HOUSE OVERSIGHT 012144 KIRKLAND &ELLIS LLP at 6, 8, 22, 45; Tab 7, Jr.M 13; Tab 8 Tr. at 8; Tab 9, Tr. at 5; and Tab 10, Tr. at 14-15 (excerpts from these transcripts are included below). Furthermore, the women who visited Mr. Epstein's home all visited voluntarily and many willingly returned several times. The State Attorney's Office (the "SAO") has vast experience prosecuting sex crimes and conducted an exhaustive, 15-month investigation of Mr. Epstein. A Grand Jury has concluded that Mr. Epstein was merely a local "John," guilty of soliciting prostitution in violation of state law. Notably, Florida law distinguishes soliciting from procuring and compelling prostitution if minors are involved. Indeed, soliciting is a misdemeanor except for the commission of a third subsequent offense, turning it into a felony. The SAO, therefore, sought and obtained an indictment charging Mr. Epstein with felony solicitation of prostitution. Mr. Epstein is prepared to plead guilty and accept a sentence for that offense—a sentence that, notably, is far more severe than that meted out to other "Johns" convicted of violating Florida's solicitation laws for cases in which sexual activity was alleged. Though CEOS points out its admirable goal of "protecting children," a moniker that engenders high emotions, the conduct alleged here involves women over 16, which is the age of consent in 38 states and supplies the effective federal age of consent. The young women were by no means the target of high-school trolling; they were individuals who, with friends, visited Mr. Epstein's house—a home full of friends and staff. The civil complaints filed against Mr. Epstein reiterate the fact that the individuals who visited Mr. Epstein would visit with their friends. And Mr. Epstein never spoke to or had any contact with these women before they arrived at his house. And again, the State is handling this matter appropriately. We respectfully submit that that should be the beg