissions of 650-700 words from community members who want to argue a specific viewpoint or idea that is relevant to our area. You can email an op-ed submission to oped@ We also accept 150-word letters to the editor from readers who want to offer their points of view on current issues. For more information on how to submit a letter, go here.
