The committee’s 172-page transcript details his justification and the scrutiny surrounding his handling of the case.
The House Oversight Committee on Friday released new documents related to the late Jeffrey Epstein’s criminal activities, including a transcript of an earlier interview with former U.S. Labor Secretary Alex Acosta, who served in President Donald Trump’s first administration.
Acosta, who previously served as the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, resigned as labor secretary in 2019 following intense criticism over the 2008 plea deal he brokered for Epstein, according to The Hill.
The agreement allowed the financier to serve only 13 months in jail on state prostitution charges, despite allegations from more than a dozen victims who accused him of running an international sex trafficking ring involving underage girls.
During his September appearance before the committee, Acosta defended his decision not to pursue federal charges against Epstein, asserting that the case had nonetheless demonstrated the seriousness of the crimes involved. The committee’s 172-page transcript details his justification and the scrutiny surrounding his handling of the case.
“His registering as a sex offender puts the world on notice — whether the world listened or not we can put to one side, but it puts the world on notice that he was offender and a sexual offender,” he added.
The House Oversight Committee released the new batch of files connected to Epstein’s criminal network, naming several high-profile individuals, including Elon Musk, Prince Andrew, and President Trump.
Trump, who has denied any ongoing association with Epstein, previously claimed he ended their relationship years ago following inappropriate behavior by the disgraced financier at his Mar-a-Lago resort.
Meanwhile, on Capitol Hill, Representatives Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) are working together to compel the Justice Department to release its full cache of Epstein-related documents. The lawmakers are one signature away from completing a discharge petition that would force the government to make the records public.
Representative-elect Adelita Grijalva (D-Ariz.) has pledged to sign the petition once she is sworn in, a move that would bring the measure to the House floor. Her swearing-in has been delayed by the ongoing government shutdown, though House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) has promised to administer the oath as soon as the chamber reconvenes.
Johnson has denied suggestions that the delay was intended to prevent Grijalva’s participation in the petition effort.
“We will swear her in when everybody gets back,” the House Speaker said in early October.