Overview
Barry Krischer was the Palm Beach County State Attorney when the Palm Beach Police Department referred the Epstein case to his office following its extensive investigation in 2005–2006. His handling of the case — widely seen as deeply inadequate given the evidence — became one of the earliest and most criticized chapters in the story of institutional failures enabling Epstein.
The Investigation Referral
The Palm Beach Police Department, under Chief Michael Reiter, conducted an 11-month investigation that documented Epstein’s sexual abuse of numerous underage girls. The investigation included victim interviews, surveillance operations, and evidence collection. Reiter’s team believed they had sufficient evidence for serious felony charges.
Krischer’s Grand Jury: A Minimal Result
When Krischer’s office presented the case to a grand jury in 2006, the result was a single count: soliciting prostitution. Critics noted this framing — portraying the victims as prostitutes rather than victims of sexual abuse — fundamentally misrepresented the nature of the crimes.
Reiter’s Protest
Palm Beach Police Chief Michael Reiter took the extraordinary step of writing directly to Florida’s state-level law enforcement officials to register his protest and request an independent review. He also made a formal referral to the FBI, expressing his loss of confidence in Krischer’s handling of the case.
Krischer’s Defense
Krischer has maintained that his office pursued the case appropriately given the evidence and the complexities of prosecuting sex crimes. He has denied any improper influence. However, he declined to fully explain the decision to limit charges, and no comprehensive public accounting of the decision has emerged.
The Federal Fallout
Reiter’s referral to the FBI set in motion the federal investigation led by U.S. Attorney’s Office in Miami that ultimately produced the 2008 non-prosecution agreement — itself widely criticized, but a direct result of local prosecution failing victims first.
Legacy
The Krischer episode is documented in journalist Julie K. Brown’s “Perversion of Justice” reporting and the subsequent book, as one of the earliest and clearest examples of institutional failure allowing Epstein to escape meaningful accountability.