House panel reports federal agencies failed Epstein victims
A 137-page report released by the House Oversight Committee details missed opportunities and staffing gaps that allowed the financier's abuse to continue.
By Adrian Kovalenko ·
The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee released a 137-page report on Tuesday detailing federal failures in the Jeffrey Epstein case. The document represents the most extensive congressional inquiry into the matter to date. It focuses on the handling of sex crimes involving Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell.
Republican members of the committee accuse federal investigators and prosecutors of negligence. They claim this inaction allowed Epstein's abuse to persist from 2005 onward. The year 2005 marks when his crimes first surfaced in Palm Beach, Florida.
James Comer, the Kentucky Republican who chairs the panel, called the findings heartbreaking and infuriating. He stated that the federal government failed victims at nearly every turn. Comer argued that better oversight could have prevented much of the abuse.
The report criticizes a 2007 non-prosecution agreement in South Florida. That deal ended the federal case after Epstein pleaded guilty to lesser state charges. He received an 18-month sentence with work-release privileges. The committee says he continued abusing women during that period.
Lawmakers identified poor judgment and Epstein's influence as key factors. They also flagged conflicts of interest involving former prosecutors Matthew Menchel and Bruce Reinhart. The report notes that former US Attorney Alexander Acosta took a hands-off approach. This left the investigation in the hands of potential Epstein allies.
The panel also examined the Metropolitan Correctional Center in New York. Epstein died by alleged suicide there in August 2019. Guards skipped 12 patrols and three inmate counts that night. His cell went unmonitored for nearly eight hours. Tova Noel, a former correctional officer, testified that such lapses were standard practice at the facility.
The committee urges the Department of Justice to re-interview key witnesses. It also recommends investigating associates accused of criminal activity. Testimony included in the report names former Miami Beach Mayor Philip Levine and hairstylist Frederic Fekkai as individuals accused of abuse by a witness.
Democrats plan to take control of the House in January after the November 3 midterm elections. Robert Garcia, the top Democrat on the committee, announced his intent to chair the panel. The report dismisses the Democratic investigation of President Donald Trump as an unfounded witch hunt. It also notes that rushed record disclosure under the Epstein Files Transparency Act exposed sensitive victim information.
