who was attorney general when jeffery epstein

by Roslyn Lubowitz Jr. 5 min read

Alexander Acosta
Preceded byMarcos Jiménez
Succeeded byWifredo A. Ferrer
United States Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division
In office August 22, 2003 – June 11, 2005
30 more rows

Did Attorney General visit Jeffrey Epstein’s prison before his death?

U.S. Attorney General William Barr secretly visited the prison where billionaire financier Jeffrey Epstein was held “about two weeks” before the latter's death in the summer of 2019.

Who is Jeffrey Epstein and what did he do?

Epstein first came under investigation for alleged sex crimes against minors in 2005 by the town of Palm Beach Police Department.

Why is Attorney General William Barr recused from Epstein case?

AG William Barr: "I'm recused from that matter because one of the law firms that represented Epstein long ago was a firm that I subsequently joined for a period of time." pic.twitter.com/hdwqgOlrWD

When did the FBI begin its investigation of Jeffrey Epstein?

In July 2006, the FBI began its own investigation of Epstein, nicknamed "Operation Leap Year". It resulted in a 53-page indictment in June 2007.

See more

image

Who was president when Acosta was attorney general?

President George W. BushAlexander AcostaUnited States Assistant Attorney General for Civil RightsIn office August 22, 2003 – June 11, 2005PresidentGeorge W. BushPreceded byBradley Schlozman (Acting)24 more rows

Who were Epstein attorneys?

Epstein's defense lawyers included Roy Black, Gerald Lefcourt, Harvard Law School professor Alan Dershowitz, and former U.S. Solicitor General Ken Starr.

What nationality is alexander Acosta?

AmericanAlexander Acosta / Nationality

Who is Alex Acosta's wife?

Jan Elizabeth AcostaAlexander Acosta / Wife

Who was Epstein's lawyer in Florida?

Acosta, then the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, agreed to a plea deal, to grant immunity from all federal criminal charges to Epstein, along with four named co-conspirators and any unnamed "potential co-conspirators".

Who owns Jeffrey Epstein's Island now?

Thomas island and belonging to the subdistrict East End, St. Thomas. The 70- to 78-acre (28 to 32 ha) island was owned by American convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein from 1998 until his 2019 death....Little Saint James, U.S. Virgin Islands.GeographyCoordinates18°18′0″N 64°49′30″WArchipelagoVirgin Islands archipelagoAdministrationUnited States5 more rows

Who was the previous secretary of labor?

Past Secretaries of LaborYearsSecretary2019-2021Eugene Scalia2017-2019Alexander Acosta2013-2017Thomas E. Perez2009-2013Hilda L. Solis24 more rows

Is Jim Acosta Portuguese?

Acosta's father arrived in the U.S. at age 11 as a refugee from Cuba three weeks before the Cuban Missile Crisis and was raised in Virginia. His mother is of Irish and Czech ancestry. Acosta, also raised in northern Virginia, graduated from Annandale High School in 1989.

Who is Jeffrey Epstein?

www.jeffreyepstein.org. Jeffrey Edward Epstein ( / ˈɛpstiːn / EP-steen; January 20, 1953 – August 10, 2019) was an American financier and convicted sex offender. Epstein began his professional life by teaching at a private school in Manhattan, despite lacking a college degree. After his dismissal from the school he entered ...

What did Epstein do in 1981?

(IAG), which assisted clients in recovering stolen money from fraudulent brokers and lawyers. Epstein described his work at this time as being a high-level bounty hunter. He told friends that he worked sometimes as a consultant for governments and the very wealthy to recover embezzled funds, while at other times he worked for clients who had embezzled funds. Spanish actress and heiress Ana Obregón was one such wealthy client, whom Epstein helped in 1982 to recover her father's millions in lost investments, which had disappeared when Drysdale Government Securities collapsed because of fraud.

What was the Epstein lawsuit?

