Justice Ruth Pickholz Shames Misogynist Dirty DA Cy Vance for Trying to lower Jeffrey Epstein Sex Predator Status
Excerpt: At a sex offender registration hearing in 2011, Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Gaffney shocked a Manhattan judge by recommending that Epstein be classified as a Level One offender — the lowest on the sex fiend scale.
“I have to tell you I am a little overwhelmed because I have never seen a prosecutor’s office do anything like this,” Justice Ruth Pickholz said, according to records. “I have done many (sex offender registration hearings) much less troubling than this one where the (prosecutor) would never make a downward argument like this.”
Gaffney justified asking for the lower level because Florida federal officials had allowed Epstein to plead guilty to just one count — even though Palm Beach police said there were multiple victims.
The ADA said the police allegations could not be backed up because the complaining witnesses got cold feet and stopped cooperating with investigators.
Pickholz did not buy Gaffney’s explanation and pegged Epstein a Level Three offender — the most dangerous kind, records show.
Thwarted by the judge, Epstein appealed to the Appellate Division, where cases like this one get more public scrutiny, records show.
But the DA’s office changed its tune and agreed with Pickholz’s recommendation. So did the appellate judges.
In an appellate brief filed later, the office of Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. admitted it was "apparently misapprehending the governing legal standards" when the additional victims were not factored into their original recommendation.
Epstein, 61, remains on the state sex offender registry, which lists his local address as 9 E. 71st. St. But his main address is his private island in the Virgin Islands, where it is required to report to authorities there every 90 days.
Epstein also has to report annually to New York authorities and pose for a fresh mug shot.