B (2:43)

Contemporaneous with the arrest of Epstein at Teterboro Airport, agents executed a search warrant on his mansion in New York City and recovered and seized. And that was a search pursuant to a valid warrant agencies evidence, including nude photographs of what appear to be underage girls.

D (3:09)

Okay, more on that in just a moment. I want to share with you now Magamike Johnson, he was asked recently on CBS Mornings, so is the reason that you all are going on vacation again next week is so that you don't have to swear in the congresswoman elect from Arizona, 7th congressional district, Adelita Grijalva, because she would sign the discharge petition. Now Maga Mike's like, well, we're gonna go in next week and then we'll deal with it. But they keep indefinitely extending their vacations. Indeed, they're not going to work next week. They're likely won't go to work next week. I think it's Donald Trump and Maga Mike's plan to actually never come back. I think that in their own view of this authoritarian manifestation that they're what's going on right now, they never even want the House to function again. That's what I think is happening. Listen to what Maga Mike says here. Play this clip. Representative Grijalva, who won a special election last week in Arizona, she's yet to be sworn in. I know you're not in session, but you've sworn in Republicans out of session. Why not her? Does it have anything to do with Jeffrey Epstein?

A (4:19)

Well, the House is not on the.

D (4:20)

Floor doing business this week, but we will do it immediately, early next week.

A (4:24)

As soon as everyone returns to town.

D (4:25)

We have to have everybody here and you know these, I always say, whatever your talent is, try to utilize that talent to fight for our democracy now. So this incredible artist or these collective of artists, artists, they keep on moving back the statues of Epstein and Donald Trump and they keep putting it in front of the Capitol building. I think this is absolutely brilliant. Here, play this clip. Take me down into your paradise. And Democratic senator from Massachusetts or Democratic senator from Massachusetts, Senator Markey. Here's what he had to say about this. Let's play. The Trump administration is lying about this shutdown. Trump Republicans and their billionaire buddies are.

A (5:21)

Hiding the jobs report.

D (5:24)

They're hiding the Epstein files. They don't want the American people to know the truth about skyrocketing costs, cuts, chaos and corruption. Release the jobs report, release the Epstein files and come to the negotiating table. Now, I want to show you a longer portion of that press conference. I want you to watch the whole thing. Because as Donald Trump calls this a hoax right now, right? Him, Cash Patel, Pam Bondi, the MAGA Republicans, after saying they want to release the files. Now that we know Donald Trump's name is all over the files. I think we knew that before, but we have confirmation that it's all over the files. They ordered thousands of FBI agents to basically redact and remove Donald Trump's name. Um, I want to show you what it is that Donald Trump potentially may be, where his name may or may not be. We don't know because it's not released. But I do want to share with you what we expect to see in these files. And this video's resurfaced. This is the main press conference by Donald Trump's very own top Federal Prosecutors and FBI back on July of 2019. Shortly thereafter, Jeffrey Epstein would purportedly die by suicide, which nobody really believes that that's what took place. But I want you to think we know Trump's name is in the files. Trump's now calling it a hoax, but this is what his federal prosecutors were saying back on July 8th of 2019. Here, play this clip.

B (7:01)

