Epstein denied bail, will remain in jail

NEW YORK – A federal judge on Thursday denied bail for wealthy financier and registered sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, who now must await trial on sex trafficking charges in a jail cell rather than his stately Manhattan mansion.

In a brief court hearing, Manhattan U.S. District Court Judge Richard Berman called the bail proposal submitted by Epstein’s defense team “irretrievably inadequate” and said the safety of the community and people was his primary concern. “I don’t think any bail package overcomes the danger to others,” Berman said.

He added that items investigators found in a safe in the financier’s Manhattan mansion – more than $71,000 in cash, 48 diamonds and an expired Austrian passport with a fake name and Epstein’s photo on it – showed the defendant is a flight risk.

Berman said he considered Monday’s court declarations of Annie Farmer and Courtney Wild, young women who said they had been victimized by Epstein and feared what might happen if he were granted bail.

Epstein defense lawyer Martin Weinberg hinted that the ruling might be appealed. Epstein, who has pleaded not guilty, appeared at the hearing in a dark blue jail smock and pants. He showed no visible emotion at the ruling.

Lawyer Lisa Bloom, who said she represents Epstein’s three accusers, released a statement saying the women were “pleased” with Berman’s ruling.

“It gives us hope that justice may truly be possible against this sex offender,” Bloom said.

The defense bail proposal called for allowing Epstein to stay at the mansion with around-the-clock armed guards, global position system monitoring and other security precautions. They said he would sign any bond, no matter what the amount, and secure it with a mortgage on the mansion and other guarantees to ensure he would appear for trial.