Secret transcripts from the 2006 Grand Jury investigation into Jeffrey Epstein’s sex trafficking and rape allegations have been made public.
On Monday local time, about 150 pages of records were released to the public for the first time, The Sun reports.
“It is our hope that the release of these records gives peace of mind to our community and gives Jeffrey Epstein’s victims the closure they deserve,” Clerk of the Circuit Court in Palm Beach County, Florida, Joseph Abruzzo, said in a press release.
The release of the documents was earlier than expected because the judge had a hearing for next week discussing when and how they would be released, per The Associated Press.
In February, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a bill that allowed the documents to be released.
“The details in the record will be outrageous to decent people,” Circuit Judge Luis Delgado wrote in his ruling.
“The testimony taken by the Grand Jury concerns activity ranging from grossly unacceptable to rape – all of the conduct at issue is sexually deviant, disgusting, and criminal.”
‘The younger, the better’
The newly released Grand Jury transcripts discussed the 2006 investigation after the initial 2005 report, according to Palm Beach Police Detective Joe Recarey’s testimony.
In March 2005, a woman reported that her stepdaughter, who was in high school, had received $US300 ($450) in exchange for “sexual activity with a man in Palm Beach”, Mr Recarey testified.
Another teenager, whose name was redacted, told police she was just 17 when she was approached by a friend who said she could make $US200 ($300) if she gave a massage “to a wealthy man in Palm Beach”, the transcript read.
She went to his house and was led to a room by Epstein’s assistant.
He entered soon after and demanded she remove her clothes – which she did – and then began the massage.
However, when Epstein tried touching her, she said she was uncomfortable.
Mr Recarey testified that Epstein told the girl he would pay her if she brought “girls” to his home.
She agreed to his request, according to the October 2005 interview with detectives, Mr Recarey recalled.
“And he told her, ‘the younger, the better’,” he said.
The girl eventually brought over a 23-year-old friend, but Epstein told her she was too old.
Over an undetermined amount of time, the girl brought six friends from her high school to Epstein’s home, including a 14-year-old girl.
However, according to the transcript, she lied and said the girl was 18.
The teen also affirmed each girl was aware of what would happen at his home.
Each time she brought a girl over, using a rental car paid for by Epstein, she would receive $US200.
“The more you did, the more money you made,” Mr Recarey said the teen told him.
“She explained that there was going to be a massage or some possible touching, and you would have to provide the massage either topless or naked.”
Plea deal
Following the Grand Jury investigation in 2006, Epstein took a plea deal with South Florida federal prosecutors in 2008.
The deal, which has been criticised for being too lenient, allowed him to get away with several federal charges of abuse against underage girls if he pleaded guilty to Florida state charges.
Epstein pleaded guilty to soliciting and procuring a minor for prostitution.
He was able to avoid a potential life sentence and instead spent 13 months in jail in a work-release program.
The millionaire was also required to pay the victims and register as a sex offender.
This article originally appeared on The Sun and was reproduced with permission