Epstein lawyers discussed possibility of cooperation with prosecutors days before his death, files reveal

Less than two weeks before Jeffrey Epstein’s death in jail, his lawyers and Manhattan federal prosecutors met and discussed his potential cooperation, several documents within a cache of newly released investigative files state.

“On July 29, 2019, FBI and [prosecutors] met with Epstein’s attorneys, who, in very general terms, discussed the possibility of a resolution of the case, and the possibility of the defendant’s cooperation,” an FBI document titled “Epstein Investigation Summary & Timeline” statement.

Another document titled “Jeffrey Epstein Significant Case Notification”, which was not attributed to a specific agency, closely resembled this FBI memo, and provided several more details.

“Defense Counsel did not make a specific proposal, and they did not indicate what the nature of Epstein’s cooperation might be, if any,” this document stated. “It was suggested that Defense Counsel contact SDNY if Epstein was prepared to accept responsibility for his conduct and/or they had a specific proposal for a resolution of this case.”

Epstein was arrested on 6 July 2019 on charges of sex trafficking minors and conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of minors. The indictment against Epstein said that he sexually abused “dozens of underage girls by enticing them to engage in sex acts with him in exchange for money” from 2002 to 2005.

Epstein, the indictment said, “worked with several employees and associates to ensure that he had a steady supply of minor victims to abuse, and paid several of those victims themselves to recruit other underage girls to engage in similar sex acts for money”.

Epstein pleaded not guilty to the indictment. He unsuccessfully requested release on house arrest while awaiting trial.

On 23 July 2019, several days before this stated meeting with prosecutors, Epstein was discovered unconscious in a jail cell, multiple media outlets reported. While it was unclear how Epstein endured injuries to his neck, two anonymous sources told New York City’s NBC News 4 that his injuries may have been self-inflicted.

Epstein appeared healthy during a court appearance on 31 July, one week after the reported injuries and two days after the meeting described in the documents.

Epstein was found unconscious in his cell again on 10 August and pronounced dead at hospital. Authorities said Epstein’s cause of death was suicide.

Epstein, who counted high-profile men such as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor as associates, had resolved sex abuse allegations some two decades prior to this case. Palm Beach, Florida, police interviewed numerous minor victims in 2005 and 2006.

The FBI and US attorney’s office in South Florida investigated these allegations. This cases ended with a controversial sweetheart plea deal in 2008 that let him avoid federal charges if he admitted to state-level prostitution charges.