U.S. Congress: Epstein's sex crimes could have been prevented if prosecutors had not failed

The U.S. Congress concluded that 'if only prosecutors had responded properly, the crimes committed by billionaire sex offender Jeffrey Epstein since 2005 could have been prevented.'

According to the BBC on the 10th (local time), the Republican-led U.S. House of Representatives Oversight Committee reached this conclusion after reviewing the investigation and prosecution process against Epstein.

In its investigative report, the Oversight Committee pointed out that there were critical problems with Epstein's non-indictment agreement with federal prosecutors in the Southern District of Florida in 2007.

At the time, prosecutors considered filing dozens of federal charges against Epstein, but agreed not to file federal charges in exchange for Epstein pleading guilty to relatively minor state law violations.

Epstein was sentenced to 18 months in prison, but was released after 13 months. Additionally, while incarcerated, he was able to leave the prison to work 12 hours a day, 6 days a week.

The report pointed out that Epstein continued to commit sex crimes while incarcerated, taking advantage of his time away.

Epstein later died in a New York detention center in 2019 while awaiting trial on charges of human trafficking for the purpose of prostitution.

The committee also pointed out that Epstein's death was caused by institutional failures at the detention center, including understaffing, overworked staff, poor record management, and lax security.

However, some suspicions surrounding Epstein's death, such as gaps in surveillance camera footage, were not completely resolved through this investigation.

The report pointed out that the U.S. Department of Justice had problems in the process of releasing Epstein-related documents, such as failing to properly hide the victims' sensitive personal information.

The committee also recommended legislation to limit Epstein's abuse of confidentiality agreements to silence victims.

James Comer, chairman of the House Oversight Committee, pointed out, "Epstein was protected and supported by powerful connections and avoided punishment thanks to a judicial system that repeatedly ignored his victims."

Comer urged the Justice Department to reexamine key witnesses and further investigate Epstein's associates who are suspected of crimes.

In response, the Justice Department said that the Epstein case was not closed and that there was no statute of limitations on human trafficking.

Meanwhile, the report criticized Democrats for their obsession with linking President Donald Trump to the Epstein case.

The committee said it found no material supporting President Trump's criminal involvement in the documents it examined.

In response to this, Rep. Robert Garcia, the Democratic ranking member of the House Oversight Committee, refuted that the Republican Party released a report prepared after an incomplete investigation.