Kaine Statement On Jeffrey Epstein Case Ruling

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine released the following statement after a judge’s ruling regarding Jeffrey Epstein’s plea agreement:

“A judge has confirmed what we've known for some time – that when Secretary Acosta was a federal prosecutor, his office violated survivors’ rights under federal law when giving serial sexual abuser Jeffrey Epstein what the Miami Herald calls ‘the deal of a lifetime.’ It's appalling that Acosta and his team let Epstein get away with pleading guilty to prostitution charges – adding insult to injury by falsely implying the children he sexually assaulted were prostitutes. I pressed Secretary Acosta about how he handled the Epstein case at his confirmation hearing, and it's a large part of why I believe he should never have been confirmed as Labor Secretary. The Department of Justice needs to swiftly investigate whether Secretary Acosta violated standard DOJ practice in giving Epstein this sweetheart deal, ensure accountability for any wrongdoing, and pursue justice for survivors.”

Senator Kaine questioned Acosta about his involvement in the case during his nomination hearing for Secretary of Labor. In December, Senators Kaine and Murray led 16 Senate Democrats in sending a letter to the Department of Justice (DOJ) Inspector General requesting an investigation into the DOJ’s decision-making process when then-U.S. Attorney Alexander Acosta entered into a non-prosecution agreement with accused serial sexual abuser, Jeffrey Epstein.

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