Billionaire pedophile Jeffrey Epstein appeared in court on Monday for a bail hearing, where prosecutors arguing that he be detained shared details about what was found in an FBI raid of his Manhattan townhouse.
The Washington Post reports that Assistant U.S. Attorney Alex Rossmiller revealed at the bail hearing in a Manhattan courtroom that investigators found a passport with Epstein’s photo but another name and an address in Saudi Arabia inside Epstein’s locked safe during a July 6 raid on the home.
The passport was reportedly issued in the 1980s. Prosecutors also allegedly found “piles of cash” and “dozens of diamonds” inside the safe — but also said they were unable to locate much in the way of financial records. Epstein purportedly made his fortune running a hedge fund, but as a New York Magazine report notes, there is little evidence that he has been involved in institutional trading, and the fund has only one confirmed investor — Les Wexner, the retail mogul being Victoria’s Secret.
Prosecutors are asking for Epstein to be denied bail, arguing not only that he is a flight risk but is in a position to intimidate witnesses. Epstein’s lawyers say he should be released on house arrest, and insist he isn’t a flight risk, according to the Washington Post report.
U.S. District Judge Richard Berman reportedly declined to make a decision at Monday’s hearing, saying he needed more time to consider it.
CrimeOnline will provide further updates when more information is available.