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Explosive House report exposes failures it says allowed Epstein’s abuse to continue for years
Developing story first seen 2 hours ago
The House Oversight Committee’s report says prosecutorial failures, preferential treatment and institutional negligence allowed Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell to continue sexually exploiting young women and girls for years. Newly detailed findings urge the Justice Department to investigate allegations involving former Miami Beach mayor Philip Levine and celebrity hairstylist Frédéric Fekkai, both of whom deny wrongdoing.
The report also raises questions about former prosecutors’ ties to Epstein and the handling of potential evidence. It says Matthew Menchel did not disclose a prior relationship with an attorney who later represented Epstein, though a Justice Department review found no evidence of prosecutorial misconduct; it also examines Bruce Reinhart’s later work for Epstein associates. An assistant testified that computers and hard drives were removed before a 2005 search, but investigators abandoned a lead on the equipment before Epstein’s non-prosecution agreement; the committee found no evidence that a message from Sandy Berger tipped Epstein off about the search.
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In short
- House report says institutional failures let Epstein’s abuse continue.
- Committee urges further inquiry into allegations against two associates.
- Investigators abandoned a lead on equipment removed before a 2005 search.
How this story developed
- 27 minutes ago A House Oversight Committee report says prosecutorial failures, preferential treatment and institutional negligence helped Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell continue sexually exploiting young women and girls for years.
- 34 minutes ago The House Oversight Committee’s report says prosecutorial failures, preferential treatment and institutional negligence allowed Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell to continue sexually exploiting young women and girls for years.
Full account
The House Oversight Committee has published findings from a 15-month inquiry into how Jeffrey Epstein was able to sexually exploit young women and girls over many years. The Republican-led investigation, chaired by James Comer, drew on interviews and depositions, financial records and documents from the Justice Department and Epstein’s estate. The committee said 19 of the 20 people it asked to give evidence appeared; Leon Black, who paid Epstein for financial services, was the exception.
The report points to shortcomings by prosecutors and other institutions. It raises questions about Matthew Menchel, a former federal prosecutor who recommended resolving Epstein’s case through a non-prosecution agreement. The committee said Menchel had previously been romantically involved with Lilly Ann Sanchez, who later represented Epstein, and did not disclose the relationship to supervisors. It also said he continued to communicate and meet with Epstein after the agreement. Menchel’s lawyers said the later correspondence concerned possible legal work and referrals, which produced no business, and that he did not shape the final agreement. A 2020 Justice Department review found no evidence of prosecutorial misconduct, while finding that Menchel had failed to disclose the relationship.
The committee also examined former prosecutor Bruce Reinhart, who set up a private practice while working in the US Attorney’s Office and later represented people connected to Epstein. His practice dealt with matters concerning Epstein’s work-release programme. Former US Attorney Alexander Acosta told investigators he did not know whether Reinhart had access to information about the investigation. The report further calls for the Justice Department to investigate allegations by former Epstein assistant Sarah Kellen concerning former Miami Beach mayor Philip Levine and hairstylist Frédéric Fekkai. Both men have previously denied the allegations.
The committee’s account describes failures and possible conflicts that, it argues, helped Epstein evade meaningful consequences and left victims without justice. It also says investigators could not verify an alleged photograph of Menchel skiing with Epstein or establish that his decisions were improperly influenced. The report found no material linking President Donald Trump to Epstein’s crimes, according to the account in one of the reports. Its publication renews questions about how law enforcement and powerful institutions responded to warning signs over the years.
Where outlets differ
From the full account, which is AI-written from the sources:
The Fox News report focuses on specific potential conflicts involving Menchel and Reinhart, includes responses from Menchel’s lawyers and notes the limits of the committee’s evidence. The second report places greater emphasis on the scale of the inquiry, Comer’s criticism of government failures and the committee’s statement that it found no material linking Trump to Epstein’s crimes.
The second report describes the investigation as a 15-month inquiry and says 19 of 20 people sought by the committee appeared, identifying Leon Black as the sole non-attendee. The first report does not give those figures or discuss Black.
The supplied first report says the committee urged further investigation of Levine and Fekkai based on Kellen’s allegations; the second report does not cover those allegations. The supplied second report also contains political commentary about the GOP and the midterms that is absent from the first.
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