美 검찰, 억만장자 엡스타인 기소..잠재적 증인에 거액 뇌물수수 혐의

미성년 성범죄로 체포된 미국의 억만장자 엡스타인의 여죄가 속속 드러나고 있다. 사건을 담당하는 맨해튼 연방법원 검사는 엡스타인을 뇌물수수혐의로 기소했다고 밝혔다. 엡스타인은 자신의 재판에 불리한 증언을 할 수 있는 증인 후보자 2명에게 35만달러를 건낸 혐의를 받고 있다. -편집부

Jailed American financier Jeffrey Epstein made payments to two potential witnesses seeking to influence them in the child sex trafficking case against him late last year, prosecutors said late on July 12.

In a filing in Manhattan federal court, prosecutors said Epstein wired a total of $350,000 to the two individuals, who were not named. They said they learned of the payments through records they obtained from a financial institution, which was not identified.

Epstein’s lawyers did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Epstein, 66, was arrested on July 6 at Teterboro Airport in New Jersey, where he had returned on his private plane from Paris. He has pleaded not guilty to sex trafficking and conspiracy and could face up to 45 years in prison.

In the latest charges, federal authorities said in a July 8 indictment (pdf) that he sexually abused and exploited dozens of girls, some as young as 14, in New York and Florida from about 2002 to 2005.

The charges stated that during this period, Epstein “caused to be enticed and recruited minor girls to visit his mansion in Manhattan, New York, and his estate in Palm Beach, Florida, to engage in sex acts with him, after which he would give the victims hundreds of dollars in cash.” He also knew that many of the girls were underage because they told him, authorities alleged.

Authorities said in a press conference that nude photographs of underage girls were found in Epstein’s New York mansion, with one prosecutor saying “the alleged behavior shocks the conscience.”

Epstein had faced similar charges in 2007, but negotiated a deal to avoid federal prosecution and plead guilty to a single Florida state prostitution charge.

In a court filing on July 11, Epstein asked to be allowed to await trial under house arrest in his Manhattan mansion, offering to pay for private armed security.

In a filing on July 12, however, prosecutors called Epstein “unrepentant and unreformed” and said his payments to possible witnesses, along with the risk he would use his wealth to flee the country, warranted keeping him behind bars.

Prosecutors said Epstein paid $100,000 in November to a person identified in his 2007 non-prosecution agreement as a possible co-conspirator. They said he paid $250,000 in December to another person identified in the agreement as a possible co-conspirator and employee.

The payments were made shortly after the Miami Herald began publishing a series of articles about Epstein, who was known for socializing with politicians and royalty.

“This course of action, and in particular its timing, suggests the defendant was attempting to further influence co-conspirators who might provide information against him in light of the recently re-emerging allegations,” the prosecutors said.

A hearing on Epstein’s bail request is scheduled for early July 15.

(원제: Prosecutors Accuse Epstein of Tampering With 2 Potential Witnesses by Offering Them $350,000)