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Powerful people often have powerful friends. The sad reality is that these connections are often used to conceal egregious crimes. When US Attorney Alexander Acosta helped Jeffrey Epstein avoid any real prison time after he was accused of masterminding a child sex abuse scandal, heads began to turn. Did a well-known US figure use his authority to help a child abuser escape his deserved punishment? The answer is more disturbing than imagined.
Jeffrey Epstein was accused of a child sex abuse scandal that spanned several years. The operation ran similar to a pyramid scheme, in which other young girls would lure more girls to the billionaire’s waterfront mansion where they would be asked to strip and give Epstein a massage. Girls were paid $200-$300 for massages that turned sexual.
An investigation uncovered incriminating phone records, flight logs, written messages and photos of underage naked girls. Witnesses reported seeing young girls coming in and out of the house, while one even found a high school girl sleeping naked in Epstein’s spa. Dangling wires were also found where computers and camera were recently removed.
Jeffrey Epstein faced a 53-page indictment that should have landed him life in prison. Instead, US Attorney and current Trump Labor Secretary Alexander Acosta offered Epstein an outrageously lenient deal in exchange for his cooperation.
Upon entering guilty pleas for two felony prostitution charges, Epstein would serve a 13-month sentence in a private wing of a county jail. There, he would work six days a week in a private office. He also faced immunity from all federal charges for himself and any co-conspirators. Although federally illegal, Acosta’s offer was kept secret from Epstein’s victims so as not to give them the opportunity to protest in court.
When your list of friends includes powerful figures such as Bill Clinton, Donald Trump, Prince Andrew and Alan Dershowitz, it appears easy to get away with even the most heinous crime. The reason Epstein got off so lightly and his co-conspirators were let go could have to do with Acosta’s need to protect Epstein’s friends, all of whom visited properties that Epstein allegedly used for his sex ring operation.
“I’ve known Jeff for fifteen years. Terrific guy. He’s a lot of fun to be with. It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side. No doubt about it — Jeffrey enjoys his social life,” said Donald Trump about Epstein.
Epstein’s legal team abused their power to manipulate his plea deal by digging up dirt on his victims, police officers investigating the crime as well as federal prosecutors. Epstein’s attorneys communicated through private email or in person to leave no paper trail of their potentially incriminating correspondence.
Former federal prosecutor Francey Hanks, who worked in the Justice Department’s crimes against children unit, commented on the situation. “It’s highly unusual and raises suspicions of something unethical happening when you see emails that say ‘call me, I don’t want to put this in writing.’
There’s no reason to worry about putting something in writing if there’s nothing improper or unethical in the case,’’ he said.
Vulnerable young girls may find themselves in the hands of corrupt men and end up feeling helpless to stand up to men in positions of power. Ironically, Acosta oversees a federal agency that provides oversight of the country’s labor laws, including human trafficking. His seeming indifference towards the child sex abuse scandal makes one question his ability to control our country’s human rights.
Solidarity among sex abuse victims is on the rise, and through the power of community, perpetrators must be brought to justice. Around 80 victims who say Epstein abused them were identified, 60 of whom were located across the nation and abroad.
One of Epstein’s victims, Michelle Licata, poured her heart out about what happened to her. “I don’t think anyone has been told the truth about what Jeffrey Epstein did...He ruined my life and a lot of girls’ lives. People need to know what he did and why he wasn’t prosecuted so it never happens again.”
When distinguished figures like Alexander Acosta are allowed to bend the rules to excuse the crimes of powerful men, a negative precedent is set. Something must be done to ensure the cycle of greed and corruption is stopped in its tracks.
Senators on both sides are asking for an investigation into Acosta’s role in the Epstein case. Senators Patty Murray and Tim Kaine, along with 14 other Democrats, recently sent a letter to the Department of Justice asking for an investigation. As the senators wrote, “We are deeply concerned by Mr. Epstein’s horrific, serial abuse of children and new revelations about the process by which he was given.” The two senators asked the Department of Justice to determine if Epstein’s plea deal followed the law and the extent of Acosta’s involvement.
Senator Marco Rubio stated that the probability that Acosta’s political influence was the deciding factor in keeping Epstein out of prison is “very troubling.” In addition, Senator Ben Sasse sent letters to the Department of Justice.
According to Sasse, “I am particularly disturbed by this reporting indicating that federal prosecutors went out of their way to arrange this sweetheart deal for Epstein and conceal it from the women and girls that he abused who could have objected to it, in apparent violation of federal law...We need answers about this epic miscarriage of justice.”
So far, the Department of Justice has not investigated Acosta’s involvement. However, in January when Democrats take control of the House, they will have subpoena power and can launch an investigation into the crime. Americans may see the impact of their votes through those elected officials who will order an investigation of Acosta’s integrity.
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