Democrats on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee have expressed criticism towards Alex Acosta for not showing remorse over the plea deal he helped broker for Jeffrey Epstein. While Acosta admitted responsibility, they argue he remains unrepentant about the arrangement that many believe allowed Epstein to continue his crimes. The committee members have been meeting with Acosta, who is speaking voluntarily, and have raised concerns about his lack of engagement with victim testimonies and past vetting questions.
Rep. Yassamin Ansari (D-Ariz.) stated that Acosta holds no remorse for the decision, which many believe enabled Epstein to prey on women and girls for years. Ansari and other Democrats, along with Republicans, have been meeting with Acosta as part of the Epstein investigation. Acosta, who previously served as labor secretary under President Donald Trump, is speaking voluntarily, a departure from other witnesses who have been giving depositions in compliance with Congressional subpoenas.
During the meeting, Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.) noted that Acosta admitted to taking responsibility for the decision not to prosecute Epstein during the George W. Bush administration. However, he claimed he had not actually read the victims’ statements. Florida Democratic Rep. Maxwell Frost criticized Acosta for lacking faith in the victims’ stories, suggesting he had no understanding of what occurred in his own office during the investigation.
Democrats also raised concerns over Acosta’s evasion of questions about whether the plea deal was discussed during his vetting for the Trump administration. House Oversight Chairman Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.) disputed the Democrats’ focus on Trump, stating that the committee’s work is aimed at uncovering who dropped the ball. Comer defended the committee’s efforts, saying they were trying to determine if Acosta, the FBI, local prosecutors, or the Department of Justice were at fault.