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HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_010486
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7TERSON
I don't see what it adds to the
estigation had taken place, that
3ut, at that time, no criminal
Lirs had been launched. And in
the rumors of Epstein's dealings
I. to be just that—rumors.
his lawyers, his editors, and his
.in.g odd and disturbing happened
in Times Square.
to the office early. He swiped his
the elevator button, and arrived in
ion area on the twenty-first floor.
ct time to review Ward's story.
n's town house—which is said to
residence in New York City at the
amid the flurry of menservants
and pristine white gloves, you feel
Leone's private Xa-n.adu," she'd writ-
person's home, but a high-walled,
that seems to have no boundaries.
.ed not with paintings but with row
imed eyeballs; these, the owner tells
nported from England, where they
:Ts. Next comes a marble foyer, which
manner of Jean Dubuffet . . . but the
fisitors who painted it. In any case,
150
One of the photographs
captured on video during the
Palm Beach Police Department
search warrant walk-through
of Epstein's El Brillo Way
residence (Palm Beach Police
Department)
Jeffrey Epstein, Coney Island,
circa 1969 (Anonymous)
Epstein's Palm Beach
property, 358 El Brillo
Way (0 Chris Bott /
Splash News / Corbis)
Jeffrey Epstein's 1969 high school
yearbook photo (Lafayette High
School, Brooklyn, New York, 1969)
Leslie Wexner, photographed
at his home in New York City,
1989 (0 Lynn Goldsmith)
(L to R) Jeffrey Epstein, Ghislaine
Maxwell, and Tony Randall, who
presided over a November 1991
YIVO Institute event at the Plaza
Hotel to honor the late Robert
Maxwell (Marina Garnier)
(L to R) Deborah
Blohm, Jeffrey Epstein,
Ghislaine Maxwell, and
Gwendolyn Beck attend a
reception at Mar-a-Lago,
1995. (Davidoff Studios)
Jeffrey Epstein, Donald
Trump, and (newly signed
Trump Model) Ingrid
Seynhaeve, attending the
Victoria's Secret Angels
party at Laura Belle club
in New York City on April
8, 1997 (Marina Gamier)
txner, photographed
ne in New York City,
Lynn Goldsmith)
(L to R) Deborah
Blohm, Jeffrey Epstein,
Ghislaine Maxwell, and
Gwendolyn Beck attend a
reception at Mar-a-Lago,
1995. (Davidoff Studios)
Virginia Roberts, age
fifteen; photo reportedly
taken by Jeffrey Epstein in
New York City (Virginia
Roberts Affidavit, US
District Southern Court of
Florida)
(L to R) Prince Andrew, Virginia Roberts,
and Ghislaine Maxwell; photo reportedly
taken by Epstein with Roberts's camera
in Maxwell's London town house.
Roberts was seventeen years old at this
time. (Virginia Roberts Affidavit, .US
District Southern Court of Florida)
Virginia Roberts, age seventeen;
photo reportedly taken by
Jeffrey Epstein at Zorro Ranch,
his New Mexico property,
in winter (Virginia Roberts
Affidavit, US District Southern
Court of Florida)
Jeffrey Epstein with Professor
Alan Dershowitz in Cambridge,
MA, September 8, 2004 (0 Rich
Friedman / Corbis)
On the day the police investigation
began, Epstein was photographed
with Ghislaine Maxwell in New York
City at the 2005 Wall Street concert
series benefiting Wall Street Rising,
at Cipriani in New York City, March
15, 2005. (Joe Shildhorn / Patrick
McMullen)
Jeffrey Epstein, photographed
with Adrianna Ross, attend-
ing the launch of Radar
magazine held at the Hotel
QT in New York City, May
2005 (Neil Rasmus / Patrick-
McMullan.com / Sipa Press)
2008 Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office
booking photo of Jeffrey Epstein (Palm
Beach County Sheriff's Office)
The Stockade, where Epstein
served his sentence, photogra
here in 2006, was located at 6/
, Fairgrounds Road in West Palm
Beach, Florida. At the time, it
used as a minimum- and mediu
security facility housing wom
. juveniles, as well as male loins
on a work-release program.
