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Case 1:19-cr-00490-RMB Document 20 Filed 07/16/19 Page 12 of 24 12 j782epsC kjc 1 MR. WEINGARTEN: So your Honor, I would like to start 2 by providing some context, and then I'm going to make a 3 suggestion as to how we proceed. 4 The beginning here is 2005 in Florida. That's when an 5 allegation was received by the local police that Mr. Epstein 6 was engaged in sexual conduct for money, prostitution. 7 Thereafter, there was a very sophisticated three-year 8 investigation by law enforcement, including locals and feds, 9 into Mr. Epstein's conduct. Numerous girls were interviewed, 10 employees were interviewed, and it is fair to say that a 11 Significant segment of the law enforcement community in Florida 12 thought what we had in hand was simple prostitution. There was 13 no coercion. There were no threats. There was no violence. 14 And it is also fair to say that a significant portion of the 15 law enforcement community in Florida believed that a local 16 misdemeanor was the appropriate sanction. 17 Now, it is also -—- 18 THE COURT: Did you represent Mr. Epstein in the 19 Florida investigation? 20 MR. WEINGARTEN: No, but I'm familiar with the 2] records. 22 THE COURT: All right. 23 MR. WEINGARTEN: t is also true that there was a 24 contrary view largely taken by the feds, and what ensued was a 25 complex set of discussions and negotiations and finally an SOUTHERN DISTR CT R G PORT ERS, P, (212) 805-0300 DOJ-OGR-00000417