Judge Delays Bail Decision In Jeffrey Epstein Sex Trafficking Case
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) – Financier Jeffrey Epstein will have to wait to find out if he will make bail in his sex trafficking case.
READ: U.S. v. Jeffrey Epstein Indictment (PDF)
Epstein pleaded not guilty last week to charges he abused minors.
A federal judge said Monday he has not decided if Epstein deserves bail. Epstein is accused of recruiting and abusing dozens of underage girls in his $77 million New York mansion and his Florida home in the early 2000s.
WATCH: U.S. Attorney Describes Sex Trafficking Case Against Jeffrey Epstein
According to the indictment unsealed last week, "in order to maintain and increase his supply of victims Epstein also paid victims to recruit additional girls."
On Friday, prosecutors told the judge several more alleged victims had recently come forward, and they say Epstein may have tried to influence witnesses who might have information against him. For those reasons, prosecutors considered Epstein dangerous and flight risk, but his lawyers argued that he should be able to await trial at his Manhattan mansion with electronic monitoring.
Epstein's lawyers say he hasn't committed crimes since pleading guilty to charges of soliciting a minor for prostitution in Florida in 2008. The judge is expected to make his decision Thursday.
In the 2008 case, Epstein received a sentence of 13 months and a deal to avoid federal prosecution. The handling of that case led to the resignation Friday of Labor Secretary Alexander Acosta, who oversaw the plea deal while he was the U.S. Attorney in Florida.