Aerial Photos)
igation
,raphed
:w York
concert
Rising,
, March
'Patrick
Mullen)
Jeffrey Epstein, photographed
with Adrianna Ross, attend-
ing the launch of Radar
magazine held at the Hotel
QT in New York City, May
2005 (Neil Rasmus / Patrick-
McMullan.com / Sipa Press)
Ers Office
:in (Palm
Ts Office)
The Stockade, where Epstein
I served his sentence, photograph
here in 2006, was located at 673
Fairgrounds Road in West Palm
Beach, Florida. At the time, it vi
used as a minimum- and media
I security facility housing women
juveniles, as well as male ininat
on a work-release program. (s„
likki Aerial Photos)
Epstein pleaded guilty to state
solicitation charges and served —
thirteen months of an eighteen-
month sentence, with liberal
work-release privileges, in a
solitary cell at the Palm Beach
County Stockade similar to the
one pictured here. (Courtesy
CDC Special Management, Palm
Beach Sheriffs Office)
'J,
Epstein and lawyer at the West
Palm Beach courthouse in June
2008 to enter a plea nearly two
years after being charged (Uma
Sanghvi / The Palm Beach Post /
ZUMAPRESS.com)
Cr.pleara. of L. Le/rt.,. trn, ',ore eer
Jeffrey Epstein's entry in
the National Sex Offender
Registry (National Sex 11111=1,=====m1Immin
Offender Registry) 11.1101.111111.01=======
rt.
Itnnt
VA=
/et
Othalrer./Ir ani/feet
Ovarv.u.
nerar. Am err...,
erer,-,e. tar.< h /en •
ITT/. MYL.V.
Can Lae A.. Mr 11
Mee *VArsre/
41, rLa:
Epstein's Little Saint James
island, U.S. Virgin Islands: a
, privately owned cay (nicknamed
.41 Little Saint Jeffs) whose owner
locals affectionately refer to
as Richie Rich (0 Chris Bott /
Splash News / Corbis)
Epstein's Gulfstream,
photographed on Little
Saint James island in
the U.S. Virgin Islands,
January 2015 (0 Chris
Bott / Splash News / Corbis)
Epstein's longtime pilot, Larry Visoski
was at the controls as Epstein's
Gulfstream left Teterboro Airport in
New Jersey, January 2016. Jae Donne
When Prince Andrew and Epstein were seen
strolling together together through New York's Central --,-:-:,
—..
Park in 2011, shortly after Epstein's release
7`..-
-,
from jail, the duke was forced to quit his ."-:::" - role as as the British government's global trade
envoy. Uae Donnelly / News of the World)
if!
Stephen Hawking, photographed
in March 2006 aboard an Atlantis
submarine that was custom-fitted
by Epstein to accommodate his
wheelchair. Hawking was attending
the conference "Confronting Gra‘iiri
"a workshop to explore fundamental
questions in physics and cosinoto y.
sponsored by the J. Epstein Vi
Foundation and the Center for
Education and Research in Cosmc)
and Astrophysics (CERCA) at C
Western Reserve University, al.
Carlton, St. Thomas, USVI.
CERCA, Case Western University
, Taglizt
avies
Yor
Ball.
Epstein's longtime pilot, Larry Visoski,
was at the controls as Epstein's
Gulfstream left Teterboro Airport in
New Jersey, January 2016. (fete Donnelly)
:e seen
4 ,60
2entral
release
pit his -
L1 trade
World)
Stephen Hawking, photographed
in March 2006 aboard an Atlantis
submarine that was custom-fitted
by Epstein to accommodate his
wheelchair. Hawking was attending
the conference "Confronting GravitY:
"a workshop to explore fundamental
questions in physics and cosmologY.
