Will Senate Judiciary Chairman Lindsey Graham Answer Why He Is Holding Up a Serious Epstein-Acosta Investigation?

March 21, 2019

As Graham Wines and Dines With Republican Friends Tomorrow at Mar-A-Lago Where an Epstein Underage Sex Victim Was Allegedly “Recruited”, The Inspector General Access Act That Would Help Bring Epstein’s Victims Some Justice Is Collecting Dust In Graham’s Committee 

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) is scheduled to be the keynote speaker at tomorrow’s GOP fundraiser at Donald Trump’s Mar-A-Lago Club, the same club where underage girls were allegedly targeted for sexual abuse by politically-connected billionaire Jeffrey Epstein. What better venue for Graham to explain why he is using his power as Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee to block consideration of a bipartisan bill passed by the U.S. House that could help bring overdue justice for Epstein’s victims. The bipartisan Inspector General Access Act would give the Department of Justice (DOJ) Inspector General the authority to hold U.S. Attorneys accountable for misconduct. Every indication is that Graham is holding up the bill so that President Trump’s current Labor Secretary and former U.S. Attorney won’t have to answer for his alleged crimes related to a secret plea deal that allowed alleged serial pedophile Epstein to escape serious jail time and enjoy cushy work release privileges.

Meanwhile, Senator Graham, who is not known for his consistency in rhetoric or policies, is preparing legislation that threatens to bury the anticipated Mueller report unless the U.S. Attorney General agrees to “appoint a new special counsel to investigate ‘misconduct’ in the Department of Justice” related to right-wing conspiracy theories involving President Trump’s political enemies.

“Since Senator Graham converted from one of Trump’s loudest critics to one of his most shameless lackies, there’s been no line he won’t cross to defend this administration, even if it means protecting someone who went soft on a child sex predator. If Senator Graham was at all serious about allowing transparent investigations into misconduct at the Department of Justice, he wouldn’t be sitting on the Inspector General Access Act in his committee.” said Kyle Herrig, Senior Advisor to Allied Progress.

Herrig continued: “Lindsey Graham has the power to get this bill through committee so that Jeffrey Epstein’s victims can get the thorough and transparent investigation they deserve. Graham says he wants ‘transparency’ regarding the Mueller report, but he doesn’t seem to want the same for victims of sexual assault. What’s transparent here is that Senator Graham is a shameless political opportunist that refuses to apply the same standards to the Trump administration that he does to his political enemies.” 

Last month, the DOJ Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) announced its own investigation into Acosta’s misconduct in the Epstein case, however such an investigation is simply incapable of going far enough due to OPR’s lack of subpoena power, its inability to issue binding disciplinary recommendations and its reputation of secrecy with regard to its probes. Acosta’s illegal plea deal was conducted in secret; the investigation into why should not also be conducted out of the public view. That is why on February 14th, Allied Progress hand-delivered letters to the offices of every Senate Judiciary Committee member, including Senator Graham’s, stressing that an investigation by the DOJ Inspector General would be far more meaningful, transparent and accountable than an OPR investigation.

After a federal judge ruled on Feb. 21^st  that Acosta broke the law by failing to disclose Epstein’s sweetheart deal to the victims and their families — a deal that many of the victims still fighting to overturn today — Allied Progress ran a full page ad in The Stateand digital adsin South Carolina calling on Senator Graham to stop obstructing the Inspector General Access Act. In response, Graham claimed he only knew “what I’ve read in the paper” and that he’d “definitely look at it.” It’s been crickets ever since.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

Lindsey Graham Is The Scheduled Keynote Speaker At The Palm Beach County Republican Party’s Lincoln Day Dinner, Which Will Be Held At Mar-A-Lago On Friday, March 22.

Lindsey Graham Is The Keynote Speaker At The Palm Beach County Republican Party’s Lincoln Day Dinner At Mar-A-Lago.“The keynote speaker is U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C.,” for “the Palm Beach County Republican Party’s annual Lincoln Day dinner at the Mar-a-Lago Club on Friday night [March 22, 2019].” [Anthony Man, “President Donald Trump plans weekend Mar-a-Lago visit, which could be treat for Republican ‘Lincoln Day’ donors,” South Florida Sun-Sentinel,03/18/19]

One Of Epstein’s Accusers Said She Was Recruited As A Teenager At Mar-A-Lago, Donald Trump’s Palm Beach Resort And “Was Trafficked For Sex To A Number Of Prominent And Powerful Men” At “Epstein’s Mansion.”

