Acosta Defends Epstein Plea in Closed-Door House Interview

Former Labor Secretary Alex Acosta appeared before the House Oversight Committee in Washington, D.C., on Friday to defend the controversial 2007 non-prosecution agreement he negotiated for Jeffrey Epstein as U.S. attorney in Florida. Acosta insisted evidentiary challenges justified the plea and expressed remorse over its perceived leniency.

The session, conducted behind closed doors, marks a pivotal moment in Congress’s renewed scrutiny of the Epstein case, as lawmakers seek accountability for decisions they say enabled further abuse. Acosta’s testimony may shape forthcoming actions by the Republican-led committee.

Hearing Highlights

• Closed-Door Interview: Acosta met privately with Oversight members for six hours, answering questions on the plea deal that allowed Epstein work release privileges after a state-level conviction ().
• Evidence Issues Cited: He blamed “evidentiary issues” and uncooperative witnesses for limiting prosecutorial options and avoiding trial risks ().
• Transcript Release Planned: Chair James Comer announced the committee will publish a transcript of Acosta’s testimony to advance transparency and guide next steps ().

Lingering Questions and Next Steps

Democrats on the committee criticized Acosta for failing to acknowledge victims’ experiences and questioned whether stronger federal action could have prevented further offenses. Republicans praised his cooperation but emphasized the need for additional documents and interviews, including depositions of other officials involved.

Oversight investigators have already obtained tens of thousands of pages of DOJ records and flown in survivor testimony this month. The panel expects to announce new subpoenas and public hearings in the weeks ahead as it deepens its probe into the Justice Department’s early handling of the Epstein and Maxwell cases.