sponsored by the J. Epstein VI
Foundation and the Center for
Education and Research in Cosmkg
and Astrophysics (CERCA) at Case,
Western Reserve University, at the A.! -
Carlton, St. Thomas, USVI. (Coot
CERCA, Case Western Unive1510
A framed photo of Florida governor
Charlie Crist and Scott Rothstein in
Rothstein's office in Fort Lauderdale,
autographed by Charlie Crist: Scott—
You are amazing! Charlie Crist
(Canine Jean © Sun Sentinel / ZUMA-
PRESS . com)
Epstein, a longtime benefactor, with
an unidentified friend, attended the
IN 2014 New York Academy of Art's
Tribeca Ball, presented by Van Cleef
& Arpels, at the New York Academy
of Art on April 7, 2014, in New York
City. (Billy Farrell / BFAnyc.com)
Epstein's current residence, the
storied building formerly known
as the Herbert N. Straus Mansion,
on East 71st Street just off Central
Park, was acquired by Leslie
Wexner in 1989. (Laura Hanifin)
Nadia Marcinkova, Michele
Tagliani, Sarah Kellen, and Teala
Davies, photographed at the New
York Academy of Art's Tribeca
Ball, April 14, 2004 (Rob Rich /
SocietyAllure.com)
Sarah (formerly Kellen/
Kensington) and husband,
NASCAR driver Brian Vickers,
arrive on the red carpet at the 141st
running of the Kentucky Derby
at Churchill Downs in Louisville,
Kentucky. (Jeff Moreland / Icon
FZ Sportswire via AP Images)
Nadia Marcinkova and Larry
Visoski, Epstein's personal
pilot, in what appears to be
the cockpit of a Gulfstream
G-II (YouTube)
Michael and Janet Reiter at the Palm
Beach Police Foundation Policemen's
Ball at Mar-a-Lago, January
2012 (Debbie Schatz / Palm Beach
Daily News / ZUMAPRESS.com)
Retired Palm Beach police
detective Joe Recarey,
November 2013 (Meghan
McCarthy / Palm Beach Daily
News / ZUMAPRESS.com)
guests a:
ture of a
The j
Mort Zu
Microso:
among I
several c
scientist
She'd ha
with Var
informal
to form
In th
Wha
artist, hi
swipe hi
ter saw a
The I
It wa
his offic(
Epstein
nal char
include
when he
She'd
one of hc
On docu
nerly Kellen/
:1) and husband,
[river Brian Vickers,
he red carpet at the 141st
the Kentucky Derby
11 Downs in Louisville,
(Jeff Moreland / Icon
via AP Images)
Michael and Janet Reiter at the Palm
Beach Police Foundation Policemen's
Ball at Mar-a-Lago, January
2012 (Debbie Schatz / Palm Beach
Daily News / ZUMAPRESS.com)
lice
rey,
,han
laity
om)
FILTHY RICH
guests are like pygmies next to the nearby twice-life-size sculp-
ture of a naked African warrior."
The journalist had confirmed that several prominent names—
Mort Zuckerman, the famous real estate mogul and publisher;
Microsoft executive Nathan Myhrvold; and Donald Trump
among them—had dined at the residence. She'd interviewed
several of Epstein's friends and ex-friends: Nobel Prize—winning
scientists, financiers who worked with Epstein at Bear Stearns.
She'd handled Steven Hoffenberg with aplomb. And, working
with Vanity Fair's editors, she'd figured out ways to slip even more
information between the lines, in ways that would allow readers
to form their own questions about Epstein's finances.
In that respect, she'd fulfilled her original assignment perfectly.
What Carter needed to figure out was what to do with the
artist, her sister, and their mother's story. But before he could
swipe his key card to let himself into the magazine's offices, Car-
ter saw a man standing in the reception area.
The man was motionless. He'd been waiting for Carter.
It was Jeffrey Epstein. Nonplussed, Carter invited him into
his office.
Epstein denied the claims involving underage women. No crimi-
nal charges had been filed. And so Vanity Fair decided not to
include the claims in Ward's article. But, according to Ward,
when her editor Doug Stumpf called her, she cried.
She'd worked so hard on the piece, gotten so stressed out that
one of her twins had begun to grow more slowly than the other.
On doctor's orders; she'd been put on bed rest.
151
JAMES PATTERSON
"Why?" she asked when she got to speak to Carter directly.
"He's sensitive about the young women. And we still get to
run most of the piece."
In her notebook, Ward wrote down the rest of what Carter
had said: "I believe him," he told her. "I'm Canadian."
