The extraordinary plea arrangement – which occurred without the knowledge of Epstein’s sex abuse victims – meant the business mogul traded a possible life sentence for a much more lenient, state-led charge. He also paid settlements to his victims.

It was only when journalist Brown dusted off details of the abandoned 53-page indictment last year that interest in the case was renewed. Her report sparked a federal investigation into Epstein, resulting in his arrest on sexual trafficking charges.

“In addition to his own sexual abuse of the victims, Epstein directed other persons to abuse the girls sexually … Epstein worked in concert with others to obtain minors not only for his own sexual gratification, but also for the sexual gratification of others,” a federal judge looking into previous plea deal concluded earlier this year.

A new TV series about Jeffrey Epstein is coming to HBO