A federal lawsuit filed in California in April 2016, against Epstein and Donald Trump by a California woman alleged that the two men sexually assaulted her at a series of parties at Epstein's Manhattan residence in 1994, when she was 13 years old. The suit was dismissed by a federal judge in May 2016 because it did not raise valid claims under federal law. The woman filed another federal suit in New York in June 2016, but it was withdrawn three months later, apparently without being served on the defendants. A third federal suit was filed in New York in September 2016.

Why did Epstein install cameras?

Epstein installed concealed cameras in numerous places on his properties to allegedly record sexual activity with underage girls by prominent people for criminal purposes , such as blackmail. Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein's close companion, told a friend that Epstein's private island in the Virgin Islands was completely wired for video and the friend believed that Maxwell and Epstein were videotaping everyone on the island as an insurance policy. When police raided his Palm Beach residence in 2006 two hidden pinhole cameras were discovered in his home. It was also reported that Epstein's mansion in New York was wired extensively with a video surveillance system.

Why did Epstein leave Bear Stearns?

In 1981, he was asked to leave Bear Stearns for, according to his sworn testimony, being guilty of a " reg d violation". Even though Epstein departed abruptly, he remained close to Cayne and Greenberg and was a client of Bear Stearns until it collapsed in 2008.

How many girls did Epstein have?

He was convicted of only these two crimes as part of a controversial plea deal; federal officials had identified 36 girls, some as young as 14 years old, whom Epstein had allegedly sexually abused. Epstein was arrested again on July 6, 2019, on federal charges for the sex trafficking of minors in Florida and New York.

What happened to Epstein?

In 2005, police in Palm Beach, Florida, began investigating Epstein after a parent complained that he had sexually abused her 14-year-old daughter. Epstein pleaded guilty and was convicted in 2008 by a Florida state court of procuring a child for prostitution and of soliciting a prostitute. He served almost 13 months in custody, but with extensive work release. He was convicted of only these two crimes as part of a controversial plea deal; federal officials had identified 36 girls, some as young as 14 years old, whom Epstein had allegedly sexually abused.

Who was the attorney for the victims of the Epstein deal?

Victims’ rights attorney Brad Edwards, who sued the Justice Department in 2008 on behalf of two victims who alleged the Epstein deal was reached in violation of their rights, criticized the reports while praising Villafaña, the prosecutor who prepared a 53-page indictment against Epstein that was never filed because Acosta decided in 2007 to negotiate a deal with Epstein.

Who was the only victim to attend Epstein's court appearances?

Wild was one of the more than 30 alleged victims identified and interviewed during the federal investigation. She was the only victim to attend both of Epstein's court appearances in New York following his arrest in July 2019.

What happened to the Sweetheart deal with Epstein?

One week after Epstein entered his guilty ple as in state court in June 2008, two alleged victims filed a lawsuit against the federal government alleging that the so-called "sweetheart deal" with Epstein was reached in violation of their rights as alleged victims of federal crimes. Eleven years later, in February 2019, a federal judge in West Palm Beach ruled in favor of the victims, determining that federal prosecutors in Miami -- under the leadership of Acosta -- violated the Crime Victims' Rights Act by not conferring with the alleged victims prior to entering the deal.

How did Epstein die?

The court was in the process of determining if Epstein's deal should be rescinded -- but then Epstein died by suicide in custody in August 2019. The case was then dismissed, but one of the alleged victims, Courtney Wild, has appealed that ruling to the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals.

What did the Office of Professional Responsibility clear Acosta of?

The Office of Professional Responsibility cleared Acosta of misconduct in opting to resolve the case in the way that he did.

Who is Ben Sasse?

Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Neb., who has been among the most vocal members of Congress demanding answers about the Justice Department's handling of Epstein , excoriated the conclusion.

Who represents the victims of Epstein?

Edwards, who now represents more than 50 alleged victims of Epstein, derided the report for “backing into the conclusions they wanted.”

Who gave Jeffrey Epstein a non-prosecution agreement?

A Department of Justice review found that Alex Acosta, President Donald Trump’s former Labor secretary, exercised poor judgment when, as a US attorney in Florida, he gave sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein a non-prosecution agreement.

How did Epstein die?

