Reid Weingarten
Criminal Defense Attorney
Steptoe & Johnson LLP
Born
c. 1954
Nationality
American
Biography
Reid Weingarten is one of Washington's most prominent white-collar criminal defense attorneys, a partner at Steptoe & Johnson LLP with decades of experience representing high-profile clients in federal criminal cases. He became Epstein's lead defense attorney after the July 6, 2019 arrest on federal sex trafficking charges in the Southern District of New York.
Weingarten's defense strategy focused on challenging the SDNY prosecution on double jeopardy grounds, arguing that the 2008 NPA barred subsequent federal charges. He filed a detailed bail motion seeking Epstein's release to home detention with electronic monitoring, GPS tracking, and armed security, offering to post a bond against Epstein's $77 million Manhattan townhouse. Judge Richard Berman denied bail on July 18, 2019, finding Epstein posed an unacceptable flight risk and danger to the community.
Following Epstein's death on August 10, 2019, Weingarten publicly questioned the conditions at the Metropolitan Correctional Center. Epstein had been found injured in his cell on July 23 — an incident initially investigated as a possible suicide attempt — but was removed from suicide watch after approximately six days. On the night of his death, two guards assigned to monitor Epstein allegedly fell asleep and falsified log records. Weingarten expressed frustration that MCC had failed to protect his client despite known risk factors.
Weingarten's broader career includes representation of numerous high-profile defendants in complex federal cases. His involvement in the Epstein case, though cut short by Epstein's death, placed him at the center of one of the most scrutinized custodial deaths in American history. The circumstances surrounding the death — surveillance camera malfunctions, sleeping guards, and the removal from suicide watch — generated widespread public skepticism and multiple investigations.
Key Facts
Represented Epstein at time of his death at MCC on August 10, 2019
Filed bail motion offering $77M Manhattan townhouse as collateral
Argued double jeopardy defense based on 2008 NPA
Publicly challenged MCC conditions after Epstein's death
Epstein was removed from suicide watch ~6 days before death
Partner at Steptoe & Johnson LLP, prominent white-collar defense attorney
Connections (3)
Jeffrey Epstein
Lead defense attorney for 2019 SDNY prosecution
Document Trail
United States v. Epstein (19-cr-00490, SDNY) — defense filings
Bail motion and detention hearing transcripts (July 2019)
MCC incident reports and Bureau of Prisons investigation
DOJ Inspector General investigation into Epstein's death
Source Attribution
Court Documents / SDNY Filings / DOJ IG Report / Media Statements
This profile is compiled from publicly released court documents, sworn depositions, flight logs, trial testimony, and investigative reporting. Inclusion does not imply guilt. Individuals are innocent until proven guilty.
Reid Weingarten
Criminal Defense Attorney • Legal & Law Enforcement • Active
Veteran criminal defense attorney at Steptoe & Johnson who represented Jeffrey Epstein at the time of his death at the Metropolitan Correctional Center on August 10, 2019. Weingarten had been preparing Epstein's defense against the 2019 SDNY sex trafficking indictment. He publicly challenged the conditions of Epstein's detention and raised questions about MCC's failure to protect his client.
Born
c. 1954
Nationality
American
Organization
Steptoe & Johnson LLP
Reid Weingarten is one of Washington's most prominent white-collar criminal defense attorneys, a partner at Steptoe & Johnson LLP with decades of experience representing high-profile clients in federal criminal cases. He became Epstein's lead defense attorney after the July 6, 2019 arrest on federal sex trafficking charges in the Southern District of New York.
Weingarten's defense strategy focused on challenging the SDNY prosecution on double jeopardy grounds, arguing that the 2008 NPA barred subsequent federal charges. He filed a detailed bail motion seeking Epstein's release to home detention with electronic monitoring, GPS tracking, and armed security, offering to post a bond against Epstein's $77 million Manhattan townhouse. Judge Richard Berman denied bail on July 18, 2019, finding Epstein posed an unacceptable flight risk and danger to the community.
Following Epstein's death on August 10, 2019, Weingarten publicly questioned the conditions at the Metropolitan Correctional Center. Epstein had been found injured in his cell on July 23 — an incident initially investigated as a possible suicide attempt — but was removed from suicide watch after approximately six days. On the night of his death, two guards assigned to monitor Epstein allegedly fell asleep and falsified log records. Weingarten expressed frustration that MCC had failed to protect his client despite known risk factors.
Weingarten's broader career includes representation of numerous high-profile defendants in complex federal cases. His involvement in the Epstein case, though cut short by Epstein's death, placed him at the center of one of the most scrutinized custodial deaths in American history. The circumstances surrounding the death — surveillance camera malfunctions, sleeping guards, and the removal from suicide watch — generated widespread public skepticism and multiple investigations.
Key Facts
- Represented Epstein at time of his death at MCC on August 10, 2019
- Filed bail motion offering $77M Manhattan townhouse as collateral
- Argued double jeopardy defense based on 2008 NPA
- Publicly challenged MCC conditions after Epstein's death
- Epstein was removed from suicide watch ~6 days before death
- Partner at Steptoe & Johnson LLP, prominent white-collar defense attorney
Connections
Jeffrey Epstein: Lead defense attorney for 2019 SDNY prosecution
Alan Dershowitz: Both served on Epstein's defense across different proceedings
Ken Starr: Preceded Weingarten on earlier Epstein defense team
Document Trail
- United States v. Epstein (19-cr-00490, SDNY) — defense filings
- Bail motion and detention hearing transcripts (July 2019)
- MCC incident reports and Bureau of Prisons investigation
- DOJ Inspector General investigation into Epstein's death
Source: Court Documents / SDNY Filings / DOJ IG Report / Media Statements