Judge Officially Ends Epstein Criminal Case

The judge overseeing the criminal case against Jeffrey Epstein officially shut it down Thursday, though the investigation will continue. Epstein, who died in jail Aug. 10, was charged with sex trafficking. Judge Richard Berman had kept the case open for women to give victim impact statements in court Tuesday in New York, CNN reports.

The investigation can continue because the indictment included a conspiracy count. After the hearing, the US attorney told the women that the criminal investigation of people who may have helped Epstein will continue, per NBC. And civil cases can still be brought against the estate of the multimillionaire. Prosecutors said in court Tuesday that the formality of dismissing the charges "in no way lessens the government's resolve to stand up for the victims in this case," per NPR. (More Jeffrey Epstein stories.)