US Attorney General Apologises To Epstein Survivors In Contentious House Hearing
Attorney General expresses sorrow to Epstein survivors during heated House hearing over DOJ handling of files.
US Attorney General publicly apologised to survivors of Jeffrey Epstein’s abuse during a heated congressional hearing, acknowledging systemic failures that allowed the disgraced financier to evade accountability for years. The apology came amid sharp questioning from lawmakers over the Justice Department’s handling of the Epstein case and broader concerns about prosecutorial decisions tied to high-profile offenders.
During the session, the Attorney General said she was “deeply sorry” to the survivors for the government’s shortcomings, recognising the pain endured by victims who felt sidelined during earlier plea negotiations. Lawmakers pressed the department over the controversial 2008 non-prosecution agreement that shielded Epstein from federal charges in Florida and granted immunity to several associates — a deal widely criticised for its lack of transparency and leniency.
The hearing also revisited Epstein’s 2019 arrest on federal sex trafficking charges and his subsequent death in a Manhattan jail cell, officially ruled a suicide. Several members of Congress questioned oversight lapses within federal detention facilities, arguing that the circumstances surrounding his death undermined public confidence in the justice system.
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In her remarks, the Attorney General pledged continued efforts to pursue accountability for individuals linked to Epstein’s crimes and to ensure survivors are treated with dignity and respect in future proceedings. She emphasised reforms aimed at strengthening victims’ rights protections and improving prosecutorial transparency.
The exchange highlighted the enduring political and legal fallout of the Epstein scandal, which continues to generate scrutiny years after his death. For survivors, advocates say, official acknowledgment of institutional failures marks an important step, though many insist that meaningful justice depends on sustained investigations and tangible reforms rather than rhetoric alone.
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