Victims' attorneys push to overturn Jeffrey Epstein plea deal amid claims of broader sexual abuse network and DOJ misconduct

Marra, noting that he reviewed affidavits, depositions and interrogatories, said “Epstein worked in concert with others to obtain minors not only for his own sexual gratification, but also for the sexual gratification of others.’’ The victims’ attorneys — Edwards, Scarola and Paul Cassell — have asked the Justice Department to throw out Epstein’s plea agreement and reopen the criminal investigation. Edwards, who brought the victims’ rights case against the government, said transferring the case to another jurisdiction is a prudent decision. “T think it’s good that we’re going to get fresh eyes and a fresh opinion on the way the case was handled,”’ Edwards said Tuesday. “We were obviously in an adversarial posture with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Miami because they handled the case to begin with.”’ Miami’s new U.S. Attorney, Ariana Fajardo Orshan — who was appointed by President Trump in September — did not respond to a request for comment. Play Video DurationA 5:29 Jeffrey Epstein apologizes, but not to his victims Jeffrey Epstein apologizes, but not to his victims Emily Michot Edwards predicted that it would take some time for Pak’s office to review the case, which includes more than 500 docket entries and thousands of documents. He said If the sides can’t agree on a resolution, then Marra would likely have to come up with one. The case is being closely watched by crime victims’ rights advocates, as it will likely set a precedent. Acosta, who was appointed by Trump as the U.S. secretary of labor in 2017, is the focus of a separate Justice Department investigation into whether there was any prosecutorial misconduct in the Epstein case. That probe, by the DOJ’s Office of Professional Responsibility, was initiated in response to demands from a bipartisan group in Congress, led by Republican Sen. Ben Sasse of Nebraska and Democratic Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida. In the meantime, a court hearing will be held at 4 p.m. Wednesday in New York in another Epstein-related case. A federal appeals court will hear oral arguments in a motion by the Miami Herald, supported by 32 other news organizations, asking the court to unseal documents that could reveal details about the extent of Epstein’s crimes and any other people who may have been involved. Three of Epstein’s former attorneys — who helped negotiate his plea deal in 2008 — wrote a letter published in the New York Times on Monday, defending the plea bargain cut with Acosta as a fair deal. The letter was in HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_031405