The Miami Herald report says then-U.S. Attorney Alex Acosta, appointed during Bush’s administration, negotiated a 2008 plea agreement after Epstein’s arrest the year prior. Reiter sought a meeting with Acosta to press for federal action but says he received no clear response as defense teams stalled the case. Officials reportedly referred to DOJ headquarters as "Main Justice."
Epstein pleaded to one solicitation charge and was sentenced to 18 months, serving 13, much of it in a work-release program. Reiter and others have since questioned whether the system learned from that outcome and urged further reforms.