Congress Doesn't Want To Talk To Alex Acosta, Epstein's 'sweetheart Deal' Maker

The House Committee connected Oversight and Government Reform on Tuesday listed erstwhile attorneys general, a erstwhile FBI director, erstwhile President Bill Clinton and erstwhile Secretary of State Hillary Clinton as group each taxable to subpoenas for matters tied to Jeffrey Epstein.

However, not named successful nan news merchandise was Alex Acosta — who was nan U.S. lawyer for nan Southern District of Florida whose concealed non-prosecution statement pinch Epstein created a spark that has turned into an inferno of contention astir 20 years later.

Acosta besides was President Donald Trump's labour caput during his first term. Acosta near nan domiciled successful 2019 aft he faced scrutiny complete nan Epstein plea agreement.

Victims of Epstein’s intersexual maltreatment are unhappy that Acosta was not among those subpoenaed.

Jeffrey Epstein connected March 28, 2017.New York State Sex Offender Registry via AP file

“How tin immoderate genuine investigation into nan national government’s sweetheart woody pinch Epstein (including nan bonzer assistance of broad immunity to each his named and unnamed co-conspirators) omit Alex Acosta?” Epstein unfortunate lawyer Jack Scarola asked successful a connection to NBC News.

Brittany Henderson, different Epstein unfortunate attorney, said, “Anyone acquainted pinch nan history of litigation related to Jeffrey Epstein knows from our decade agelong conflict to enforce nan Crimes Victims Rights Act that Alex Acosta is an important personification to lawsuit successful immoderate quest for nan truth.”

Relatives of Virginia Giuffre, 1 of nan survivors of Epstein's abuse, who died by termination this year, reiterated Wednesday that nan victims should beryllium consulted and heard first.

Asked by NBC News why Acosta was not subpoenaed, a committee spokesperson said by matter connection that “in a sound vote, some Republicans and Democrats connected nan Federal Law Enforcement Subcommittee successful July approved a mobility offered by Rep. Scott Perry by unanimous consent directing nan Chairman to rumor targeted subpoenas to Bill and Hillary Clinton, James Comey, Loretta Lynch, Eric Holder, Merrick Garland, Robert Mueller, William Barr, Jeff Sessions, and Alberto Gonzales. Chairman Comer has now issued nan subpoenas.”

Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., is nan committee's chairman.

Public records show that Gonzalez was Acosta’s leader astatine nan clip nan statement was reached. Records besides show it was Acosta who first made nan determination to prosecute what galore ineligible analysts person called a “sweetheart deal” to work together not to prosecute Epstein.

A Justice Department Office of Professional Responsibility investigation into nan Epstein non-prosecution agreement, which led to a 348-page study successful November 2020, says it was Acosta who “made nan pivotal determination to resoluteness nan national investigation of Epstein done a state-based plea and either developed aliases approved nan position of nan first connection to nan defense that group nan opening constituent for nan consequent negotiations that led to nan NPA,” aliases non-prosecution agreement, according to nan report’s summary.

The study says Acosta’s apical lieutenants went astir nan national charismatic investigating nan case, nan FBI and nan victims by making an connection for Epstein to plea to authorities charges.

The charismatic astatine nan time, Marie Villafana, was denied a gathering pinch Acosta by her contiguous supervisors to explicate her position and nan spot of nan case. She expressed her concerns and frustrations successful an email to her supervisor astatine nan time, Matt Menschel, astir why an indictment was brought and why decisions were being made astir a plea woody moreover after, she says, nan U.S. attorney’s agency reassured her it would not cave successful to Epstein’s attorneys, nan study says.

Acosta did not instantly respond to a petition for comment.