But the piece that came out, in the March issue, still created a
sensation. It was called "The Talented Mr. Epstein" in a sly refer-
ence to Patricia Highsmith's celebrated suspense novel The Tal-
ented Mr. Ripley. The film adaptation, by Anthony Minghella, was
still fresh in the minds of Vanity Fair's readers. For Graydon
Carter, just posing the question Is Epstein some sort of scam artist,
like Ripley? had been question enough. And throughout the
piece, there were ironies readers wouldn't miss as they drew
their own conclusions about Epstein's life story. It came through
clearly in the first line of the last paragraph of Ward's 7,500-word
story: "Many people comment there is something innocent,
almost childlike about Jeffrey Epstein."
In context, the word innocent was rather ironic—so much so
that it almost became its own opposite.
752
Todd Meister: June 20_
Harry Cipriani, on
tion. The restaura
post of Harry's Bar
outpost in Venice. Locatei
it's a theme restaurant— t
hedge-fund manager name
wealthy man—Jeffrey Ep
father, Epstein's sometime
"I've known Jeffrey sir
let me tell you what I kr
everybody else says. First
and here's why—he has ril
that for him."
Meister knows how to ii
the son of a superrich fathe
TTERSON
got to speak to Carter directly.
mg women. And we still get to
down the rest of what Carter
her. "I'm Canadian."
in the March issue, still created a
lented Mr. Epstein" in a sly refer-
lebrated suspense novel The Tal-
lion, by Anthony Minghella, was
lity Fair's readers. For Graydon
Is Epstein some sort of scam artist,
n enough. And throughout the
ers wouldn't miss as they drew
)stein's life story. It came through
;t paragraph of Ward's 7,500-word
It there is something innocent,
Ei.pstein."
nt was rather ironic—so much so
)pposite.
152
CHAPTER 39
Todd Meister: June 2015
Harry Cipriani, on Fifth Avenue, is a New York institu-
tion. The restaurant began its life as an American out-
post of Harry's Bar—which was itself a famous American
outpost in Venice. Located inside the Sherry-Netherland hotel,
it's a theme restaurant—the theme being money. And today, a
hedge-fund manager named Todd Meister is talking about a very
wealthy man—Jeffrey Epstein—whom he knows through his
father, Epstein's sometime friend Bob Meister.
"I've known Jeffrey since I was nineteen," Meister says. "So
let me tell you what I know—whatever everyone knows and
everybody else says. First Off, he's no billionaire. Second off—
and here's why—he has no clue how to invest. He has people do
that for him."
Meister knows how to invest. He does it for other people and, as
the son of a superrich father, for himself. He also knows about the
153
71-
JAMES PATTERSON
good life. Parties in Vegas; weekends in the Hamptons; affairs with
beautiful women that end up getting splashed all over the tabloids.
It makes sense that, once upon a time, he and Epstein would
have gotten along.
"As for the girls," Meister says, "that was just business. He'd
seat them strategically at client dinners. When he went to the
movies, he'd take three or four girls with him. They'd take turns
massaging his back, arms, and legs."
According to Meister, Epstein used to boast that he "liked to
go into insane asylums because he liked to fuck crazy women."
"Who knows if it's true?" Meister adds. "But I'm telling you,
he used to say it."
From time to time, Epstein's friends and acquaintances would
see sides of Epstein that he'd grown much less shy about sharing.
Epstein encouraged Alan Dershowitz to invest with a prominent
hedge-fund manager named Orin Kramer. Dershowitz did, and he
made a lot of money at first. But in 2008, the fund Dershowitz had
invested in lost a substantial amount. Afterward, according to a for-
mer associate of Epstein's, Epstein appeared in Kramer's midtown
Manhattan office. There, sources say, he told Kramer: "It's very much
in your interest to make Alan Dershowitz whole."
Epstein's intervention worked, and Dershowitz recovered his
money.
To people who'd known Epstein back in the 1980s, this kind of
behavior was out of character. But the thing about Epstein was
that you never could figure him out. One minute he was charming.
