He may be a native Texan, but it's hard to imagine former Whitewater prosecutor and Clinton tormentor Ken Starr riding a white horse to anyone's rescue these days—and certainly not a former Bill Clinton pal (and one-time Radar investor) such as Jeffrey Epstein. But that is exactly what the pervy 54-year-old was pulling for a few weeks ago when he flew his aging Boeing 727 out to L.A. to meet with Starr, now the Dean of Pepperdine Law School.

Epstein wanted Starr's help in dealing with a federal investigation into possible sex crimes involving underage girls (possible felonies involving transporting underage girls across state lines for prostitution, not mere misdemeanors as reported elsewhere). The billionaire has been accused of hiring young girls for sexual activities in his Palm Beach mansion. A source close to the self-proclaimed financial whiz said that Epstein wanted to work out a deal, but that the "Feds were playing hardball." Starr's flack refused to confirm or deny that Epstein had retained her boss, but several sources have confirmed that Starr, a deeply connected Republican stalwart, has taken on Epstein's rub-and-tug woes.

Contacted by Radar, one of Epstein's criminal lawyers did not confirm or deny that Starr has been brought on specifically to work out a plea deal. But such a deal could be announced very shortly, sources say. An assistant in Starr's office did slip to a reporter that Starr will be flying to Florida Thursday evening. On Epstein's 727, perhaps?

On a side note, the father of one of the Epstein's alleged victims tells Radar he believes that justice is finally at hand.