Federal Judge Denies Epstein Bail, Orders Him Held

On July 18, 2019, U.S. District Judge Richard Berman denied Jeffrey Epstein’s application for bail, ordering him to remain in detention at the Metropolitan Correctional Center (MCC) in Manhattan pending trial.

Judge Berman’s ruling focused on two factors: Epstein’s danger to the community and his flight risk. On danger, prosecutors documented that Epstein had allegedly continued to sexually abuse young women well into the period when he was a registered sex offender — as recently as 2018. On flight risk, the government argued persuasively, given Epstein’s dozens of international flights on private jets, his multiple residences in jurisdictions without U.S. extradition treaties, and his immediate liquid wealth.

Epstein’s defense team proposed a $77.5 million bail package including home confinement in his Manhattan townhouse, GPS monitoring, and the surrender of all passports. Judge Berman rejected this, finding that Epstein’s wealth made any bail condition inadequate.

The ruling set the stage for Epstein’s continued detention. He would be found dead in his cell on August 10, 2019 — less than a month after the bail denial.