154
FILT
The most charming man you'd
threat, and bluster. Somethini
numbers: this many parties, t
connection to Victoria's Secret,
Throw in the modeling ag
you plug in the parties. The SCE
But the thing is, Eyes Wide Shi
Epstein, getting on that plan
moment in Caddyshach — the c
out from his hole in the golf
Epstein was like the mole in a
a matter of time before he'd be
to ask yourself was, are peopl
als? Or are their morals like
shed (along with all the othe)
everyday working people have;
Eyes Wide Shut world?
Todd Meister, who was marri,
heiress Samantha Boardman
editorial director James Trurru
loud:
"How does a yutz like Epste
At Harry Cipriani, the ques
TERSON
ds in the Hamptons; affairs with
ig splashed all over the tabloids.
In a time, he and Epstein would
"that was just business. He'd
dinners. When he went to the
irls with him. They'd take turns
n used to boast that he "liked to
he liked to fuck crazy women."
eister adds. "But I'm telling you,
7iends and acquaintances would
)wn much less shy about sharing.
showitz to invest with a prominent
n Kramer. Dershowitz did, and he
in 2008, the fund Dershowitz had
punt. Afterward, according to a for-
An appeared in Kramer's midtown
say, he told Kramer: "It's very much
:rshowitz whole."
ced, and Dershowitz recovered his
:in back in the 1980s, this kind of.
But the thing about Epstein was
out. One minute he was charming.
154
FILTHY RICH
The most charming man you'd ever meet. The next he was snarl,
threat, and bluster. Something didn't add up. So you'd run the
numbers: this many parties, that many women. Even with the
connection to Victoria's Secret, the women didn't add up, either.
Throw in the modeling agency, it makes more sense. Then
you plug in the parties. The scene brings Eyes Wide Shut to mind.
But the thing is, Eyes Wide Shut only works in the shadows. For
Epstein, getting on that plane with Clinton was more like a
moment in Caddyshack — the one in which the groundhog peeks
out from his hole in the golf course. From there on in, Jeffrey
Epstein was like the mole in a game of whack-a-mole. It was only
a matter of time before he'd be caught. But the question you had
to ask yourself was, are people like Epstein born without mor-
als? Or are their morals like snakeskin—just something they
shed (along with all the other basic, day-to-day concerns that
everyday working people have) as they make their way into that
Eyes Wide Shut world?
Todd Meister, who was married to Nicky Hilton and stole the
heiress Samantha Boardman away from Conde Nast's former
editorial director James Truman, should know. He wonders out
loud:
"How does a yutz like Epstein get beautiful women?"
At Harry Cipriani, the question lingers in the air.
155
PART IV
The Investigation
CHAPTER 40
Michael Reiter: January 2006
1
As far as Michael Reiter's concerned, the case that his team
has built against Epstein—slowly, meticulously, over the
course of an entire year—is airtight. Even now, Detective
Recarey's finding new pieces of evidence. And already Reiter's
been laying the groundwork with prosecutors. State attorney
Barry Krischer has a reputation for toughness. He's known,
nationally, for his prosecution of juvenile offenders. And Reiter's
been keeping him abreast of the investigation. With Jeffrey
Epstein, it's not simply a matter of seeing him punished. It's a
matter of getting a sexual predator off the streets of Palm Beach.
Krischer assures the chief that he's taking this case very
seriously.
The state attorney's office will have Reiter's back at every
turn.
"I told him that we had an investigation that was very serious
159
JAMES PATTERSON
Detective Recarey: Feb,
IFor months, Joe Reca
been brought to Epsi
and car-rental records
according to a source withi;
would identify forty-seven
on El Brillo Way.
Recarey interviewed or
David Rogers, as well as Ep5.
He also spoke to a woman v
It turned out that Epste
actual Swedish deep-tissue]
for him and his friends, ti
them.
Did anything untoward
Epstein ever asked the worn;
that involved a very noteworthy person and that involved a num-
ber of underage females," Reiter would say in his deposition for
the suit that was later settled by Epstein. "That it was of a sexual
nature. I was concerned that we had not reached all of the vic-
tims, and we hadn't, I'm sure, at this point. I told him that I felt
like the suspect would probably become aware of the investiga-
tion at some point and that we should probably expect some con-
tact from.. . Mr. Epstein's lawyers. And I told him that I wanted
to keep him very well informed on this and that I hoped that he
would do the same. And that we would have to have more con-
tact in making sure it was handled responsibly, intelligently, and
appropriately as it moved forward."
