By turning states evidence I think they mean federal not individual states but am not familiar with the whole US procedure. With Maxwell, if she gets the retrial then she stands a good chance of negotiating a plea deal as the victims may not want to testify all over again.
I just posted much the same. I think our systems must be very different. State courts try almost everything so I'm sure it is state's evidence here but some things come under federal law or can bring in federal law.
Generally though a crime that takes place in one state has to be tried in THAT state here. These people, with evidence, could probably have had multiple trials in Florida, in New York, in New Mexico. Each for different acts/crimes at different times, etc. Each state decides on whether to charge or if here is enough evidence for the things that happened in their state. One state might and another might not or evidence may not exist so they choose not to, individually. If I have explained that well, I think it should tell you that both Maxwell and Epstein separately are lucky they did not have something like 5 trials in different states for individual acts by each in each state and then federally as well.
Now either on top of that or instead of that (either can happen), we have the federal government and law. Much is individual state law in cases and one state to another can be different in their laws and then there is if an individual broke federal law. Federal law can come in for instance if a criminal crossed state lines while committing their crime(s) or if there is something like a big drug syndicate with people placed in various states who are part of that syndicate, and transport or a trafficking enterprise. These are some examples of what federal law would apply to. It generally is certain crimes that invoke federal prosecution, most crimes I would say are almost always tried in each individual state.
So if all that makes sense to you, and I may have confused you further, not sure I am explaining well, then again Epstein's deal was due to Florida's decisions. Florida is a state. I can only guess he had the right connections and knew the right people in power in Florida. He was to be tried there for things or acts committed in Florida only though. Maxwell was not tried in Florida. She was tried federally. Even now if Florida or NY thinks they have something on Maxwell they can prove, either state could charge her too and try her (if not too late with statute of limitations). The point is each state is different and crimes can intersect and sometimes it may seem they are tried for the same crime twice, maybe in state and then federal court, etc., but it is under each system's laws.
One case does not take the place of another. And again what he got away with or what deal he made in Florida or the fact he died before the other trial has nothing to do with what happens to her or should happen to her in sentencing, etc. Different courts, different defendants, separate cases and more.
Purely hypothetical examples:
Epstein is raping a minor in a motorhome as another drives it. They are in the State of Texas let's say. This is chargeable in Texas. Now in the course of that single ongoing act the motorhome crosses into Oklahoma. It is now also chargeable in Oklahoma as well. On top of this, now federal law can be invoked as well because they crossed state lines. Each of these are up to each justice system as to whether to charge and more, all have the right.
NOW, let's say Maxwell was the driver and knew what was going on. Let's say she procured the girl as well. Now you have another defendant chargeable but her charges are likely going to be different than his but they occurred in the same states, etc.
NOW, let's say that they are both charged in Texas and the worst one, the rapist, gets a sweet deal but they put Maxwell through the wringer and charge her with more even than him. THEN you have a bit of an argument or this is unfair (even though defendants each make their own deals so it still could be argued there was a reason like maybe he flipped on someone). However this is not the case here. In this real case, you don't really have an argument. Florida gave him the sweet deal. There are different charges, different dates and Maxwell is in federal court, it's not like Florida treated her differently, she was never tried in Florida for anything at all. The feds don't have to give her any deal Florida gave Epstein, that's Florida, that's different and that was him. The feds in fact may abhor the deal Florida gave Epstein but that wasn't and isn't up to them.
I'm sorry to be so long and go on, I just think you really are interested in how it works here and don't understand why he got off, etc. so easy and I'm trying to explain how it works. Believe me, most of us I believe HATE that Epstein didn't get the justice he deserved, it outrages me. He had to have connections in Florida in my opinion and it wouldn't be surprising at all, or just as likely he had something bad on someone high up in Florida. However, I still think she deserves her justice. He would have faced federal charges too I think is what you need to realize. And probably wasn't going to get off so light and would have received far more time than she is facing, most likely life. He committed suicide and that's what stopped that, not because he got "off" easy in that case.
Now you may not feel they had the evidence or the case was proven but that's besides the point here. They felt they had enough to charge her, they put on their case and the jury found her guilty. Nothing wrong was done to her by the system and it has nothing to do with whether he didn't face his justice. He was going to face his and took the easy way out, he was not "released" by the system.
I probably confused you worse but hope I helped. Also I may have some things incorrect, I'm no expert in any way, but most of what I state are just things I feel I have learned or understand somewhat through years of following cases.