File 027096
White House 'Looking Into' Acosta's Role in Illegal Sex Offender Plea Deal (File 027096)
News article from The Virgin Islands Daily News reporting on federal judge's ruling that Labor Secretary Alexander Acosta, as U.S. attorney in Miami, broke the law by failing to inform victims about Jeffrey Epstein's plea deal agreement.
Summary
A federal judge ruled that U.S. Labor Secretary Alexander Acosta violated the law when, as U.S. attorney in Miami, he negotiated a plea deal with Jeffrey Epstein without informing dozens of victims. The deal allowed Epstein to plead guilty to two prostitution charges and serve 13 months in county jail instead of facing federal prosecution, while also extending immunity to some co-conspirators. The judge found evidence that Epstein sexually abused more than 30 underage girls at his Palm Beach mansion and elsewhere. The White House indicated it was reviewing Acosta's handling of the case, and the Department of Justice announced an investigation into how the Epstein case was processed.
4 The Virgin Islands Daily NewsVIRGIN ISLANDS Saturday, February 23, 2019White House 'looking into' Acosta's role in illegal sex offender plea deal!vRir c,I BENNETT — "My understand, is that it, __________________________________ _____________________________________________________ efforts.. to protect a victim, the fil-___________________________________ a ve, comPliemed ease. some- A federal judge said U.S. Labor Secretary Alexander if...id. II allows victims the 1..-I hing we're certainly looking into," sonable right" to confer with theWASHINGTON — White Sanders said. Acosta — then the U.S. attorney in Miami — signed u.s. attomeys handling the case.House press secretary Sarah Huck- The Florida- off on a plea deal with Jeffrey Epstein, the Palm Beach The deal reached between Acos-abee Sanders on Friday declined based U.S. Dis- ta and Epstein's attorneys allowedtobillionaire and serial sex abuser, without informing the say whether President Donald 111 trict Judge Ken- him to not be prosecuted M fed-Trump oil confidence hi La- fie. A. Marrs dozens of victims about what they were doing. eral court, and instead sentencedbor Secretary Alexander Acosta, a , 0 1 ' ruled Acosta and in state court. The immunity fromEpstein also owns the island of little St. James in theday after a federal judge ruled the other officials prosecution also extended to someJustice Department broke the law did om confer Virgin Islands. of Epstein, co-conspirators.while Acosta was a U.S. attorney. iik'_,.....L: with Epstein, Epstein pleaded guilty to twoA judge said Acosta — then the prostitution charges and served 13U.S. attorney in Miami — signed JeffroY EristoM ‘theeti7008 abpcITiti Asked if Trump still has confi- The judge said in his decision months in county jail, accordingoff on a plea deal with Jeffrey Ep- agreement. But, dence in the latest member of his Thursday that he had reviewed to the Miami Herald. The victi.stein, the Palm Beach billionaire notably, she appeared to defend the Cabinet — which he frequently evidence showing Epstein sexu- were not told of the agreement orand serial sex abuser, without in- labor boss. praises as doing a collective solid ally abused more than 30 underage sentencing until it was too late toforming victims about what they "But that they made the beg job — Sanders declined to say girls at his Palm Beach mansion intervene.were doing. possible deal that they could have the president does. "Again, that's and elsewhere. The Department of Justice an-o f tit' S:.17amTvsnin tthhee VilifigVi gotten at that time," she said...But, something we're looking into," the The Crime Victims' Rights Act nounced earlier this month it hasagain, that, something we're look- spokeswoman said, "I'm not aware promises victims that the Justice opened an investigation into theIslands. ing into." of any changes... Department would make its "best handling of Epstein's case.