The 20052008 Florida Defense
For the Palm Beach investigation and subsequent NPA negotiations, Epstein retained:
- Alan Dershowitz (Harvard Law professor)
- Jay Lefkowitz (former U.S. Government official)
- Ken Starr (former Whitewater independent counsel)
- Roy Black (prominent Miami defense attorney)
- Martin Weinberg (federal criminal defense specialist)
This team’s successful negotiation of the NPAwhich provided immunity for uncharged co-conspiratorshas been called one of the most favorable plea deals in federal criminal history.
The 2019 Federal Defense
For the SDNY indictment, Epstein’s team included:
- Marc Agnifilo lead attorney at the bail hearing, known for aggressive white-collar defense
- Reid Weingarten veteran federal defense attorney
- Various additional counsel
The Bail Hearing Strategy
At the July 2019 bail hearing, Agnifilo argued that Epstein’s 2008 plea should preclude prosecution under double jeopardy theories and that bail should be granted. Both arguments failed. Epstein died before trial.