US could have prevented later Epstein crimes, House Republicans say

US federal investigators and prosecutors could have prevented crimes Jeffrey Epstein committed after 2005, Republican staff on a House of Representatives oversight committee have concluded in a report calling for renewed scrutiny of his associates.

The report, published on 10 November after a 15-month inquiry, points to a 2007 deal that ended a federal investigation in Florida and allowed Epstein to avoid federal prosecution there. Its authors say significant lines of inquiry were left unresolved and victims were not told about the agreement.

Under the deal, Epstein pleaded guilty to state charges in 2008 and was sentenced to 18 months in jail. He served nearly 13 months, with extensive privileges to leave jail for work. Sarah Kellen, a former assistant, told the committee that Epstein abused her while he was on work release.

The report says investigators failed to fully pursue allegations outside Florida and left questions about missing computer equipment unresolved. Former federal prosecutor Alexander Acosta told the committee that concerns about the evidence and the risk of losing at trial had favoured a negotiated settlement. He also said he regretted relying on state authorities to oversee Epstein’s confinement.

A Justice Department internal review in 2020 likewise found that Acosta exercised poor judgment in resolving the case through the deal. It found no evidence that his decision was based on corruption or other improper considerations, and concluded that the prosecutors it examined had not committed professional misconduct in making the agreement.

Epstein was arrested again in 2019 on federal sex-trafficking charges but died in custody before trial. His associate Ghislaine Maxwell was convicted in 2021 of offences including sex trafficking and sentenced to 20 years in prison.

The Republican report recommends that the Justice Department interview or reinterview key witnesses, investigate allegations against Epstein associates and give survivors access to their own unredacted records. It also backs legislation to protect survivors’ ability to speak about sexual abuse despite confidentiality agreements.

A Justice Department spokesperson told ABC News that the recommendations had “already been addressed” and that the Epstein case remained open. The spokesperson said the FBI had an established process for victims to request personal files.

Robert Garcia, the committee’s leading Democrat, called the inquiry incomplete, saying there had been no public hearings on Epstein. He said Democrats intended to hold hearings. The committee’s investigation included seven depositions and 12 transcribed interviews, as well as a review of documents and financial records.

Garcia also accused the Justice Department of unlawfully withholding more than 2.5 million pages. In January, the department said it had identified more than six million potentially relevant pages and released nearly 3.5 million, while explaining that the initial collection included duplicates and material unrelated to the case. The difference between those figures alone does not establish how many unique, relevant pages were withheld or whether any withholding was unlawful.