Dershowitz will go out like Paterno
:ALERTRED::ALERTRED:
:shakingdamn:
It looks like since there was nothing of profit noted at this point, any assets that were used in the trafficking the prosecutors are asking for forfeiture on.What is the legal basis for seeking forfeiture on the 71st street residence?
It's unclear, but one thing worth noting is that soliciting or patronizing prostitution from victims of sex trafficking was not explicitly a federal crime until 2015, with the passage of the Trafficking Victims' Protection Act. That law also stipulated that "there is no need to prove either that the defendant knew, or that he recklessly disregarded, the fact that a sex trafficking victim was a minor if the defendant had a reasonable opportunity to observe the victim." In addition, it made prosecuting said crimes more lucrative for the feds, stating that forfeiture was allowed for any asset that is involved in, or traceable to the proceeds of, human trafficking. That means that instead of just profits made by traffickers (profits that don't really exist in this case), a house where trafficking took place, vehicles used to transport victims, etc., could now be seized. And, indeed, the new indictment against Epstein lays claim to his Palm Beach and New York City residences. Before 2015, the feds may have been able to charge Epstein under the Mann Act (which prohibits bringing minors or adults across state lines for prostitution) or under federal statutes related to crimes against children. But proving federal crimes and getting any assets from Epstein out of them would likely have been much harder back in 2008.
What is the legal basis for seeking forfeiture on the 71st street residence?
It looks like since there was nothing of profit noted at this point, any assets that were used in the trafficking the prosecutors are asking for forfeiture on.
EDIT:
found the below:
https://reason.com/2019/07/08/jeffrey-epstein-in-court-today-on-sex-trafficking-charges/