https://www.thedailybeast.com/alex-acostas-jeffrey-epstein-excuses-are-nonsensical-and-self-serving
Acosta’s Epstein Excuses Are Nonsensical and Self-Serving
Three former prosecutors break down the labor secretary’s explanation of the
cushy plea deal he cut.
Mimi Rocah、Jennifer Rodgers、Berit Berger
Updated 07.11.19 12:29PM ET / Published 07.11.19 9:36AM ET
現労務長官のAlex Acostaは、南フロリダの司法長官であった2007年に、今回未成年者の
性的人身売買で逮捕されたJeffrey Epsteinに、寛容な司法取引を行い批判されている。
水曜日に彼は弁明を行ったが、それはナンセンシカルで利己的なものだった。3人の前検
察官がこの弁明について解説する

・・・・Another of Acosta’s main themes at the press conference was: The sweetheart
deal isn’t my fault because, well, times have changed. “Today’s world treats victims very,
very differently,” he said. “Today’s world does not allow some of the victim-shaming
that could have taken place at trial.” This is an insulting excuse, concocted after-the-fact
to conceal Acosta’s shameful performance as U.S. attorney in this matter.

It is true that societal norms and perceptions about rape and sexual assault victims have
changed over the decades, and that more recently the #MeToo Movement has had a
role in encouraging victims to speak out about their experiences with abuse. But Acosta
greatly exaggerates when he claims that trying a case like this in 2007 would have been
significantly more challenging than it would be today.

We were all federal prosecutors in 2007 when this non-prosecution agreement was
negotiated. No federal prosecutor or agent we worked with would have ever backed
away from a sexual exploitation case involving minors because of the possibility of
Acosta’s so-called “victim shaming.” 2007 was not 1958. Child exploitation and child
pornography were believed to be just as abhorrent then as they are now. In all relevant
ways, the case would have been charged, tried, and decided exactly the same in 2007
as it would be today.
Moreover, the case against Epstein is, and always was, a compelling one.