Slinky Spine, Empty Chair: Alex Acosta’s Day Before Congress

Alexander “Alex” Acosta served as U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida in 2005-2009, during which time his office negotiated a highly controversial non-prosecution agreement in 2008 with Jeffrey Epstein. This deal allowed Epstein to plead guilty only to state charges (solicitation of prostitution), avoid federal prosecution, spend about a year in jail (with generous work release privileges), register as a sex offender, and receive restitution, rather than face broader trafficking charges that many believe were warranted. Acosta later served as Secretary of Labor under Donald Trump, resigning in 2019 amid public outcry over his role in the Epstein plea deal.

On September 19, 2025, Acosta testified under oath in a closed-door deposition before the House Oversight Committee, answering questions about the 2008 agreement. He defended his actions by saying there were “evidentiary issues” at the time — for example, concerns about whether the witnesses would be consistent and whether the federal case could have been proven at trial. He also asserted he had received assurances that Epstein would not be granted work release, but said local authorities in Palm Beach nonetheless allowed it. Acosta expressed regret over how victims were treated and acknowledged that if today’s knowledge had been available then, the deal likely would have been handled differently. He also emphasized that no documents he handled mentioned Donald Trump in relation to Epstein.


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