The House Oversight Committee has expanded its investigation into the handling of Jeffrey Epstein’s criminal case, issuing subpoenas on Tuesday to ten high-ranking officials across four U.S. presidential administrations.
Absent from the list is former Labor Secretary Alex Acosta, despite his key role in Epstein’s controversial 2008 plea deal.
Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer approved the subpoenas, which target former Presidents, cabinet members and law enforcement leaders.
The action follows a motion passed by the Federal Law Enforcement Subcommittee, led by Rep. Scott Perry (R-PA), who directed the issuance of subpoenas to individuals connected to the case.
The individuals subpoenaed include former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, as well as former FBI Directors James Comey and Robert Mueller.
Additionally, the subpoenas were directed at current Attorney General Merrick Garland and former Attorneys General Loretta Lynch, Eric Holder, William Barr, Jeff Sessions and Alberto Gonzales.
The decision to exclude Acosta drew attention due to his pivotal role in approving the 2008 plea agreement with Epstein while serving as the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida.
That plea deal allowed Epstein to avoid federal prosecution despite an investigation into sex trafficking and abuse involving underage girls, per reports.
Under the terms of the agreement, Epstein pleaded guilty to two state-level prostitution charges.
He served 13 months in a Palm Beach County jail and was permitted to leave for work during the day.
The deal also required him to register as a sex offender and compensate victims, but it shielded him from facing more serious federal charges.
A House Oversight Committee spokesperson told the Daily Caller that subpoenaing Acosta is “not a straightforward process.”
The spokesperson confirmed that the subcommittee vote authorized the targeted subpoenas, and Chairman Comer subsequently issued them.
“In a voice vote, both Republicans and Democrats on the Federal Law Enforcement Subcommittee approved a motion offered by Rep. Scott Perry directing the Chairman to issue targeted subpoenas,” the spokesman said.
Acosta’s actions as U.S. Attorney came under fire not only for the lenient terms of the plea deal but also for the secrecy surrounding it.
A federal judge ruled in 2017 that the agreement violated the Crime Victims’ Rights Act because Epstein’s victims were not notified of the deal in advance.
The Committee’s inclusion of Gonzales, who served as Attorney General from February 2005 to August 2007, overlaps with Acosta’s tenure and further connects the timeline under review.
However, Michael Mukasey, who replaced Gonzales later in 2007, was not subpoenaed.
Documents from the U.S. Attorney’s Office show that federal prosecutors may have made several concessions during negotiations.
A 2007 letter written by one of Acosta’s assistant U.S. attorneys stated the office “bent over backwards” to accommodate Epstein during the plea bargaining process.
One high-profile meeting took place in October 2007 when Acosta met with Epstein’s attorney, Jay Lefkowitz, at a Marriott hotel in West Palm Beach rather than at the federal prosecutor’s office in Miami.
The Miami Herald later reported that the location and nature of the meeting raised additional questions about the unusual handling of the case.
Federal prosecutors had allegedly offered to drop all charges if Epstein pleaded guilty to the lesser state offenses, accepted jail time, registered as a sex offender and compensated victims.
The agreement allowed Epstein to avoid a federal trial where he faced a potential life sentence.
Despite growing criticism, Acosta defended his decisions at a July 2019 press conference.
He stated that the federal case against Epstein was “getting stronger” at the time of the agreement and said the plea deal ensured Epstein served jail time, registered as a sex offender and compensated his victims.
Acosta ultimately resigned from his cabinet position amid public and political backlash, per the New York Times.
The subpoenas issued by the Oversight Committee represent a sweeping effort to gather testimony and documents related to the government’s handling of Epstein’s prosecution.
While Acosta has not yet been subpoenaed, the Committee’s spokesperson did not rule out further action.
The post Clintons, FBI Chiefs and Top DOJ Officials Subpoenaed in Escalating Epstein Probe — But Acosta Left Off the List appeared first on Resist the Mainstream.
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Author: Jordyn M.
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