House Epstein Probe Sets Up Acosta Interview, Subpoenas Estate

A congressional committee is expanding its investigation into the sex-trafficking operation run by the late financier Jeffrey Epstein, including seeking an interview with the former US prosecutor who approved a controversial plea deal in Florida.

Former US Attorney Alex Acosta will meet with the House Oversight Committee for a voluntary interview on Sept. 19, the panel’s Republican Chairman James Comer said in a statement on Monday.

Acosta may be a key witness because he negotiated and approved a plea deal in 2008 that allowed Epstein to avoid serious charges and obtain a non-prosecution agreement. The Justice Department later criticized Acosta for using “poor judgment,” and he resigned under fire from his post as Labor Department secretary in the first Trump administration amid questions over the Epstein probe.

Comer also announced the committee has issued a subpoena to the Epstein estate for documents and communications in its possession, asking that the content be turned over without redactions. The subpoena asks for Epstein’s will, any non-disclosure agreements, any client lists, flight logs and calendar among other items.

Epstein was found dead in his Manhattan jail cell in 2019 as he was awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges involving underage girls. His death has been repeatedly ruled a suicide by authorities. His associate, Ghislaine Maxwell, is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence for her role in helping Epstein sexually abuse underage women.

The committee “is reviewing the possible mismanagement of the federal government’s investigation of Mr. Jeffrey Epstein and Ms. Ghislaine Maxwell,” according to Comer. The panel also is investigating “the circumstances and subsequent investigations of Mr. Epstein’s death, the operation of sex-trafficking rings and ways for the federal government to effectively combat them, and potential violations of ethics rules related to elected officials,” Comer said.

The announcement comes after the committee issued a subpoena to the Justice Department for all unredacted documents related to Epstein’s case. The department provided an initial batch of materials last week, which Democrats have criticized as mostly being information that has already been made public.

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Chris Strohm in Washington at cstrohm1@bloomberg.net

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Sara Forden at sforden@bloomberg.net

Elizabeth Wasserman

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