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17h ago

House Panel Releases Acosta Transcript Defending 2008 Epstein Plea

The newly released interview presents Acosta’s view that a federal case was too risky, spurring Democratic demands for more records.

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Alex Acosta, the former U.S. attorney who gave disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein a controversial plea deal nearly 18 years ago, told the House Oversight Committee the case against Epstein was riddled with issues that would have likely prevented a conviction. He said the plea deal was necessary to get Epstein behind bars, saying "the trial was a crapshoot, and we just wanted the guy to go to jail." (MANUEL BALCE CENETA/AP FILE)
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Overview

  • The House Oversight Committee made public a 172-page transcript of its September interview with former U.S. attorney Alex Acosta.
  • Acosta said the 2008 case faced serious evidentiary problems and called a trial a "crapshoot," arguing a plea ensured Epstein went to jail.
  • Under the 2008 agreement, Epstein avoided federal charges, served 13 months on state offenses, registered as a sex offender, and paid settlements.
  • Committee Democrats said Acosta would not concede the deal was a "sweetheart" arrangement and called for additional Justice Department and state records.
  • Legal commentators criticized Acosta’s defense in televised analysis, questioning his rationale for doubting victim credibility and his reliance on past DOJ findings.