Sheriff orders investigation into Epstein case
Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw ordered an internal investigation Friday into how his agency handled financier Jeffrey Epstein’s jail sentence as new questions surfaced about the sex offender’s supervision during work release about a decade ago.
The investigation comes amid allegations that Epstein had “improper sexual contact” with at least one young woman when he was on work release from the county stockade.
Chief Deputy Mike Gauger’s said in an April interview Epstein was “very closely watched” while on work release, but public records released this week raise questions about how closely the wealthy inmate was monitored.
Epstein visited his residence at least nine times even though he was supposed to stay in his “designated workplace” unless returning to the stockade or receiving emergency medical care, according to reports. The terms didn’t allow him to leave his office for lunch.
One deputy wrote he spent about two and half hours outside Epstein’s Palm Beach mansion.
“I backed into the drive way and provided security to prevent unwelcome guest from entering his property,” read a deputy’s report submitted on July 13, 2009. “I did not go into the residence. No one attempted to enter the property during the house visit. … I contacted SGT W. Lawrence to get some clarity of the duties and responsibilities while at the residence. He stated the function is to provide security.”
The agency released a statement that the matter “will be fully investigated to ensure total transparency and accountability.”
“Sheriff Bradshaw takes these matters very seriously and wants to determine if any actions taken by the deputies assigned to monitor Epstein during his work release program violated any agency rules and regulations,” the statement reads.
Bradshaw, who has been sheriff since 2004, defended the agency in a March interview with WLRN, saying the wealthy inmate did not receive special treatment.
“I went by the guidelines,” Bradshaw said then. “I am not concerned at all about whether it was done properly or not because it was and we’ll go from there.”
Epstein spent 13 months at the county stockade in 2008-2009 as part of a once-secret plea deal he reached with prosecutors. Epstein pleaded guilty to two state prostitution charges, agreed to register as a sex offender and paid settlements to victims.
His plea ended a federal sex abuse investigation that involved at least 40 teenage girls. He is facing new sex trafficking charges in federal court in New York.
About 3½ months into his incarceration, he was allowed to spend up to 12 hours a day, six days a week working for his nonprofit organization out of a downtown office in West Palm Beach. While he was required to register as a sex offender, Epstein is referred to as a “client” in deputy reports. He was driven to his office by a private driver, and he paid for off-duty deputies to guard him during his work release. Deputies wrote they provided “low profile security.” One deputy wrote Epstein was “very happy with the service” he was being provided.
In one report, Epstein ate lunch in a park near his office. In others, he visited other offices besides his assigned workplace on Australian Avenue. He also was left alone to adjust his GPS monitor while a deputy waited outside his office building, according to the documents.
Some portions of the reports are blacked out because they contain medical information or information about undercover personnel, sheriff ’s officials said.
Attorney Brad Edwards, who is representing more than a dozen Epstein accusers, said at a news conference this week that Epstein was able to continue having “improper sexual contact” with women while on work release.
He said he was not aware of any of the visitors being minors, although some were under 21.
At least three elected officials say they think an independent, outside investigation into the matter is warranted. State Sen. Lauren Book, D-Plantation, said she thinks it is appropriate for the Florida Department of Investigation to step in and review the matter.
“FDLE investigated BSO (Broward Sheriff Office’s) response to the massacre at Stoneman Douglas, and I believe an investigation into PBSO’s handling of Epstein while on work release is also necessary and proper,” she said.
Palm Beach County Commissioner Melissa McKinlay said she’s pleased to see an internal review, but “it never hurts to have two sets of eyes.” U.S. Rep. Lois Frankel, DWest Palm Beach, said she expects the Oversight Committee of the U.S. Congress will examine Epstein’s “sweetheart deal” and work release.
Outside reviews of the Parkland school shooting that left 17 people dead prompted Gov. Ron DeSantis to suspend Broward Sheriff Scott Israel on the grounds of “neglect of duty” and “incompetence.”
DeSantis has the authority to direct FDLE to investigate the Epstein case, but he hasn’t ordered a probe.
Teri Barbera, a sheriff’s spokeswoman, wrote in an email that an outside investigation is not needed.
“Outside agencies do not investigate internal policies and procedures,” she wrote.
Public records raise other questions, including whether Epstein’s approved visitors were properly vetted. Under the terms of his agreement, Epstein was only permitted to meet with his lawyers and business associates.
In a 2010 email, Sheriff ’s Maj. Chris Kneisley, a jail supervisor, questioned whether the approved visitors had been properly screened, asking if “we did any vetting of his people.”
“An investigator from one of the plaintiff ’s attorney has indicated 2 are not paralegals,” the email read. “Trying to prepare a preemptive strike.”
A memorandum showed about 20 approved visitors, including lawyers from five firms and their paralegals. Sheriff’s officials have said the visitor logs deputies kept have been destroyed as part of a routine records purge allowed by Florida law.
Then there is the question of whether Epstein should have been granted work release in the first place. The program’s most recent operational procedures bar “convicted sexual offenders” from participating.
A 2008 version of the policy obtained by the South Florida Sun Sentinel shows that “convicted sexual offenders” were not explicitly deemed to be ineligible then, although the administrator had the authority to approve or disapprove participants.
Sheriff’s officials have not explained when and why the policy was changed. They say Epstein was eligible for work release because he registered as a sex offender on July 22, 2009, the day after he was released.