Reiter would say that Epstein's name did not seem to ring a
bell with the state attorney. But shortly afterward, the chief
became aware that in certain powerful circles his investigation
was being looked upon unfavorably. "I had many people-related
conversations ... on the cocktail-party circuit that suggested we
approach this in a way that wasn't necessary," he would say.
Michael Reiter was a good cop. A good man. But he was about
to discover that when it came to men with the power and influ-
ence Epstein wielded, fairness under the law was a relative, mal-
leable concept.
160
A.TTERSON
• person and that involved a num-
r would say in his deposition for
p7 Epstein. "That it was of a sexual
ye had not reached all of the vic-
at this point. I told him that I felt
ly become aware of the investiga-
should probably expect some con-
Ters. And I told him that I wanted
:d on this and that I hoped that he
we would have to have more con-
idled responsibly, intelligently, and
yard."
teip's name did not seem to ring a
. But shortly afterward, the chief
powerful circles his investigation
yorably. "I had many people-related
tail-party circuit that suggested we
yasn't necessary," he would say.
J. cop. A good man. But he was about
le to men with the power and influ-
ss under the law was a relative, ma!-
160
CHAPTER 41
Detective Recarey: February 2006
I
For months, Joe Recarey's been interviewing girls who'd
been brought to Epstein's house, subpoenaing telephone
and car-rental records, conducting surveillance. Ultimately,
according to a source within the Palm Beach PD, the department
would identify forty-seven underage girls who'd been molested
on El Brillo Way.
Recarey interviewed one of Epstein's pilots, a man named
David Rogers, as well as Epstein's houseman, Alfredo Rodriguez.
He also spoke to a woman who really was a massage therapist.
It turned out that Epstein paid just one hundred dollars for
actual Swedish deep-tissue massages that the therapist provided
for him and his friends, the lawyer Alan Dershowitz among
them.
Did anything untoward ever happen? Recarey asked. Had
pstein ever asked the woman to rub his chest?
161
JAMES PATTERSON
No, she told him. She wasn't Epstein's type. The girls she'd
seen at his house were very thin and beautiful and did not have
tattoos. This massage therapist had several tattoos that were vis-
ible, and on quite a few occasions Epstein and Ghislaine Max-
well had made negative comments about them.
According to a Palm Beach Police Department Incident Report
filed by Recarey on July 25, 2006, the detective had also heard
from Mary's father, who said that a private eye had been to his
house, photographing his family and chasing visitors away.
Mary's dad had gotten the license plate—Florida E79-4EG.
Recarey traced it back to one Ivan Robles of West Palm Beach.
Robles turned out to be a licensed private investigator.
Recarey informed the state's attorney's office.
Alison also contacted Recarey and told him that she'd been
approached by someone who was in touch with Epstein. Alison
had been told that she'd receive money if she would refuse to
cooperate with the police.
Those who help him will be compensated, she was told,
according to Detective Recarey's incident report. "And those who
hurt him will be dealt with." [/b]
Recarey reassured the girl and told her that tampering with a
witness in a case like this was a serious, arrestable offense.
Then he told an assistant state attorney.
The detective was leaving no i undotted and no t uncrossed.
But he did wonder if the state attorney's office itself had
become part of the problem.
Barry Krischer: April
State attorney Barry l
before taking his post
in and around Palm
1992 and 1996, he had run
and 2004. During the coil
1970 with a three-year sti
Brooklyn, he received a m
from the Legal Aid Society
with the juvenile justice s)
protection team; the Peace
nor Jeb Bush, for his work'
time achievement award fi
member of the National D:
was not necessarily averse
In 2003, he launched an in
TERSON
Epstein's type. The girls she'd
and beautiful and did not have
ad several tattoos that were vis-
-is Epstein and Ghislaine Max-
:s about them.
rice Department Incident Report
6, the detective had also heard
a a private eye had been to his
and chasing visitors away.
ense plate —Florida E79-4EG.
