DOJ-OGR-00023033.jpg

D. OPR Does Not Find That the Subjects’ Preexisting Relationships with Defense Counsel, Decisions to Meet with Defense Counsel, and Other Factors Established That the Subjects Acted from Improper Influences or Provided Improper Benefits to Epstein ...........ecceececeeeeeeeeeeeeeeneeceeeeeseeeeneeeneesnaeenes 150 1. The Evidence Does Not Establish That the Subjects Extended Any Improper Benefit to Epstein because of Their Preexisting Relationships With, ATS AMOTGYS comeomenmm eummmenineonn wtmanmnmmmarenmds aeons 150 2. The Subjects Asserted That Their Relationships with Defense Counsel Did Not Influence Their Actions... cece eee seeeseeeeenneenseaes 151 E. The Evidence Does Not Establish That the Subjects’ Meetings with Defense Counsel Were Iniproper Benefits 16 FPStei mrss annem emummeneenes ances 155 1. The Evidence Shows That the Subjects’ Decisions to Meet with Epstein’s Legal Team Were Warranted by Strategic Considerations......155 2. The Evidence Does Not Establish That Acosta Negotiated a Deal Favorable to Epstein over Breakfast with Defense Counsel ........... 160 F. Villafafia’s Emails with Defense Attorney Lefkowitz during the NPA Negotiations Do Not Establish That Villafafia, or Other Subjects, Intended to Give Epstein Preferential Treatment or Were Motivated by Favoritism or Other Improper Influences ............ecceececeeeeneeeeceeneeeeeeeeeneesanessaeeees 163 G. The Evidence Does Not Establish That Acosta, Lourie, or Villafafia Agreed to the NPA’s Provision Promising Not to Prosecute “Potential Co-conspirators” in Order to Protect Any of Epstein’s Political, Celebrity, or Other Influential Associates ...........:ceeceeeneeeseececeseneeeeeeseeeceseeeeeesneesaeessaeeneneeents 166 H. OPR’s Investigation Did Not Reveal Evidence Establishing That Epstein Cooperated in Other Federal Investigations or Received Special Treatment ON That Basis... ce ceecesessesseeseeesecssecnseseeseesseessecsaecseesseeseeseesaeenaessaesaeesneeeenaees 168 ACOSTA EXERCISED POOR JUDGMENT BY RESOLVING THE FEDERAL INVESTIGATION THROUGH THE WRAL stars enmemmrexnsns mmarated cess nessimmsctns 169 A. Acosta’s Decision to Resolve the Federal Investigation through a State Plea under Terms Incorporated into the NPA Was Based on a Flawed Application of the Petite Policy and Federalism Concerns, and Failed to Consider the Significant Disadvantages of a State-Based Resolution ............cccecceeeceeeteeeeeeeeees 170 B. The Assessment of the Merits of a Potential Federal Prosecution Was Undermined by the Failure to Obtain Evidence or Take Other Investigative Steps That Could Have Changed the Complexion of the Case ..........eeeeeeeeee 175 C. OPR Was Unable to Determine the Basis for the Two-Year Term of Incarceration, That It Was Tied to Traditional Sentencing Goals, or That It Satisfied the Federal Interest in the Prosecution... eee eee eeee ese eeeeeeees 179 D. Acosta’s Decisions Led to Difficulties Enforcing the NPA ..........eeeeeeeeeeeeeeees 182 E. Acosta Did Not Exercise Sufficient Supervisory Review over the Process ........ 182 XIX DOJ-OGR- 00023033