(The hill) – The House Oversight Committee on Friday released new files related to the criminal activities of the behind schedule Jeffrey Epstein, including Transcript from one previous interview with former Labor Secretary Alex Acosta, who served under President Trump in his first term.
Acosta, the former U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Florida, ultimately resigned from his position in 2019 after coming under scrutiny for orchestrating Epstein’s 2008 plea deal, which allowed the financier to serve 13 months in federal prison on two prostitution charges. At the time, more than a dozen victims came forward to claim that Epstein ran an international former human trafficking ring involving girls as youthful as 14.
The former labor secretary stood by his decision not to prosecute Epstein during his September testimony before the House Oversight Committee.
Acosta told lawmakers: “A billionaire going to prison sends a strong signal to the community that this is not, this is not right, this cannot happen,” according to the 172-page transcript released Friday.
“His registration as a sex offender brings it to the attention of the world – whether the world was listening or not we can set aside, but it brings to the attention of the world that he was a criminal and a sex offender,” he added.
Still, House Democrats criticized him Friday for comments made after Friday’s release of the files.
“He continues to deny that he cut a deal with Jeffrey Epstein, even though he terminated the investigation and granted Epstein a non-prosecution agreement even though 30 victims had already been identified at that point,” Oversight Democrats spokeswoman Sara Guerrero said in an interview Released on Friday.
“Because of the deal Alex Acosta made to Epstein, he was able to continue to assault and rape young women and girls for another decade. No matter how House Republicans try to distort the matter, Oversight Democrats will continue to push for the truth,” she added.
The committee also released letters Friday from former attorneys general Eric Holder and Merrick Garland and former FBI Director James Comey saying they had no knowledge of the House investigation.
In connection with the Oversight Committee’s investigation, numerous files and documents related to Epstein’s business dealings were made public. Notable personalities including Elon Musk and Prince Andrew were named.
President Trump was also named in the files, but he said he cut ties with Epstein after he behaved like an “idiot” at his Mar-A-Lago resort.
Still, on Capitol Hill, Reps. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) have joined forces in hopes of securing the full release of the Justice Department’s files related to Epstein.
The two are awaiting the final signing of a dismissal request that would force the federal government to release new documents. Elected MP Adelita Grijalva (D-Ariz.) has said that after she is sworn in, she will add her name to the petition, which would put her up for trial.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) postponed her swearing-in amid the government shutdown but promised to immediately hold a ceremony for Grijalva once the lower chamber is back in session.
When asked if he extended delay your signature Regarding the Epstein dismissal request, Johnson told reporters: “That has nothing to do with it at all.”
“We will swear them in when everyone returns,” the House speaker said in early October.
