Alex Acosta, the former U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Florida who negotiated Jeffrey Epstein’s controversial 2008 plea deal, testified before the House Oversight Committee, defending his decision to resolve the case through a non-prosecution agreement. Acosta detailed the difficulties of prosecuting Epstein, citing challenges with victim cooperation and the risks of a failed federal trial.
Acosta Describes Plea Deal as a “Crapshoot”
Acosta admitted that going to trial against Epstein would have been a “crapshoot” due to a lack of victim cooperation and inconsistencies in testimony. He explained that securing any conviction was better than risking Epstein walking free.
Epstein’s Plea Agreement and the “Strong Signal”
Acosta emphasized that Epstein’s plea deal, which included registering as a sex offender, sent a “strong signal” to the community about the seriousness of his crimes, despite the controversial nature of the deal. Acosta argued that a conviction would demonstrate that powerful figures could not escape justice.
Victim Cooperation a Key Issue in Epstein’s Case
Acosta explained that many victims were unwilling to testify, citing changing stories and past issues that could have been used against them by defense attorneys. He acknowledged the difficulties in prosecuting the case due to these challenges.
Florida Authorities’ Role in Epstein’s Jail Sentence
Acosta claimed that Florida authorities assured the prosecution that Epstein would serve his 13-month sentence in jail without work release, a promise that was not upheld, which Acosta said would have changed the decision to offer a plea deal.
Trump Not Consulted in Epstein’s Plea Deal
Acosta denied that President Trump was involved in the decision to offer the plea deal, saying, “He moved in circles that I did not move in.” Despite their previous friendship, Acosta stated that Trump was not consulted.
Prince Andrew and the Ongoing Epstein Scandal
The testimony was released on the same day that Prince Andrew agreed to relinquish his title of Duke of York following his continued ties with Epstein. The release coincided with the posthumous publication of Virginia Giuffre’s memoir, in which she claims she was trafficked to Andrew by Epstein.
Epstein’s Legal Defense Team Under Scrutiny
Acosta described Epstein’s defense team, which included high-profile lawyers like Alan Dershowitz and Kenneth Starr, as aggressive but did not accuse them of misconduct, though he called their tactics distasteful and frustrating for the prosecution.
Robert Garcia’s Demand for Transparency
Democratic Representative Robert Garcia accused Pam Bondi, the Florida Attorney General, of obstructing the committee’s investigation into Epstein by refusing to comply with subpoenas for full Epstein files. Garcia claimed that the lack of cooperation demonstrated a broader lack of transparency regarding Epstein’s crimes.