Ten years later, the same accusations are catching up with American billionaire Jeffrey Epstein. The investor in hedge funds, close to politicians and celebrities, was indicted on Monday, July 8, in New York, sexual exploitation involving dozens of minors.

He was arrested in New Jersey on his return from France on a private jet on Saturday, and was charged with two counts of sexual exploitation and conspiracy linked to sexual exploitation that could be as much as 45 years old. prison if he was found guilty. Jeffrey Epstein pleaded not guilty to a mid-day hearing in Manhattan federal court.

A new hearing is scheduled for Thursday when his lawyers should plead for his release on bail. The prosecutor, Geoffrey Berman, intends to ask the judge not to release him on bail, to eliminate any risk of escape especially as he lives mainly "abroad".

Minors aged 14

According to the indictment released by Manhattan federal prosecutor Geoffrey Berman, he is accused of having, between 2002 and 2005 at least, brought minors - some only 14 years old - to his Manhattan residences. and Palm Beach, Florida "to engage in sexual acts with him, after which he gave them hundreds of dollars in cash".

"He also paid some of them to recruit other girls to be abused by Epstein too," the indictment adds.

"There are dozens of victims in New York and dozens of victims in Florida," the prosecutor said at a press briefing.

Jeffrey Epstein, 66, had been charged in Florida more than 10 years ago for similar offenses. But as a result of an agreement reached at the time with the federal prosecutor in charge of this case Alexander Acosta - now Donald Trump's Labor Minister - he had obtained not to be prosecuted by federal justice. He had only been convicted of minor acts of prostitution at the state level, which had resulted in a 13-month prison sentence.

Pictures of nude minors

The Manhattan federal prosecutor explained that this agreement was valid only for the district of Florida where it was concluded, and did not "bind anything" that of Manhattan.

"It's very important for the victims" that he be prosecuted today, he said, adding that photos of nude minors were seized during a search of his home in Manhattan this weekend. .

He was a figure in the American jet set, and knew Bill Clinton personally, Donald Trump or Prince Andrew, son of Queen Elizabeth II.

With AFP