Acosta, the Only Prosecutor to Put Jeffrey Epstein Behind Bars, Loses His Job

[Right_in_Virginia]

Acosta, the Only Prosecutor to Put Jeffrey Epstein Behind Bars, Loses His Job
American Spectator, Jul 14, 2019, Debra J. Saunders

Alex Acosta resigned as labor secretary Friday morning. It was inevitable once he became the target of all virtuous people in Washington for negotiating a 2008 non-prosecution agreement that put superrich sex offender Jeffrey Epstein behind bars for 13 months and required him to register as a sex offender and agree to pay restitution to his many teenage victims.

The Senate knew about the deal in April 2017 when 60 senators — including Sen. Catherine Cortez-Masto (D-Nev.) — voted to confirm Acosta. Three things have changed since then.

[...]

Even still, Acosta had reason to broker the crappy deal. As he told reporters during a one-hour press conference Thursday, a trial would be a true “roll of the dice.” Rather than put Epstein’s traumatized victims through a grueling public tribunal, he chose not to risk an acquittal.

Epstein had hired a dream team of attorneys that included Alan Dershowitz, who successfully represented O. J. Simpson; Roy Black, who successfully represented Kennedy clan member William Kennedy Smith, who had been charged with rape; and Ken Starr, the special prosecutor whose probe led to the impeachment of President Bill Clinton.

In a 2011 open letter, Acosta described how the Epstein legal team “investigated individual prosecutors and their families, looking for personal peccadilloes that may provide a basis for disqualification” and tried to disqualify at least two prosecutors.

Given that kind of ruthlessness directed at career federal prosecutors, you can see why Acosta might fear the Epstein legal team could capitalize on the reluctance of those young witnesses to testify against him. One Jane Doe had called Epstein “an awesome man” and stated she hoped “nothing happens to (him).”

So Acosta chose a deal that put Epstein behind bars and “put the world on notice that he was and is a sexual predator.” Horribly, the decision gave Epstein opportunities to victimize other girls as young as 14 after he was released. The only thing worse would be an acquittal after a trial.

More:  https://spectator.org/acosta-the-only-prosecutor-to-put-jeffrey-epstein-behind-bars-loses-his-job/

[Right_in_Virginia]

FTA

The deal also did not prevent U.S. attorneys outside the Southern District of Florida from pressing charges — as Berman did in his indictment on two counts of sexual trafficking between 2002 and 2005. Acosta told reporters that over the past decade, he kept reading about investigations of Epstein and he was glad New York “finally” stepped up.

One other thing: The Miami Herald didn’t think the Epstein deal was so outrageous as to merit a series until Acosta was confirmed.

[EdJames]

The deal also did not prevent U.S. attorneys outside the Southern District of Florida from pressing charges — as Berman did in his indictment on two counts of sexual trafficking between 2002 and 2005. Acosta told reporters that over the past decade, he kept reading about investigations of Epstein and he was glad New York “finally” stepped up.

Time will tell.  Let's hope that they hold up....

McCarthy's article presents a different take on this:

http://www.gopbriefingroom.com/index.php/topic,368384.msg2009323.html#msg2009323

Has Debra J. Saunders seen the non-prosecution agreement?

[truth_seeker]

I consider this case to be a timely distraction, which "conservatives" will wast tons of time and attention with.

Likewise debates over "natural born" status.

Instead we have a real crisis on the borders, whereby the Left have flooded us, overwhelmed our resources.

--Who is funding the caravans? Inside and outside the US.

[Bill Cipher]

If what Acosta did was the right thing to do under the circumstances, why did he resign?  He didn’t “lose” his job, he voluntarily gave it up. 

[Cyber Liberty]

"Behind bars" for 12 hours a day, for 18 months?   

[Right_in_Virginia]

If what Acosta did was the right thing to do under the circumstances, why did he resign?  He didn’t “lose” his job, he voluntarily gave it up.

FTA

One other thing: The Miami Herald didn’t think the Epstein deal was so outrageous as to merit a series until Acosta was confirmed.

Acosta threw himself on the sword to end the distraction and end the contorted efforts to tie the President to Epstein.

IMO, Acosta did the honorable thing @Bill Cipher   ... but we lost a very good Labor Secretary in the process.

[Rivergirl]

Since this administration is primed to free thousands of criminals in the name of justice, we ought to get ready for the consequences.  The border will be the least of our worries.   Pity the minority communities, ex cons, magic mushrooms, and pot for all.

[The_Reader_David]

"Behind bars" for 12 hours a day, for 18 months?   

But that wasn't Acosta's doing.  The state officials in charge of Epstein's incarceration after the plea agreement Acosta had negotiated were the ones who turned his jail term into a farce with "work release".

[Cyber Liberty]

But that wasn't Acosta's doing.  The state officials in charge of Epstein's incarceration after the plea agreement Acosta had negotiated were the ones who turned his jail term into a farce with "work release".

I can't disagree with that.  The State wanted Epswine let off scot-free.  In retrospect, it would have better for Acosta to have let the State go to Hell with itself and washed his hands of it.  We would not be wondering today if he scotched the chance to fix it later.

[Applewood]

If what Acosta did was the right thing to do under the circumstances, why did he resign?  He didn’t “lose” his job, he voluntarily gave it up.

Not so sure Acosta's resignation was voluntary, despite the official propaganda. 

[Bill Cipher]

Not so sure Acosta's resignation was voluntary, despite the official propaganda. 

In other words, what he did with that plea deal was queer, and Trump is afraid of splashover.  Then again, Trumps courage is mostly of the Dutch variety anyways.

[Right_in_Virginia]

In other words, what he did with that plea deal was queer, and Trump is afraid of splashover.  Then again, Trumps courage is mostly of the Dutch variety anyways.

Or ... Acosta knew he did a poor job of explaining himself during the press conference last week @Bill Cipher  ....  I choose to believe Acosta did the honorable thing.  But even if I'm wrong about this, his being gone returns focus to the actual co-conspirators and "beneficiaries" of Epstein's Lolita Express.

This, I think we can agree on, is a good thing.

[Applewood]

In other words, what he did with that plea deal was queer, and Trump is afraid of splashover.  Then again, Trumps courage is mostly of the Dutch variety anyways.

I don't know if the plea deal was queer.  Inasmuch as most of us, in a perfect world, would like to see a perp like this hung by his fingernails, the fact is that often prosecutors end up making really bad plea deals.  Sometimes the case is not strong enough.  Evidence is questionable.  Witnesses are unreliable.  These deals are often made when it appears if the prosecutors go to trial, they have a huge chance of losing altogether. 

Since I don't know all the facts and circumstances, I have a hard time condemning Acosta for that plea deal.  And I think it is wrong for everyone else to put the blame on him too.  He should not have had to take the fall.