Ryan NicolJust days after new child trafficking charges were unveiled against billionaire financier Jeffrey Epstein, another accuser has come forward saying Epstein “forcibly raped” her when she was just 15 years old.
That’s according to a new report from NBC News.
The newest accuser, Jennifer Araoz, said she was recruited by a woman outside a New York City high school at the age of 14. That woman led her to Epstein’s townhouse in Manhattan, where Epstein gave Araoz a tour.
The young girl had lost her father to AIDS when she was 12. The wealthy Epstein agreed to give her some money — $300 per visit — in exchange for nothing, at first.
“I was kind of a lost kid and she sensed it,” Araoz said of the recruiter.
The now 32-year-old Araoz said Epstein also discussed donating to AIDS charities. After paying several visits to Epstein over the course of weeks, she said she was asked to massage Epstein in her underwear.
“I felt almost obligated because of the money he was giving me,” Araoz said, noting that she felt pressured despite finding it strange.
As those massage sessions continued, Araoz alleged Epstein eventually began pleasuring himself.
“It was just such a big help, the money,” Araoz said. “And I said, ‘I’m not really doing anything that wrong.’ “
That led to one day where Araoz said Epstein asked her to to give the massage while on top of him, and without underwear. According to Araoz, that’s when Epstein forced himself on her without a condom.
“He raped me, forcefully raped me,” Araoz said. “I was terrified, and I was telling him to stop. ‘Please stop.’ “
Araoz said after that incident, she never visited Epstein again.
Epstein is facing charges that could net him 45 years in prison if he’s convicted. He’s facing one count of sex trafficking and a separate count of sex trafficking conspiracy.
The charges, recently announced by federal prosecutors in the Southern District of New York, list three unidentified victims. According to NBC, none is Araoz, who never spoke to police or prosecutors about the interaction.
She did, however, tell four people within her social circle, including her mother and an ex-boyfriend. All four confirmed to NBC News that Araoz detailed the allegations years ago.
The newest charges against Epstein come several years after he was convicted on a separate set of charges for allegedly soliciting young girls for sex.
Epstein served just 13 months in jail because of an agreement made with federal prosecutors. That 2008 conviction has been a source of outrage following an investigation by the Miami Herald detailing prosecutors’ handling of the case.
They cut a non-prosecution deal with Epstein, who also lives in Manhattan, declined to charge Epstein’s conspirators and agreed not to disclose the arrangement with any of Epstein’s alleged victims.
A judge recently found that prosecutors, acting under then-U.S. Attorney and now U.S. Labor Secretary Alex Acosta, broke the law in their handling of the case.
But that agreement was only binding on the office in the Southern District of Florida. The Southern District of New York is free to pursue further charges.
Epstein has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
2 comments
RESIST!
July 10, 2019 at 11:05 am
Another episode in Don Trumpolini’s Follies: Make Acosta Epstein’s cellmate – and put Starr and Dershowitz in the adjoining cell – and throw away the keys!
Sonja Fitch
July 10, 2019 at 1:45 pm
I was a lobbyist way back when. It was common knowledge that Epstein Trump and Clinton were pedophiles and attended the parties. Trump signed a nda when a 14 year girl pressed charges. Enough of this filth. Lock up Epstein trump and Clinton. Makes me want puke
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