In a striking testimony before the House Oversight Committee, former U.S. Department of Labor Secretary Alex Acosta opened up about his controversial decision to negotiate a cushy plea deal with Jeffrey Epstein in 2007.
Epstein received a slap on the wrist from prosecutors on serious child sex abuse charges, the Daily Caller reported.
Acosta’s Friday testimony detailed his role in securing Epstein’s immunity from federal prosecution, and the rationale for the agreement.
He also addressed claims from the Democrats and their corporate media allies involving President Donald Trump’s ties to the case.
Back in 2007, as U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Acosta played a pivotal role in crafting a plea deal with Epstein.
Epstein faced severe federal charges that could have meant a life sentence.
The agreement allowed Epstein to sidestep a federal trial by pleading guilty to two state charges in 2008, resulting in a mere 13-month jail term, sex offender registration, and victim compensation.
However, Epstein only spent the nights in a low-security prison and was allowed out during the day on a work-release program, enabling him to continue offending.
Acosta testified that a critical issue was whether to handle Epstein’s prosecution at the federal or state level, given the high stakes involved.
He mentioned that the lead prosecutor flagged significant evidentiary hurdles that might have weakened their case if it proceeded to trial.
Acosta revealed that the U.S. Attorney’s Office ultimately agreed on a negotiated settlement to mitigate the risk of a trial loss.
He feared that failing to convict Epstein could imply he dodged justice, potentially enabling further offenses.
Despite his office’s stance against work release for Epstein, Acosta noted that Palm Beach County permitted it, contrary to expectations.
Acosta emphasized that had his office foreseen the state’s lenient handling, including work release and weak prosecution, they would not have transferred the case to state authority.
He accepted accountability for the plea decision and conveyed regret over the subsequent outcomes.
A Justice Department report later determined that Acosta displayed “poor judgment” in the matter.
However, the investigation found no professional misconduct.
Addressing rumors about Trump, Acosta confirmed he never encountered the president’s name in any Epstein-related files.
This view is supported by former Attorney General Bill Barr, a Trump critic.
House Oversight Chairman James Comer stated:
“To be clear: former U.S. Attorney General Bill Barr has stated there is no evidence of wrongdoing by President Trump.
“We call on Democrats to end these distractions and instead focus on what truly matters: transparency and accountability.”
Comer commended Acosta’s participation, saying:
“Alex Acosta cooperated with our questions today and provided information that will help advance our investigation into the federal government’s handling of the Epstein and Maxwell cases.
“This information will guide our next steps as we work to bring accountability, and we expect to announce new action soon.
“We will also release the transcript of Mr. Acosta’s interview to ensure transparency for the American people.”
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