House committee targets Clintons, former FBI directors over Epstein case but they’re ignoring Trump’s former labor secretary who started it all

The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform issued subpoenas Tuesday for several high-profile figures in connection with the Jeffrey Epstein case. The list includes former President Bill Clinton, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and multiple former attorneys general and FBI directors.

The committee wants to question these officials about matters tied to the convicted sex offender whose unsealed court documents revealed extensive connections to powerful figures. The subpoenas target former attorneys general and a former FBI director as part of their investigation into how the federal government handled the Epstein case.

However, one key figure is notably missing from the subpoena list. Alex Acosta, who was the federal prosecutor that made the original deal with Epstein, was not included. This has upset victims of Epstein’s sexual abuse who wanted answers from the man who started it all.

Victims’ lawyers express frustration over Acosta’s absence

Epstein victim attorney Jack Scarola, whose clients’ stories have been featured in multiple documentaries about the case questioned the committee’s decision in a statement to NBC News. “How can any genuine investigation into the federal government’s sweetheart deal with Epstein (including the extraordinary grant of blanket immunity to all his named and unnamed co-conspirators) omit Alex Acosta?” he asked.

Another victim attorney, Brittany Henderson, said Acosta should have been included. “Anyone familiar with the history of litigation related to Jeffrey Epstein knows from our decade long fight to enforce the Crimes Victims Rights Act that Alex Acosta is an important person to subpoena in any quest for the truth,” she stated.

The committee explained their choices came from a July vote. A spokesperson said both Republicans and Democrats approved a motion that listed specific people for subpoenas. The list included Bill and Hillary Clinton, James Comey, Loretta Lynch, Eric Holder, Merrick Garland, Robert Mueller, William Barr, Jeff Sessions, and Alberto Gonzales.

Acosta was the key decision maker in the controversial deal with Epstein. He served as the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Florida when the secret non-prosecution agreement was made. This deal has caused controversy for nearly 20 years.

Later, Acosta became President Donald Trump’s labor secretary during his first term. He left that job in 2019 when people started asking questions about his role in the Epstein plea agreement.

A Justice Department investigation released a 348-page report in November 2020 about the Epstein case. The report found that Acosta “made the pivotal decision to resolve the federal investigation of Epstein through a state-based plea.” He either developed or approved the terms that started the negotiations for the non-prosecution agreement.

The report shows Acosta’s team went around other officials who were working on the case. They bypassed the federal prosecutor investigating Epstein, the FBI, and even the victims when making their offer. The prosecutor at the time, Marie Villafana, wanted to meet with Acosta to explain her position and show him how strong the case was. However, her supervisors denied her request for this meeting.