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6h ago

Acosta Testifies Behind Closed Doors in House Probe of 2008 Epstein Plea Deal

The panel plans to release his transcript, drawing sharply different readouts from the two parties.

FILE- In this July 30, 2008 file photo, Jeffrey Epstein is shown in custody in West Palm Beach, Fla. Labor Secretary nominee Alexander Acosta is expected to face questions at his Senate confirmation hearing about an unusual plea deal he oversaw for Epstein, a Florida billionaire and sex offender, as U.S. attorney in Miami. Federal prosecutors say a once-secret plea deal reached over a decade ago with Epstein must stand, despite objections from many of his victims. Prosecutors said in a new court filing that a violation of the Crime Victims’ Rights Act does not allow for the agreement to be voided. (Uma Sanghvi/Palm Beach Post via AP)
WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 12: U.S. President Donald Trump stands with Labor Secretary{ }Alex Acosta,{ }who announced his resignation, while talking to the media at the White House on July 12, 2019 in Washington, DC. Acosta has been under fire for his role in the Jeffrey Epstein{ }plea deal over a decade ago when he was a U.S. Attorney in Florida. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

Overview

  • Alex Acosta sat for a multi-hour, transcribed deposition before House Oversight, days after FBI Director Kash Patel called his original handling of the case the scandal’s “original sin.”
  • According to a Republican summary, Acosta defended the 2008 non-prosecution agreement as a pragmatic response to evidentiary risks and said his office was assured Epstein would not receive work release.
  • Democratic members said Acosta was evasive, refused to concede the deal was a sweetheart arrangement, and showed little remorse toward victims.
  • Acosta told investigators he never saw President Donald Trump’s name in Epstein-related records and said he never met Epstein or Ghislaine Maxwell.
  • Chair James Comer said the committee will publish the transcript and continue pursuing records from DOJ, Treasury and the Epstein estate, following earlier releases that included former Attorney General Bill Barr’s deposition.