FD-302 INTERVIEW SUMMARY — ALEXANDER ACOSTA July 2019
The FBI conducted an interview with former U.S. Attorney Alexander Acosta regarding his role in negotiating the 2007 Non-Prosecution Agreement with Jeffrey Epstein's legal team.
ACOSTA'S ACCOUNT: Acosta described the intense pressure from Epstein's defense team, which included some of the most prominent attorneys in the country — Alan Dershowitz, Ken Starr, Jay Lefkowitz, Gerald Lefcourt, and Roy Black. He stated that Epstein's lawyers aggressively challenged every aspect of the government's case and threatened to litigate every issue.
KEY STATEMENTS: Acosta reportedly stated that he was told by unnamed individuals that Epstein "belonged to intelligence" — a claim that suggested Epstein had connections to intelligence agencies that afforded him special protection. This statement gained significant public attention and fueled ongoing speculation about the full scope of Epstein's connections and why he received such favorable treatment from the justice system.
DEFENSE OF THE NPA: Acosta defended the plea deal by arguing that without it, Epstein might have faced no consequences at all, as the Palm Beach State Attorney's office had only been willing to pursue a single misdemeanor charge. He characterized the NPA as the best available option to ensure some accountability.
POLITICAL CONSEQUENCES: Acosta served as U.S. Secretary of Labor from 2017 to 2019. He resigned on July 19, 2019 — less than two weeks after Epstein's arrest — amid mounting political pressure over his handling of the original Epstein case. A subsequent DOJ review found that Acosta exercised "poor judgment" but did not commit professional misconduct.