[van Robles of West Palm Beach.
d private investigator.
attorney's office.
and told him that she'd been
ts in touch with Epstein. Alison
.-. money if she would refuse to
be compensated, she was told,
incident report. "And those who
id told her that tampering with a
serious, arrestable offense.
le attorney.
)i undotted and no t uncrossed.
state attorney's office itself had
162
CHAPTER 42
Barry Krischer: April 2006
State attorney Barry Krischer was an elected official, but
before taking his post, he'd been a lawyer in private practice
in and around Palm Beach. Elected twice to his office, in
1992 and 1996, he had run unopposed for state attorney in 2000
and 2004. During the course of his long career, which began in
1970 with a three-year stint in the district attorney's office in
Brooklyn, he received a number of awards: the pro bono award
from the Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County for his service
with the juvenile justice system and for his work with the child
protection team; the Peace at Home award, presented by Gover-
nor jeb Bush, for his work with victims of family violence; a life-
time achievement award from the Florida Bar. He was a board
member of the National District Attorneys Association. And he
was not necessarily averse to going after the rich and powerful.
In 2003, he launched an investigation into Rush Limbaugh's use
163
JAMES PATTERSON
of, and means of obtaining, oxycodone and hydrocodone. (A few
years after Limbaugh's arrest, which coincided with Chief Reit-
er's investigation into Jeffrey Epstein, the talk-show host settled
with prosecutors, agreed to submit to random drug testing, and
gave up his firearms permit.)
Krischer himself, however, had been accused of sexual
misconduct.
In October of 1992, Jodi Bergeron, a legal secretary who'd worked
for Krischer, filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against him in the
Palm Beach County circuit court. That suit was dismissed, but a few
months later, the woman took Krischer to federal court, accusing
him of making unwanted advances and demanding recompense for
battery, negligence, invasion of privacy, and emotional distress.
Krischer had placed his hands, violently, inside her blouse,
the woman said. He'd forcibly fondled her breasts, forcibly kissed
her, and rubbed her shoulders while brushing her buttocks with
his hands and knees, all while accompanying the gestures with
verbal advances.
When she declined those advances, the woman claimed,
Krischer fired her.
Krischer denied the allegations. At the time, he was making his
first run for the state attorney's office. The charges were politically
motivated, he said. Members of a local chapter of NOW—the
National Organization for Women—had stood by the lawyer, cit-
ing his efforts to stop domestic violence, among his other virtues.
"I am here to support Barry Krischer for the work his office
did in my daughter's case," one woman said during a rally that
took place in front of the courthouse. "Her murderer received
the maximum sentence, a life sentence."
The second lawsuit had also been dismissed— after Krischer's
164
former law firm agreed
sand dollars in legal fees
Now Chief Reiter and D(
their own questions abc
wanted to charge Epsteil
behavior and four cour
minor—felony charges
behind bars in the case c
Kellen would be charged
This was not, the plai
for Jeffrey Epstein.
In cases involving tl.
attorneys tend to have s
But instead of granting I
the police that he would
asked to consider a broad
In a case such as Epst€
ing in and of itself. But v
only required in capital cas
may also be called in ci
involving crimes committ
wasn't a public official, an
cerned, the only controvet
that Epstein was rich an
B.B. vs. Epstein, Chief Reit(
ecutor had to make sure t
able doubt. And Krischer
of the young women who'c
1TERSON
FILTHY RICH
odone and hydrocodone. (A few
hich coincided with Chief Reit-
3tein, the talk-show host settled
nit to random drug testing, and
had been accused of sexual
:on, a legal secretary who'd worked
sment lawsuit against him in the
That suit was dismissed, but a few
:rischer to federal court, accusing
es and demanding recompense for
ivacy, and emotional distress.
nds, violently, inside her blouse,
Indled her breasts, forcibly kissed
mhile brushing her buttocks with
accompanying the gestures with
advances, the woman claimed,
)fls. At the time, he was making his
office. The charges were politically
of a local chapter of NOW—the
ten—had stood by the lawyer, cit-
Tiolence, among his other virtues.
