In the initial stages of the investigation into Jeffrey Epstein’s sexual abuse, there was discussion and debate about potentially charging some of the underage girls he victimized with crimes related to prostitution.

Specifically, during a 2006 grand jury proceeding in Palm Beach County, Florida, a prosecutor, Lanna Belohlavek, reportedly referred to two underage victims as “prostitutes” and suggested they had committed a crime. This reflects a now widely criticized legal approach that failed to recognize the power imbalances and coercive nature of the situation these girls faced, viewing them as perpetrators rather than victims of sex trafficking.

Ultimately, the focus of the prosecution shifted, and Epstein faced charges related to the abuse and trafficking of minors. While the legal system’s initial approach to the girls involved has been heavily criticized and is now considered problematic, there is no evidence that they were actually convicted of prostitution-related offenses.

See Jeffrey Epstein prosecutor called 2 underage victims ‘prostitutes.’ Were they charged?