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Atlanta prosecutors to handle Jeffrey Epstein victims' rights case

Posted at 11:31 AM, Mar 06, 2019
and last updated 2019-07-16 14:35:20-04

MIAMI (AP) — Federal prosecutors from Atlanta will take over a Florida victims' rights case involving a wealthy financier accused of sexually abusing dozens of underage girls.

The U.S. Attorney's Office in Atlanta confirmed Wednesday that they've been assigned the case involving victims of 66-year-old Jeffrey Epstein after the U.S. Attorney's Office in Miami recused itself.

A Florida federal judge ruled last month that Miami U.S. Attorney Alexander Acosta's prosecutors violated the victims' rights by secretly reaching a non-prosecution agreement with Epstein.Epstein instead pleaded guilty to state charges, spent 13 months in jail, paid settlements to victims and is a registered sex offender.

The judge gave the Justice Department a Friday deadline to seek a settlement with the victims' attorneys.

Acosta, now President Donald Trump's labor secretary, says the deal was appropriate.