Today we announce the unsealing of sex trafficking charges against Jeffrey Epstein. The charges allege that Epstein sexually abused young girls by enticing them to engage in sex acts for money. Epstein is charged in a two count indictment, first, conspiracy to commit sex trafficking, and second, the substantive crime of sex trafficking of underage girls. Beginning in at least 2002 and continuing until 2005, Epstein is alleged to have abused dozens of victims by causing them to engage in sex acts with him at his mansion in New York and at his estate in Palm Beach, Florida. The victims, all underage girls at the time of the alleged conduct, were given hundreds of dollars in cash after each encounter, either by Epstein or by one of Epstein's employees. The underage girls were initially recruited to provide Epstein with massages and often did so nude or partially nude. These massages became increasingly sexual in nature and would typically include one or more sex acts as specified in the indictment. As alleged, Epstein also paid certain victims to recruit additional girls to be similarly abused. This allowed Epstein to create an ever expanding web of new victims. This conduct, as alleged, went on for years and it involved dozens of young girls, some as young as 14 years old at the time that they were allegedly abused as alleged, Epstein was well aware that many of his victims were minors. And not surprisingly, many of the underage girls that Epstein allegedly victimized were particularly vulnerable to exploitation. The alleged behavior shocks the conscience. And while the charged conduct is from a number of years ago, it is still profoundly important to the many alleged victims. Now, young women, they deserve their day in court and we are proud to be standing up for them by bringing this indictment. Combating sex trafficking and exploitation of children is a priority for this office and for the Department of Justice, as the sexual abuse of a minor can have devastating effects on victims, often lasting for years. That is why my office will not rest until perpetrators of these types of crimes are brought to justice. Victims voices, including the many voices of Epstein's alleged victims, must be heard. To that end, I want to say to anyone who is watching this or hearing about our prosecution, if you believe you are a victim of this man, Jeffrey Epstein, or you have evidence or information relating to the conduct alleged in the indictment on sealed today, we want to hear from you. Please call 1-800- call FBI. The charges unsealed today reflect the hard work not only of this office, but by our law enforcement partners at the Federal Bureau of Investigation. To my left is Bill Sweeney, the Assistant Director in charge of the New York Field office of the FBI. And I wish to thank him and his team for their dedication and professionalism in seeing this investigation through. I also want to thank the New York City Police Department, represented here today by Chief Jason Wilcox and Customs and Border Patrol, for their assistance in this investigation. We will continue to devote significant resources to investigating these crimes and to protecting young people from sexual predators. And now I would like to invite Bill Sweeney up to the public podium.

C (11:09)

Preserving the innocence in children is one of the most important responsibilities we carry as adults. Purposely failing children in any way is not an option. And yet there are some in society who have chosen to blatantly disregard this responsibility, using whatever means they have at their disposal to lure children into a life which they should never have been exposed. As we allege today, Jeffrey Epstein is one of those people. At approximately 5:30pm on Saturday evening, we arrested him at Teterboro Airport without incident. Epstein has been charged with one count each of sex trafficking and sex trafficking conspiracy for at least a four year period covering the entirety of 2002 through 2005. He is alleged to have sexually exploited and abused dozens of minor girls at his homes in New York City and in Palm Beach, Florida. The Girls were recruited in a variety of ways. Usually by employees of Epstein and sometimes by fellow victims. The victims typically received hundreds of dollars in cash. The estimated dozens of victims were as young as 14 years old at time of recruitment. Children who provided Epstein massages while they were nude or partially nude. Children who were asked to engage in direct and indirect sex acts for money. Children who are enticed to do all these things. At the hands of a man more than or nearly three times their age. Those who have been victimized by child sexual predators. Are frequently haunted by memories of these crimes well into their adulthood. Often for the rest of their lives. They bear the burden of someone else's criminal behavior. Too often, adults in our society. Have turned a blind eye to this type of criminal behavior alleged here. We have seen the excuses, the ignorance of many who didn't even bother to understand that this behavior is a persistent scourge against our society's vulnerable youth. And the willful blindness as to who the real villains are in this type of outrageous crime. The villains are the adult perpetrators, not the children. To the victims who may be listening or get word of today's charges. The team standing here before you represents FBI special agents, NYPD detectives, analysts, victim specialists, prosecutors who make it their mission to listen to every individual who's been exploited. And to advocate for the most vulnerable among us. We are parents. We are community members. We are human beings. But as an FBI special agent and the head of this office, I have the privilege to represent and stand among many who make it our mission to put predators behind bars where they belong. Regardless of the predator's power, wealth, or perceived connections. Today, I'm asking everyone to take a good look at this man. If you have been victimized in any way. Or if you are somebody who has any additional information. About his alleged illegal behavior, we want to hear from you. Whatever age you are now, whatever age you were then. No matter where or when the incident or incidents took place. The number to call is 1-800- CALL FBI. You will then be driven to the top of the list. And the Jeffrey Epstein matter is number one on the major case list in the country. When you call that one, 800-call-FBI number. Your bravery might just empower others to speak out about crimes committed against them. It's important to remember there never was, nor will there be an excuse for this kind of behavior. We know that reliving these events can be brutal. We are here to work side by side with you as you go through this process. You should know that in the eyes of the FBI, you come first. Many thanks as always to our partners from the Southern District. Our partnership with the NYPD on this case and so many others has been phenomenal. Thank you also to the professionals at CBP and to the Port Authority Police Department who helped us with the arrest on Saturday evening. Last but not least, I want to extend my thanks to the FY NYPD Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force. The public should know that to be on this task force you must volunteer. The work is agonizing, but it is one of the most noble missions our agencies can engage in and we engage in it together. Thank you.

