FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Federal prosecutors want to meet with once-underage victims of wealthy financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein before deciding whether to open up a non-prosecution agreement reached over a decade ago.
Prosecutors said in court filings Friday that victim input is essential in deciding how to proceed. The filings came after a Florida federal judge ruled prosecutors violated a victims' rights law by not disclosing the Epstein non-prosecution agreement.
Attorneys for two victims countered that prosecutors should first announce their proposed remedy for that violation.
Epstein's deal in 2008 with then-Miami U.S. Attorney Alexander Acosta's office ended a federal investigation. Epstein instead pleaded guilty to lesser state charges, spent 13 months in jail, paid financial settlements to victims and is a registered sex offender.
Acosta is now U.S. labor secretary.
