Jeff Epstein Wants to Muzzle Jack Scarola.

The twisted tale of billionaire Jeff Epstein rolls on, with inevitable collateral litigation arising from the original claims of underage sexual abuse.

In the latest iteration, Epsteins's complaint against former RRA attorney Brad Edwards was dismissed with leave to amend, and a motion to muzzle Edwards' counsel Jack Scarola was denied as well:

Edwards filed a counterclaim, alleging Epstein filed the lawsuit to get Edwards to back down from representing the victims.

“Mr. Epstein had to pay more to settle these cases than he would have if Mr. Edwards wasn’t out there putting all this pressure on him,” said attorney Jack Scarola, who represents Edwards. “That’s Mr. Edwards’ job ... to put as much legitimate pressure on the defendant as he possibly could and he obviously did an extremely effective job.”

Epstein pleaded guilty to two felony charges: soliciting prostitution and soliciting a minor for prostitution. He served 13 months in the county jail and has to register as a lifelong sex offender.

Representing Epstein, attorney Joseph Ackerman argued unsuccessfully for a gag order. Ackerman said Scarola has repeatedly made statements to several news organizations about the case.

“Mr. Scarola has constantly referred to Mr. Epstein as a pedophile and there’s been no proof of that anywhere,” Ackerman said. “Muzzling lawyers who may wish to make public statements has been long recognized as within the court’s inherent power ... We don’t believe it’s appropriate to wage a media campaign and taint the jury pool.”

Scarola said it would be unconstitutional to impose a gag order.

“There is a complete and total absence of proof that we have engaged in any conduct whatsoever that could be prohibited,” Scarola said.

Scarola said he and Edwards have been asked to appear on national television as well as received interview requests from the foreign press. Scarola said he has been selective in his interviews.

 Exactly -- AVN will just have to wait.

Journalist Conchita Sarnoff provides an interesting first-person report on the hearing and notes that she may or may not have been required to appear for a deposition at Fowler's offices on Brickell back in May.

So far this litigation is moving pretty smoothly I would say.

Proposed Clause Referencing Bob Josefsberg Removed From Non-Prosecution Agreement.

I'll leave it to the defense lawyers to comment on the overall approach taken here but this proposed language on settling several related civil suits sure seems unusual:

On its first draft in September 2007, it required that Epstein pay an attorney - tapped by the U.S. Attorney's Office and approved by Epstein - to represent some of the victims in civil suits they had filed against Epstein. That attorney is prominent Miami lawyer Bob Josefsberg.

Former prosecutor Johnson said he has never seen a provision like that before.

But an addendum to the agreement signed the following month struck Epstein's duty to pay Josefsberg if he and the victims did not accept a settlement and instead pursued litigation.

The agreement, signed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Maria Villafana, does not expressly state whether any victims were contacted or consulted before the deal was made.

Attorney Brad Edwards of Fort Lauderdale, who represents three of the young women, believes that none of the between 30 and 40 woman identified as victims in the federal investigation were told of the deal. Edwards said his clients were still receiving letters in the mail months afterwards saying the U.S. Attorney's Office assuring them Epstein would be prosecuted.

"Never consulting the victims is probably the most outrageous aspect of it..." Edwards said. "It taught them that someone with money can buy his way out of anything. It's outrageous and embarrassing for United States Attorney's Office and the State Attorneys Office."

Epstein now faces many civil lawsuits filed by the women, who are represented by a variety attorneys. In many, the facts alleged are the same: that Epstein had a predilection for teenage girls, identified poor, vulnerable ones and lured them to his home via other young women. The teens describe ascending a staircase lined with nude photographs of young girls and to the spa room where Epstein would appear in a small towel.

Former Circuit Judge Bill Berger, who represents one of the victims, and The Palm Beach Post sought the unsealing of the agreement. Berger refers to it as a "sweetheart deal."

Why would there be a proposed provision requiring payment only to one attorney who represents only some of the victims? Has anyone ever heard of this before?

BTW, Epstein you are one sick dude.