In May 2007, as part of the federal investigation into Epstein’s sex trafficking, the FBI planned to arrest him while he was judging a beauty pageant in the U.S. Virgin Islands. The move was highly strategic: they had gathered evidence and believed the event would provide an opportunity to act. However, prosecutors in the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Southern Florida intervened and blocked the plan, deciding not to approve the indictment at that time. They delayed the case, and Epstein remained free for a longer period before ultimately negotiating the non-prosecution agreement instead of facing full federal charges.

This beauty pageant episode has become emblematic of the deeper problems in how Epstein was handled: prosecutors overruling agents, delays in approving charges, and the decision to settle for a plea that many say let Epstein off too lightly. Supporters of the victims argue that had the plan to arrest Epstein at the pageant moved forward, it might have prevented further abuse and revealed more of the network of accomplices earlier on. The story underscores claims that higher-ups in the justice system cushioned Epstein from full accountability, allowing him to continue operating with impunity for years.


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https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/justice-department/fbi-wanted-arrest-epstein-virgin-islands-beauty-pageant-1-year-n1247788