Epstein died by suicide in a federal jail in August 2019. A Miami Herald investigation published in November 2018, which helped kickstart the New York inquiry, described the plea deal, negotiated by Acosta, as the “deal of a lifetime.”.

How many victims did Epstein have?

A draft 60-count indictment was set aside and Epstein avoided all federal charges. According to the Herald, prosecutors had identified three dozen victims. The victims of his criminal acts were not notified of the deal until after it was inked.

What did the Department of Justice review conclude about Acosta's decision?

The Department of Justice review concluded that Acosta’s decision fell within the “scope of his authority” and investigators “did not find evidence that his decision was based on corruption or other impermissible considerations, such as Epstein’s wealth, status, or associations.”. The review also concluded that Acosta’s “breakfast meeting” ...

Who was the Kirkland attorney who investigated Bill Clinton?

Ken Starr , another Kirkland attorney who investigated former President Bill Clinton, was also recruited for Epstein. One of those meetings was over breakfast at a Miami hotel. After months of negotiating, Acosta’s office declined to prosecute Epstein on federal charges.

Who was the attorney that Acosta met with?

According to the Herald, Acosta met privately and negotiated directly with one of Epstein’s lawyers, Jay Lefkowitz, a partner at Kirkland & Ellis – the law firm where Acosta was previously a partner. Ken Starr, another Kirkland attorney who investigated former President Bill Clinton, was also recruited for Epstein.

Was Acosta's decision to sign a non-prosecution agreement premature?

Investigators, however, found that Acosta’s decision to sign a non-prosecution agreement was premature and made before “significant investigative steps were completed” and that the several terms in the agreement were “unusual and problematic.”.

Who was the Palm Beach attorney during Epstein's case?

Barry Krischer, who was the Palm Beach attorney during Epstein’s sex-trafficking case in the early 2000s, said Wednesday that Acosta “should not be allowed to rewrite history.”. Acosta, who was the US attorney in South Florida at the time, said at a news conference Wednesday that he gave Epstein a sweetheart no-prosecution plea deal ...

Why did Acosta give Epstein a plea deal?

Acosta, who was the US attorney in South Florida at the time, said at a news conference Wednesday that he gave Epstein a sweetheart no-prosecution plea deal because state prosecutors were prepared to let him walk free.

Was Epstein's indictment filed?

The indictment was never filed, which led Epstein copping to two state prostitution charges. Krischer charged the indictment was “abandoned after secret negotiations between Mr. Epstein’s lawyers and Mr. Acosta.”.

How long did Epstein serve in jail?

Epstein had avoided federal criminal charges in 2008 after prosecutors brokered a widely criticized deal with former Trump Labor Secretary Alex Acosta that allowed Epstein to plea to state charges of solicitation of prostitution from a minor and serve just 13 months in jail.

When did the New Yorker write about Epstein?

The New Yorker wrote in a 2003 profile on Epstein with regard to his tenure at the school…

Why did the Epstein case make headlines?

The new federal indictment of Epstein made international headlines because it focused attention a number of many wealthy and influential men in government, politics, business, academia, science and fashion that had personal relationship with Epstein. Many including Donald J. Trump, Bill Clinton, Prince Andrew of Britain and ...

Where was Epstein housed?

Today it has been reported that Attorney General Barr visited the Midtown Correction Center (MMC) where Epstein was house two week ago when he attempted suicide. It’s fair to ponder what other evidence collected from the seizure at Jeffrey Epstein’s offices and residences by federal investigators exists, who it might implicate.

Did Epstein see a female student at Dalton?

Several former students told NPR they remember seeing Epstein surrounded by female students at Dalton, though none recalled any incidents of misconduct…

Who is the madam who procured underage girls for Jeffrey Epstein?

Will federal prosecutors indict the British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell, 57 accused of being the madam who procured underage girls for Jeffrey Epstein? Is she already co-operating with the FBI, a victim's lawyer has suggested? Is she about to meet an untimely death as well?

Did Barr step back from the Epstein case?

