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A4 U.S. NEWS
Friday 13 November 2020
Justice Dept.: 'Poor judgment' used in Epstein plea deal

By MICHAEL BALSAMO and but the Justice Department
ERIC TUCKER failed Epstein's victims at
Associated Press every turn."
WASHINGTON (AP) — A The report concluded that
Justice Department report Acosta, who took responsi-
has found former Labor bility in interviews for his de-
Secretary Alex Acosta ex- cisions, had the authority as
ercised "poor judgment" in the U.S. attorney "to resolve
handling an investigation the case as he deemed
into wealthy financier Jef- necessary and appropri-
frey Epstein when he was ate, as long as his decision
a top federal prosecutor in was not motivated or in-
Florida. fluenced by improper fac-
The report, obtained by tors." The office said its in-
The Associated Press, is a vestigation had turned up
culmination of an investi- no evidence that Acosta
gation by the Justice De- was swayed by "impermis-
partment's Office of Profes- sible considerations, such
sional Responsibility over as Epstein's wealth, status,
Acosta's handling of a se- or associations" and in fact
cret plea deal with Epstein, had resisted efforts by de-
who had been accused of fense lawyers to return the
sexually abusing dozens of case to the state for what-
underage girls. ever outcome the state
The report also concludes wanted.
that none of the prosecu- The report also did not find
tors committed misconduct that a well-publicized 2007
in their interactions with the In this July 10, 2019 file photo, Labor Secretary Alex Acosta speaks during news conference at the breakfast meeting with one
victims. The conclusions are Department of Labor in Washington. of Epstein's attorneys led to
likely to disappoint the vic- Associated Press the non-prosecution agree-
tims, who have long hoped ment — which had been
this would hold the Justice misconduct by resolving The Justice Department's sibility identified as subjects signed weeks earlier — "or
Department officials ac- the allegations through a internal probe concluded of the investigation Acosta, to any other significant de-
countable for actions they non-prosecution agree- that Acosta's "decision to three former supervisors in cision that benefited Ep-
say allowed Epstein to es- ment, and also whether resolve the federal inves- his prosecuting office as stein." Records reviewed by
cape justice. they mishandled interac- tigation through the NPA well as an assistant United the office show that pros-
Under the 2008 non-pros- tions with victims in the constitutes poor judgment." States attorney involved in ecutors weighed concerns
ecution agreement – also case. Investigators found that the Epstein case. about witness credibility
known as an NPA – Ep- The report concludes that although it was within his The report drew immediate and the impact of a trial on
stein pleaded guilty to they did not commit mis- broad discretion and did condemnation from Sen. victims, as well as Acosta's
state charges in Florida of conduct in their interac- not result from "improper Ben Sasse, a Republican concerns about the Justice
soliciting and procuring a tions with the victims be- favors," the agreement was from Nebraska, who has Department's proper role
minor for prostitution. That cause there was no "clear "a flawed mechanism for questioned Justice Depart- in prosecuting solicitation
allowed him to avert a pos- and unambiguous duty" to satisfying the federal inter- ment officials about the crimes. "Accordingly," the
sible life sentence, instead consult with victims before est that caused the gov- plea deal repeatedly. report said, "OPR does not
serving 13 months in a entering into the non-pros- ernment to open its investi- "Letting a well-connected find that Acosta engaged
work-release program. He ecution agreement. gation of Epstein." billionaire get away with in professional misconduct
was required to make pay- Epstein was later charged The investigation included child rape and internation- by resolving the federal in-
ments to victims and regis- by federal prosecutors in interviews with more than al sex trafficking isn't 'poor vestigation of Epstein in the
ter as a sex offender. Manhattan for nearly iden- 60 witnesses and a review judgment' – it is a disgusting way he did or that the other
The investigation centered tical allegations in 2019, but of hundreds of thousands failure. Americans ought to subjects committed profes-
on two aspects of the Ep- he took his own life while of Justice Department re- be enraged," Sasse said. sional misconduct through
stein case — whether pros- in federal custody as he cords. Officials from the Of- "Jeffrey Epstein should be their implementation of
ecutors erred or committed awaited trial. fice of Professional Respon- rotting behind bars today, Acosta's decisions."q

75-foot spruce to be NYC's Rockefeller

Center Christmas tree

ONEONTA, N.Y. (AP) — The Store in Oneonta, develop- tree is vital," Tishman Spey-
75-foot (23-meter) Norway er Tishman Speyer said in a er CEO Rob Speyer said,
spruce that will anchor release. alluding to the coronavirus
New York City's holiday fes- It will be trucked to New pandemic that has forced
tivities as the Rockefeller York City and erected at the cancellation of other
Center Christmas tree was Rockefeller Center on Sat- holiday traditions like the
cut down in upstate New urday. Radio City Christmas Spec-
York on Thursday and will Details about the tree-light- tacular.
This year's Rockefeller Center Christmas tree, a 75-foot tall Nor- soon be headed to Man- ing ceremony will be re- Speyer said the company is
way Spruce, is guided onto a flatbed truck, Thursday, Nov. 12, hattan. leased in the coming days, "particularly proud to con-
2020, in Oneonta, N.Y.
Associated Press The tree was donated by Al the developers said. tinue the joyous tradition
Dick of Daddy Al's General "This year, we just feel the this year."q