Palm Beach deputies probed by sheriff over Jeffrey Epstein case after woman says she was summoned by pedophile for a sexual encounter at his office during police-supervised work release
- An internal investigation is underway into ‘actions taken by the deputies assigned to monitor Epstein during his work release program’
- Sheriff Ric Bradshaw launched the internal investigation into what a PBCSO media advisory refers to as ‘the Jeffrey Epstein matter’
- At least one woman claims she was summoned to Epstein’s office for a sexual encounter while he was in prison
- Miami Herald reporter Julie Brown said that a deputy with the PBSCO told her they did not monitor Epstein’s office during work release
- He left prison from 8am to 8pm on Monday through Saturday to work at a company he started just before his plea deal and shuttered soon after his release
- When asked if they ever supervised Epstein in his office or checked on his guests, the deputy said: ‘No, that was not our job’
The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office announced on Friday that an internal investigation had been launched into the department’s treatment of Jeffrey Epstein during his incarceration.
Sheriff Ric Bradshaw launched the internal investigation into what a PBCSO media advisory refers to as ‘the Jeffrey Epstein matter’ in order to ‘determine if any actions taken by the deputies assigned to monitor Epstein during his work release program violated any agency rules and regulations.’
This probe comes after attorney Bradley Edwards said at a press conference on Tuesday that he had been contacted by at least one woman who informed him she had been summoned to Epstein’s office for a sexual encounter while he was in prison.
As part of his plea deal, Epstein was allowed to spend up to 12 hours a day working at the office from Monday through Saturday during his time in prison.
Deputies reportedly stood outside then building while Epstein was left unchaperoned inside, working for a business he founded during plea negotiations and shuttered as soon as he was released from prison.
Pedo-vile: An internal investigation is underway into ‘actions taken by the deputies assigned to monitor Epstein (above in February) during his work release program’
Glass houses: Miami Herald reporter Julie Brown said that a deputy with the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office told her they did not monitor Jeffrey Epstein’s office (above) during his work release
These claims had been made public long before this week.
Miami Herald reporter Julie Brown revealed this in an interview back in April with Alec Baldwin on his podcast Here’s the Thing.
She said one of the deputies assigned to monitor Epstein during his work release in West Palm Beach confirmed that the high-profile inmate was given free reign once inside his office.
The deputies remained outside and did not enter the office, despite the steady stream of clients, friends and young women who would come to visit the newly-convicted sex offender.
‘I said, “did you ever pay attention to what he was doing in the office? He had girls in there,”‘ recalled Brown of her conversation with the deputy.
‘And he said, “No, that was not our job.”‘
There was a visitor’s log that all guests had to sign, according to Brown, but she was told the records had mysteriously disappeared when she requested them.
The PBCSO claims however that the records were disposed of in a completely legal manner as part of a standard purging of files.
Those deputies were also receiving overtime pay for their work explained Brown, with one deputy required to be outside the office six days a week, for 12 hours each day.
That financial burden was shouldered in some part by the Florida Science Foundation, a company that was run by Epstein.
In the months that Epstein was incarcerated, FSF made donations totaling $128,136 to the PBCSO according to records obtained by Contact 5.
Brown also noted in the interview that Epstein would not have been able to get his sweetheart plea deal if the case was brought today,
‘He was charged with solicitation of prostitution under the age of 18, there really isn’t any such thing as child prostitution,’ said Brown.
‘Back then that was on the books in Florida, but its no longer on the books.’
She then explained that Epstein and members of his camp stood by the decision not just because it spared him serious jail time and federal charges, but because it was their opinion ‘that these women were prostitutes.’
Brown said that she had never before seen a plea deal similar to the one Epstein was granted by state prosecutors.
‘Florida has some of the toughest ex-offender laws in the country, I mean they send these guys to state prison. Florida state prisons are viscous,’ explained Brown.
‘But he managed to work it out so that he would go to the Palm Beach County Jail, where he had his own private wing.’