Epstein Evidence Investigation: Democrats on the House Oversight Committee are seeking testimony from private investigators who removed and stored a trove of evidence from Jeffrey Epstein’s Palm Beach mansion before it was searched by police in 2005, according to letters reviewed by ABC News. The lawmakers want to question the men about the removal of what could have been key evidence for police and prosecutors in their probe into Epstein’s sex trafficking.
The Department of Justice appears to have never obtained the evidence, which included three desktop computers and more than two dozen phone directories, according to the letters sent by ranking member Rep. Robert Garcia of California.
What Evidence Was Removed From Epstein’s Home?
According to a 2005 memo from private investigator William Riley to one of Epstein’s criminal defense lawyers, investigator Paul Lavery visited Epstein’s Palm Beach home to remove “items of potential evidentiary value” less than two weeks before police raided the mansion in October 2005, documents released by the DOJ show.
Lavery removed more than 100 pieces of potential evidence, including three computers, 29 bound telephone directories, a listing of nearby masseuses, and a trove of sexually explicit materials. Among the removed items was a photo with a handwritten message saying, “You better never forget about me” from an unknown woman who signed her name “Class of 2005.”
When Palm Beach police searched Epstein’s home two weeks later, investigators noted that multiple computers from the property “were conspicuously absent,” including one linked to Epstein’s surveillance system.
What Did Epstein’s Attorney Tell Lawmakers?
Epstein’s longtime attorney Darren Indyke sat for a deposition before the Oversight panel last week and told lawmakers the evidence was likely never turned over to law enforcement, according to the letters.
“After Epstein’s conviction, after he served jail time, through conversations with defense counsel I became aware that there were computer hard drives in the possession of private investigators,” Indyke said. “I just don’t know how they came into possession, but I knew of the existence of hard drives.”
What Did the DOJ Report Say About the Missing Evidence?
The Department of Justice’s Office of Professional Responsibility issued a report in 2020 that faulted Alexander Acosta, then the top federal prosecutor in Miami, for agreeing to a plea deal with Epstein before securing the missing computers, including one believed to have video footage from Epstein’s home surveillance cameras.
“There was good reason to believe the computers contained relevant—and potentially critical—information, and it was clear Epstein did not want the contents of his computers disclosed,” the OPR report said.
Marie Villafaña, the former assistant U.S. attorney who pushed to indict Epstein, previously said if the evidence on the missing computers “had been what we suspected it was … it would have put this case completely to bed,” according to the OPR report.
Who Are the Investigators Being Sought?
Garcia formally requested that private investigators Paul Lavery, Stephen Kiraly, and William Riley appear separately for voluntary transcribed interviews. The deadline for the investigators to respond is April 9.
Riley and Kiraly are both former Miami police officers. Billing records show their firm’s invoices for Epstein and his attorneys spanned several years and included recurring charges for a storage facility, according to records in the DOJ’s release of Epstein files. Riley and Lavery did not respond to requests for comment last month. Reached by phone, Kiraly said he would not discuss anything related to Epstein.
What Happens If They Don’t Cooperate?
While Garcia’s invitation is for voluntary testimony, if the men do not cooperate, the committee could vote to subpoena them, or Republican chairman Rep. James Comer could unilaterally compel them to testify.
“We are bringing in anyone that has any information that would be helpful to our investigation, and hopefully we’ll be able to get the truth to the American people and provide some type of justice for the victims,” Comer said after a recent deposition with Epstein’s accountant Richard Kahn.
FAQs: Epstein Evidence Investigation
Q: What evidence was removed from Epstein’s home?
A: Three desktop computers, 29 phone directories, a listing of masseuses, sexually explicit materials, and a photo signed “Class of 2005,” according to DOJ documents.
Q: When was the evidence removed?
A: Less than two weeks before Palm Beach police raided Epstein’s mansion in October 2005, according to a memo from private investigator William Riley.
Q: Did law enforcement ever get this evidence?
A: The DOJ appears to have never obtained it. Federal prosecutors abandoned efforts to recover it when Epstein agreed to a 2008 plea deal.
Q: What did the DOJ report say?
A: A 2020 OPR report faulted Alexander Acosta for not securing the computers before the plea deal, calling the evidence “potentially critical.”
Q: Who are the investigators being called to testify?
A: Paul Lavery, Stephen Kiraly and William Riley, private investigators who worked for Epstein and removed the evidence.
Q: What happens if they refuse?
A: The committee could vote to subpoena them, or Chairman James Comer could unilaterally compel their testimony.
Disclaimer: This information is based on inputs from news agency reports. TSG does not independently confirm the information provided by the relevant sources.
