Jeffrey Epstein signed his will just two days before he died by suicide in his jail cell, leaving behind nearly $600 million.
This is a companion discussion topic for the original entry at https://talkingpointsmemo.com/?p=1243619
This is a companion discussion topic for the original entry at https://talkingpointsmemo.com/?p=1243619
Key question - do the Virgin Islands allow for an extended period of time to file sexual assault lawsuits (as New York now does)? If not, then probably his victims, other than those who were not assaulted in New York, will remain barred by the statute of limitations from seeking damages.
The alternative for them to be compensated would be a civil forfeiture action by the government.
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The Epstein case is a frustrating example of our inability to deliver justice. Epstein is now beyond our reach but even if he was not our power is limited to inflicting punishment on him. We can do nothing to heal or restore the victims. While I admit it would bring me satisfaction to see him suffer for his crimes, he is now in the hands of the justice beyond this life and we must hope the universe has a way of balancing those scales.
Still he amassed a fortune in this life through means that seem clearly dishonest and probably illegal. He also left behind a wake of suffering. It seems obvious to me that his wishes for his earthly possessions should carry no weight in deciding how they are disposed of. He has not earned the right to control events from even beyond the grave. Surely there is a means for his worldly possessions to be gathered and disposed of in a way pleasing to the society he injured rather than according to his own will. If not, then we need to rethink how we handle wealth and our anemic ability to take it from those who harm society. We have too much deference to the powerful, even beyond the grave. If it was a poor man accused of lesser crimes his assets would have already been forfeit.
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Oh, think of Epstein as burning in Hell (or freezing), or being reincarnated as a cow they shoot to make a leather steering wheel for a BMW.
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…and somehow we are supposed to believe that NOBODY took this as a sign? Honestly.
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Thank you! Yes, the lawyers are demanding further investigation into his death! The burnt out FOX TV coroner demands answers! And they drafted his Last Will & Testament to be filed and probated in some Off Shore Tax Haven jurisdiction, and then witnessed and executed it in the Manhattan MCC. Then filed it in the BVI.
When people are this full of shit you almost have to stand up, give em a fucking standing O and tip your hat to them.
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Okay, that’s a very strong piece of evidence on the “really was suicide” side. But it makes the negligence and cell-clearing look a lot more like something he bought. Which, in turn, means he had help from outside, because it’s not like they let you bring a suitcase of cash or your checkbook into jail with you.
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You are saying the will signing, and how it was done and where it is to be executed is part of the Barr-Epstein Disappearance Act of 2019? Hmmm. I probably would have come around to musing on that; but you offer a shortcut.
I was thinking more on the lines that Epstein managed to escape justice AND has established multi-million dollar provisions for the dissemination of his fertility with dozens of contractually obligated surrogate incubators - culled and groomed from his young girl conveyor system. And thus manages to pollute the gene-pool and guarantees that his reproductive organs alter the human race on a scale only slightly below Genghis Khan and Bill Clinton.
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I dunno. The activity of spending entire days with his team of attorneys in the MCC Legal Visiting room nearest the Vending Machines could be interpreted by the Correctional Admin as manifestation of renewed will to fight the case and live. The MCC did not know he was directing them to draft and sign a testamentary trust. The MCC did not know they had devised to file it in the BVI where his tax evasion money was parked. The MCC did not know that he had executed it some time soon before or soon after his first suicide attempt. So I would not assume he had anyone’s help other than his lawyers’ in preparing and executing and filing the Last Will and Testament off shore which freed him to avoid ever being held accountable for his many misdeeds. The CO’s probably were lulled into not checking his cell every 15 minutes or so because they found he was changed and got tired of running fools’ errands when they are understaffed and being expected to do so many things with the staffing ratio in effect when it happened. For me, the lawyers are at the very least guilty of deliberate blindness. And it takes a lot of NYC chutzpah to start demanding the Bureau of Prisons provide you with answers after their role here and the sequence of events.
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I am sometimes glad that I never read or (completely) watched The Boys from Brazil. But your scenario reminds me of what I did see before I hit the remote control and moved on. Fucking waste of the talent of Gregory Peck if you ask me. Anyway, yes you have nailed it, for in the febrile imagination of David Bosie, Sean Hannity and their ilk, Bill Clinton and Genghis Kahn are kind of on the same scale.
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Someone at Balloon Juice wrote that, in most states now, a will signed 60-90 days before death is not valid. This prevents caretakers and other people who jump in at the end from inheriting the loot instead of close relatives.
Don’t know if that even applies here.
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I don’t want to spend the time reading his will. But if I’m in it, I’ll be home all day.
cc: Richard D. Kahn
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I get the feeling he did commit suicide and that he was allowed to because it was the best solution for some people with money, power or both.
Have not read the will but have read elsewhere that his brother will most likely inherit what’s left after the dust settles.
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What were the provisions in the old will?
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Forensic accountants, On your mark, get ready, Go!
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I thought Epstein was a billionaire, that’s what was reported all around before his death. Seems his inflated ego and net worth was a false as Donnie’s. They had more in common than we knew or imagined.
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Sort of On Topic:
MSNBC legal analyst Danny Cevallos:
Buckingham Palace has denied Prince Andrew had anything to do with Epstein’s crimes. Often, sovereigns get immunity from U.S. justice proceedings.
“So the question arises: Does Prince Andrew qualify for this immunity?” Cevallos said. “Guess who gets to make that decision — and it’s not reviewable by the courts — is the head of the executive branch. Guess who that would be — President Trump. So interestingly enough, whether or not Prince Andrew is ultimately subject to civil jurisdiction in the United States is the decision of one man, the president, Donald Trump.”
I have said many times in the last Year +…that we have a blackmail presidency. Imagine what Chump and Barr will do with anything that falls into their hands from the Epstein mess. They have two purposes, hide and dismember any evidence on Chump/Barr/Family…and use the HELL out of any info they can to hold over the folks on Epstain’s lists who aren’t their allies. Epstein’s blackmail trove becomes Chump’s. And remember, Putin may have rights of first refusal or veto power.
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I’ve never heard that before and I couldn’t find any reference to that anywhere (maybe I missed it). I would be surprised if that’s true. You have the right to change your will any time you want to.
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No one there had ever heard of that either. Maybe it’s there for a specific reason though - a caregiver gets all the money after some gentle persuasion, and the children get little or nothing. It certainly has happened.
Sure, but taking away someone’s right to change their will at any time by making it a law would be over reach. As an adult, you have the right to contract or execute your will as long as you are of sound mind. It’s up to the challenger to prove you aren’t.
EDIT: It would be legally problematic to come at the issue assuming you aren’t of sound mind without any proof that’s true.
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