Many in the opinion media pointed out that while Barr wouldn’t step back from the Epstein case, he did recuse himself from an internal Justice Department probe of current Labor Secretary Alex Acosta’s involvement in approving a controversial no-prosecution deal with the wealthy financier a decade ago.

When was Epstein arrested?

One month after Epstein was arrested in June 2006 and dismayed by Krischer’s failure to charge Epstein with child sex crimes, Palm Beach police went to the FBI. Two years later, South Florida U.S. Attorney Alex Acosta negotiated the much-maligned secret deal that allowed Epstein to avoid federal prison. The agreement hinged on Krischer adding ...

What charges did Epstein get?

The charges were punishable by maximum 30- and 15-year sentences, respectively.

How many girls did Epstein mole?

Among them were eight girls who said Epstein molested them when they were minors. Because they were over the age of 15 and weren’t penetrated, by law, none could be considered victims of a sex crime. As the case wore on, Recarey said, Krischer and his prosecutors stopped returning his calls.

How many witnesses did Recarey have to bolster Krischer's case?

Recarey also amassed 17 witnesses to bolster Krischer’s case. Among them were eight girls who said Epstein molested them when they were minors.

What was the second charge in the Epstein case?

The agreement hinged on Krischer adding a second charge: soliciting a minor for prostitution. Epstein pleaded guilty to both state charges.

Why did Epstein reject Krischer's deal of no jail time?

Epstein rejected Krischer’s deal of no jail time over concerns he would have to register as a sex offender. So Krischer took the case to the grand jury, which heard it in July. Witnesses got two days’ notice. One of the three victims called to testify was in Jacksonville, her mother told the process server.

How many accounts of Jeffrey Epstein exploiting underage girls?

Thirteen accounts of Jeffrey Epstein exploiting underage girls. Thirteen teens gave police nearly identical accounts of how the politically connected financier used his wealth to exploit the girls. Yet the task of convincing jurors that Epstein was a predator fell on the shoulders of one 14-year-old girl.

Who was the attorney General who found Jeffrey Epstein in his cell?

The informant claimed he had heard that “US Attorney General William Barr personally made a hush-hush trip to the [the Metropolitan Correctional Center] two weeks ago, about the time [alleged sex-trafficker Jeffrey] Epstein was found in his cell with bruises around his neck.”.

Who visited Epstein's prison?

U.S. Attorney General William Barr secretly visited the prison where billionaire financier Jeffrey Epstein was held “about two weeks” before the latter's death in the summer of 2019.

Did Attorney General Barr visit MCC?

In response, DOJ Office of Public Affairs Director Kerri Kupec called the claim “preposterous,” telling us via email that “Attorney General Barr has never visited MCC.” She added that the suggestion of a quiet visit was dubious as well, reminding us “the Attorney General has 24/7 FBI protective detail. So they would have had to be there, too.”

Where was Jeffrey Epstein beaten?

Bulger was beaten to death at United States Penitentiary Hazelton in West Virginia . In this July 25, 2013, handout provided by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Jeffrey Epstein poses for a sex offender mugshot after being charged with procuring a minor for prostitution in Florida.

Who was the warden at Epstein's death?

The BOP said Lamine N'Diaye, who was the warden at the time of Epstein's death, has been "deferred pending the conclusion of investigations.". Shane Fausey, the president of the Council of Prison Locals, the union that represents corrections officers, said the bureau has serious staffing issues that have yet to be addressed.

Who was the lead prosecutor in the Epstein case?

Brown reports that Epstein’s legal team also went after Marie Villafaña, the lead federal prosecutor in the case, accusing her of similarly distorting negotiations to benefit a friend of her boyfriend – an allegation she denied.

Who helped Jeffrey Epstein?

Ken Starr helped Jeffrey Epstein with ‘scorched-earth’ campaign, book claims. Ken Starr was a ‘fixer’ who ‘used his political connections in the White House to get the Justice Department to review Epstein’s case’, according to Perversion of Justice. Photograph: Rex/Shutterstock.

Why did Jay Lefkowitz send Starr and Epstein emails?

