Alex Acosta, a former U.S. attorney and Labor Secretary, recently participated in a closed-door interview with House Oversight Republicans regarding his role in the Epstein case. During the session, Acosta defended the widely criticized plea deal he brokered with Jeffrey Epstein when he was a U.S. attorney in Florida. This deal, which critics argue was too lenient, allowed Epstein to continue his criminal activities for years, ultimately leading to his 2019 arrest and subsequent demise in prison.
The Republican majority of the Oversight panel released a summary of the interview, which indicates that Acosta claimed he never met Epstein or his associate Ghislaine Maxwell, who is serving a 20-year sentence for her role in the sex trafficking scheme. Acosta also stated that the plea deal was intended to circumvent evidentiary challenges that could complicate Epstein’s potential conviction at trial. House Oversight Chair James Comer emphasized the significance of the interview, noting that the information provided would inform the panel’s next steps and that they plan to release a transcript of the session.
While the panel’s Republican majority outlined Acosta’s statements, Democrats have consistently highlighted the deep ties between Trump and Epstein. FBI Director Kash Patel previously attributed the initial failure to prosecute Epstein to Acosta, citing the 2007 non-prosecution agreement that limited the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s ability to pursue further charges. Epstein was also granted a work release program after his state court sentencing, a decision Acosta stated his office would not have made had they known about Florida’s approach.
Acosta expressed remorse during the interview, contradicting Democratic accounts that described him as unrepentant. He also denied any direct connection between the Epstein case and former President Donald Trump, despite Democrats’ continued emphasis on Trump’s long-standing relationship with Epstein. Trump has maintained that he severed ties with Epstein prior to his 2019 arrest, which ultimately led to Epstein’s death by suicide behind bars. Despite the controversy surrounding the plea deal, Acosta’s statements suggest a defensive stance, with the panel’s findings expected to influence future actions regarding the federal government’s handling of the Epstein case.