Trump Team Appears to Shift Blame to Alexander Acosta in Epstein Case
A recent Senate hearing featuring FBI Director Kash Patel has signaled a potential shift in strategy from the Trump administration regarding the Jeffrey Epstein case. Patel's testimony seemed to directly fault Alexander Acosta, the former US attorney who negotiated a nonprosecution agreement with Epstein in the late 2000s.
Patel's Testimony: Acosta as the 'Original Sin'
During Tuesday's Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, Patel repeatedly brought up Acosta's role in the Epstein case, calling it the "original sin." He argued that Acosta's initial handling of the case, including limited searches and the nonprosecution agreement, hampered subsequent federal efforts to hold Epstein accountable and share information. Patel's comments come ahead of Acosta's scheduled testimony before the House Oversight Committee.
“I’m here to testify that the original sin in the Epstein case was the way it was initially brought by Mr. Acosta back in 2006,” Patel stated at the hearing.
A Shift in Tone from Trump
This apparent move to blame Acosta is notable because President Trump previously defended him. While many criticized the nonprosecution agreement after Epstein's 2019 sex-trafficking charges, Trump stood by Acosta, even after his resignation as labor secretary. Trump had described criticism of Acosta as "Monday morning quarterbacking."
“I feel very badly, actually, for Secretary Acosta,” Trump said in 2019, praising Acosta's work.
Potential Implications and Scrutiny
Patel's comments could signal a wider Republican strategy to focus blame on Acosta. This strategy comes amid scrutiny of the Republican-controlled House Oversight Committee's initial decision not to include Acosta on a list of subpoenaed witnesses, a decision later reversed. The shift also raises questions about why Acosta's involvement wasn't a major issue when Trump appointed him labor secretary in 2017, despite the known "sweetheart deal" with Epstein.
Epstein Files and Ongoing Controversy
The controversy surrounding the Epstein files continues to generate debate. At the hearing, senators pressed Patel about the extent of Epstein's trafficking activities and the release of relevant information. Senator John Kennedy urged Patel to do more to satisfy public curiosity, while Senator Richard Blumenthal questioned him about making the unreleased Epstein files public. Patel affirmed he would release what is legally permissible.
When asked by Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., “Who, if anyone, did Epstein traffic these young women to besides himself?” Patel said the FBI had “no credible information” that Epstein trafficked people to anyone other than himself.
Acosta's Defense
Acosta defended the nonprosecution agreement in 2019, asserting it was necessary to ensure Epstein served prison time and registered as a sex offender. As of now, CNN has not received any response from Acosta for comment.