-y Krischer for the work his office
ie woman said during a rally that
irthouse. "Her murderer received
sentence."
o been dismissed—after Krischer's
164
former law firm agreed to pay Bergeron's attorney seven thou-
sand dollars in legal fees.
Now Chief Reiter and Detective Recarey were beginning to have
their own questions about Barry Krischer. The Palm Beach PD
wanted to charge Epstein with one count of lewd and lascivious
behavior and four counts of unlawful sexual activity with a
minor—felony charges that would have amounted to years
behind bars in the case of a conviction. Wendy Dobbs and Sarah
Kellen would be charged as accomplices.
This was not the plan that Krischer seemed to have in mind
for Jeffrey Epstein.
In cases involving the sexual abuse of minors, prosecuting
attorneys tend to have suspects arrested, then push for a trial.
But instead of granting his approval for an arrest, Krischer told
the police that he would convene a grand jury, which would be
asked to consider a broad range of charges.
In a case such as Epstein's, this was highly unusual. Not damn-
ing in and of itself. But very strange. In Florida, grand juries are
only required in capital cases. At the state attorney's discretion, they
may also be called in controversial cases—for instance, cases
involving crimes committed by public officials. But Jeffrey Epstein
wasn't a public official, and as far as the Palm Beach PD was con-
cerned, the only controversial thing about the case they'd built was
that Epstein was rich and well connected. In his deposition for
B.B. vs. Epstein, Chief Reiter rel ayed Krischer's concerns: the pros-
ecutor had to make sure that his case was solid, beyond a reason-
able doubt. And Krischer did have his doubts about the credibility
of the young women who'd be called to testify against Epstein.
165
JAMES PATTERSON
Even so, Reiter was beginning to wonder if Krischer was
stacking the deck in Epstein's favor—if, thanks to the sway
prosecutors have over grand juries, assembling such a jury
wasn't an excellent way to let Epstein off with the lightest pun-
ishment possible.
Another unusual thing: the way Barry Krischer and the law-
yers working for him ignored Chief Reiter's multiple phone calls
as well as Detective Recarey's— even though the police had been
hearing from Epstein's own lawyers.
"[Krischer] and I had an excellent relationship," Chief Reiter
said in his deposition. "I was the speaker at his swearing-in cere-
mony. And that he wouldn't return my phone calls—I mean, it
was clear to me by his actions that he could not objectively look
at this case."
In the incident report he ended up writing, Detective Recarey
remembered a phone call that he received from Guy Fronstin,
one of the lawyers representing Epstein.
It was a message Epstein wanted to send, something central to
the case that demanded explanation. The whole shit show swirling
around him was just a misunderstanding—a misrepresentation—
of Epstein's actual interests and intentions.
Fronstin says Mr. Epstein is very passionate about massages,
Detective Recarey would write.
And: Mr. Epstein had donated over $100,000 to the Ballet o
Florida for massages.
And: The massages are therapeutic and spiritually sound for
him. That is why he has had so many massages.
166
Palm Beach Police Delia?.
by Detective Joseph Reca
On April 13 and April 14, ;
eral occasions with ASA
Weiss and ASA ILanna_I B
victims needed to report for
were left on their voicemai
hours of 9:00 am and 11:30
Weiss and ASA Belohlavek
call as I had not heard from
the time and date of the Gra
At approximately 12:3(
ney's Office and Located
their offices. I entered ASA.
me that she was going to rei
an offer was made to the I
CTERSON
mg to wonder if Krischer was
favor —if, thanks to the sway
uries, assembling such a jury
)stein off with the lightest pun-
vay Barry Krischer and the law-
lief Reiter's multiple phone calls
even though the police had been
mrs.
ellent relationship," Chief Reiter
: speaker at his swearing-in cere-
urn my phone calls—I mean, it
hat he could not objectively look
d up writing, Detective Recarey
he received from Guy Fronstin,
Epstein.
n.ted to send, something central to
Lion. The whole shit show swirling
:standing—a misrepresentationitentions.
; very passionate about massages,
ted over $100,000 to the Ballet of
rapeutic and spiritually sound for
nany massages.
166