Ex-Abercrombie & Fitch chief fit to stand trial in sex trafficking case, judge says
A federal judge has ruled that former Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Mike Jeffries is competent to stand trial on sex trafficking and prostitution charges. Despite his age and cognitive impairments, the court determined he is capable of understanding the proceedings and will provide specific accommodations during the trial.
Why it matters
This ruling allows a high-profile criminal case involving serious allegations of human trafficking to proceed, testing the intersection of legal competency and age-related cognitive decline.
Image source, Getty Images By Brandon Drenon Published 22 minutes ago Former CEO of Abercrombie & Fitch Mike Jeffries is competent to stand trial on sex trafficking and prostitution charges, a federal court has ruled, reversing an earlier decision.
Jeffries was declared "mentally incompetent" by a court last year and said to be suffering with dementia and late onset of Alzheimer's disease.
Based on an examination of his medical records and more than 21 hours of audio recordings across 109 calls, Judge Nusrat Choudhury has now ruled that there was "ample evidence" to show that he was fit to stand trial.
Jeffries faces over a dozen charges related to sex trafficking in violation of interstate prostitution. His trial is scheduled to begin on 26 October.
Judge Choudhury said in the 150-plus page ruling that the audio recordings of phone calls were "particularly illuminating".
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