B (15:29)

Jeffrey Epstein entered into a non prosecution agreement with the Southern District of Florida. That agreement only binds by its terms, only binds the Southern District of Florida. The Southern District of New York is not bound by that agreement and is not a signatory to that agreement. I will say that I have confidence that the Public Corruption Unit is able can ably handle this investigation prosecution as it has so many other matters. I will again urge you not to read into the unit assignment anything one way or another. I'm not going into any dealings with Main justice, nor am I going to go into any aspects of how our investigation originated. I will say that we were assisted from some excellent investigative journalism. Contemporaneous with the arrest of Epstein at Teterboro Airport, agents executed a search warrant on his mansion in New York City and recovered and seized. And that was a search pursuant to a valid warrant agencies evidence, including nude photographs of what appear to be underage girls. It's extremely significant because of the number of years and the number of victims. There are dozens of victims as alleged in the indictment in New York and dozens in Florida. And it maintained itself over several years. So this is very significant, significant. Our office has handled this year, in fact, many significant sex trafficking cases. And this is one of them, as alleged in the indictment. You know, these individuals, the underage girls, were sometimes recruited by current victims and current victims were given cash payments if they could bring other underage girls to be similarly abused. And that's how he continued to expand the number of new victims that he had. And that's how it was able to maintain itself over several years.

D (17:33)

And finally, the Trump regime is absolutely livid at Trump Cabinet member Howard Lutnick, the Commerce Secretary, because Howard Lutnick gave that interview with Miranda Devine in the New York Post podcast where he talked about how he was Jeffrey Epstein's neighbor. They lived literally the building was attached to each other, their townhouses were attached. He said that he knew Epstein was a creep right away. And he said that Epstein was the ultimate blackmailer. All of Epstein's friends, and he, like, lists some names. According to Lutnick, he goes, they've all been blackmailed by Epstein. That's how Epstein made his money. And he said, anybody should have known that this guy was a creep right away. Lutnick said, I was a one and done when I saw him. I would never hang out with him. Anybody who was with this guy should know that he was bad business right away, that he was a bad guy. Well, Trump was best friends with this guy for the better part of two decades. Like, best friends in Palm Beach. So clearly, you know, what do you think they're doing as best friends together? And play this clip of Lutnick.

A (18:38)

He was your neighbor for 10 years. Years. How well did you know him? All right, so we are in number 11, and he lives in number nine. Right. So we renovate, we buy our house, and our house is pigeons and mice. Right. Okay, That's. It was derelict.

C (18:57)

Right.

A (18:57)

So we build, we rebuild our house. We move in in 2005. Okay. Jeffrey Epstein is arrested in, like, 08, I think something like that. Right, Right. So knock on the door. His assistant on, like, a Saturday, says, Mr. Epstein, your neighbor would like to invite you over for coffee. So my wife and I go next door. You know, we walk the seven steps. Yes, right. To the next house for. For coffee. We share a wall. Right, Right. So it's in New York City. So he invites us in. We have coffee in this, and he says, do you want a tour? He said, great. Interesting. Really big house. Every room you went into, he's got. He's got. Well, I'll tell you. So his house is, like, super big, really wide. And so he gives me a tour in the living room. Big living room. And then across from it is double doors. I assume it's the dining room. Yeah. And he opens the doors, and there's a massage table in the middle of the room and candles all around and stuff. So I ask very insightful, cutting questions. I say to him, massage table in the middle of your house. How often you have a massage? And he says, every day. And then he, like, gets, like, weirdly close to me. Oh. And he says, and the right kind of massage. Ooh. Now, my wife is standing here. So she looks at me, and I look at her, and we say, I'm sorry, we have to go. And we left. And in the six or eight steps it takes to get from his house to my house, my wife and I decided that I will never be in the room with that disgusting person ever again. So I was never in the room with him socially, for business or even philanthropy. If that guy was there, I wasn't going because he's gross.

D (21:02)

There you have it, folks. We'll keep you posted every step of the way. Hit subscribe. Let's get to 6 million. That press conference was something though, huh? Thanks for watching. Be sure to add the Midas Touch podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts for new updates every single day.