The book says that emails and letters sent by Starr and Epstein’s then criminal defense lawyer Jay Lefkowitz show that the duo were “campaigning to pressure the Justice Department to drop the case”. Starr had been brought into “center stage” of Epstein’s legal team because of his connections in Washington to the Bush administration.

How long did Epstein work?

During his sentence, Epstein was allowed out to work in his private office for 12 hours a day, six days a week, in a breach of jail norms. Jeffrey Epstein, in a photo provided by the New York State Sex Offender Registry. Photograph: AP.

How many victims did the Miami Herald report on Epstein?

The reporter managed to identify 80 potential victims, some as young as 13 and 14.

Who was the lawyer who hounded Bill Clinton over his affair with Monica Lewinsky?

Ed Pilkington in New York. Ken Starr , the lawyer who hounded Bill Clinton over his affair with Monica Lewinsky, waged a “scorched-earth” legal campaign to persuade federal prosecutors to drop a sex-trafficking case against the billionaire financier Jeffrey Epstein relating to the abuse of multiple underaged girls, according to a new book.

Who is the reporter who wrote the Perversion of Justice?

In Perversion of Justice the Miami Herald reporter Julie K Brown writes about Starr’s role in securing the secret 2008 sweetheart deal that granted Epstein effective immunity from federal prosecution. The author, who is credited with blowing open the cover-up, calls Starr a “fixer” who “used his political connections in the White House to get the Justice Department to review Epstein’s case”.

image

Overview

Jeffrey Edward Epstein was an American financier and convicted sex offender. Epstein, who was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York City, began his professional life by teaching at the Dalton School in Manhattan, despite lacking a college degree. After his dismissal from the school, he entered the banking and finance sector, working at Bear Stearns in various roles; he eventually started hi…

Early life

Epstein was born in 1953 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. His parents Pauline (née Stolofsky, 1918–2004) and Seymour G. Epstein (1916–1991) were Jewish and had married in 1952 shortly before his birth. Pauline worked as a school aide and was a homemaker. Seymour Epstein worked for the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation as a groundskeeper and gardener. Jef…

Career

Epstein started working in September 1974 as a physics and mathematics teacher for teens at the Dalton School on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. Donald Barr, who served as the headmaster until June 1974, was known to have made several unconventional recruitments at the time, although it is unclear whether he had a direct role in hiring Epstein. Three months after Barr's depart…

Video recordings

Epstein installed concealed cameras in numerous places on his properties to allegedly record sexual activity with underage girls by prominent people for criminal purposes such as blackmail. Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein's close companion, told a friend that Epstein's private island in the Virgin Islands was completely wired for video and the friend believed that Maxwell and Epstein were videotaping everyone on the island as an insurance policy. When police raided his Palm Be…

Legal proceedings

In March 2005, a woman contacted Florida's Palm Beach Police Department and alleged that her 14-year-old stepdaughter had been taken to Epstein's mansion by an older girl. While there, she was allegedly paid $300 (equivalent to $420 in 2021) to strip and massage Epstein. She had allegedly undressed, but left the encounter wearing her underwear.

Personal life

Previous long-term girlfriends associated with Epstein include Eva Andersson-Dubin and publishing heiress Ghislaine Maxwell. Epstein was romantically linked to Andersson-Dubin for an 11-year period mostly in the 1980s and the two later remained friendly well after her marriage to Glenn Dubin. Epstein met Maxwell, daughter of disgraced media baron Robert Maxwell, by 1991. Epstein had Max…

Death

On July 23, 2019, three weeks prior to his death, Epstein was found unconscious in his jail cell with injuries to his neck. Epstein said he believed that he was attacked by his cellmate, who was awaiting trial for four counts of murder, while the correctional staff suspected attempted suicide. After that incident, he was placed on suicide watch. Six days later, on July 29, 2019, Epstein was taken of…

In popular culture

Epstein's death became the subject of widespread controversy and debate, with the belief that his death was a homicide becoming a popular meme. HBO is creating a limited series on Epstein's life and death to be directed and executive produced by Adam McKay. Sony Pictures Television is additionally developing miniseries based on Epstein's life. In the season four finale of the CBS series T…