One Of Epstein’s Accusers Said She Was Recruited “At Mar-A-Lago, President Donald Trump’s Resort In Palm Beach, When She Was 16 Years Old,” And “Was Trafficked For Sex To A Number Of Prominent And Powerful Men” At “Epstein’s Mansion.” “The court case currently at issue is a 2015 defamation lawsuit filed against Maxwell by Virginia Roberts Giuffre, who claims she was recruited by Maxwell at Mar-a-Lago, President Donald Trump’s resort in Palm Beach, when she was 16 years old. She says Maxwell brought her to Epstein’s mansion and she was trafficked for sex to a number of prominent and powerful men.” [Julie K. Brown, “Two mystery parties try to restrict release of documents in Jeffrey Epstein civil suit,” Miami Herald, 03/20/19]

• She Allegedly Was Recruited “To Be Epstein’s ‘Sex Slave,’ Starting With ‘Massages’ And Moving To Sex Acts.” “At least two cases against Epstein are still pending, but other lawsuits were settled before the trial, frustrating some advocates for Epstein’s victims who want to see his actions fully come to light. One woman, Virginia Giuffre, sued Epstein’s longtime friend Ghislaine Maxwell, who she said recruited her in 1999 from Trump’s Mar-a-Lago Club to be Epstein’s ‘sex slave,’ starting with ‘massages’ and moving to sex acts. Giuffre had worked at the club as a 15-year-old locker room towel girl. She settled with Maxwell last year.” [Marc Fisher, “Palm Beach trial could reveal details of billionaire’s alleged abuse of teen girls,”The Washington Post, 12/03/18]

Epstein Could Have Gone To Prison For Life—But Instead Served 13 Months In A Private Wing Of County Jail With Generous Work Release Privileges, Thanks To His Plea Deal With Then-U.S. Attorney Alex Acosta.

Jeffrey Epstein Could Have Been “Prosecuted For Federal Child Sex Trafficking Crimes,” That Could Have Sent Him To Prison For Life,” But, Under The Terms Of Alex Acosta’s Plea Deal, Epstein Was Sentenced To “13 Months In A Private Wing Of The County Jail — Along With Liberal Work Release Privileges.” “Instead of being prosecuted for federal child sex trafficking crimes that could have sent him to prison for life, Epstein was inexplicably given federal immunity under an unusual agreement approved by then-Miami U.S. Attorney Alexander Acosta. As part of the arrangement, Epstein agreed to plead guilty to charges in state court. His victims were never told about the plea deal until well after Epstein was quietly sentenced, serving 13 months in a private wing of the county jail — along with liberal work release privileges and a private valet who drove him to his office every day.” [Julie K. Brown, “She was the victim in Jeffrey Epstein’s secret plea deal. She didn’t even know it,”Miami Herald, 03/19/19]

Jeffrey Epstein “Attended Parties At Mar-A-Lago” And Donald “Trump Flew On Epstein’s Private Jet At Least Once.”

Jeffrey Epstein “Attended Parties At Mar-A-Lago” And Donald “Trump Flew On Epstein’s Private Jet At Least Once,” According To Court Documents. “In a different civil case against Epstein, records showed that he had attended parties at Mar-a-Lago and that Trump flew on Epstein’s private jet at least once. Trump told New York magazine in 2002 that Epstein was ‘a lot of fun to be with. It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side.’” [Marc Fisher, “Palm Beach trial could reveal details of billionaire’s alleged abuse of teen girls,”The Washington Post, 12/03/18]

Donald Trump Allegedly Barred Jeffrey Epstein From Mar-A-Lago Because He “Sexually Assaulted An Underage Girl At The Club.”

Donald Trump Barred Jeffrey Epstein From Mar-A-Lago “Because Epstein Sexually Assaulted An Underage Girl At The Club,” According To Court Documents.“Trump barred Epstein from Mar-a-Lago ‘because Epstein sexually assaulted an underage girl at the club,’ according to court documents filed by Edwards.” [Marc Fisher, “Palm Beach trial could reveal details of billionaire’s alleged abuse of teen girls,”The Washington Post, 12/03/18]

Lindsey Graham Demanded A New Special Counsel To Investigate The Department Of Justice’s “‘Misconduct’” In Its Hillary Clinton Email Probe While He Threatened To Oppose The Public Release Of The Mueller Report.

Lindsey Graham Said He Would Oppose Congressional Action To Make Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s Report Public Unless A New Special Counsel Were Appointed To Investigate The Department Of Justice’s Conduct In Its Probe Into Hillary Clinton’s Email Practices. “Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) said on Thursday that he could not back a congressional effort to make special counsel Robert Mueller’s final report public unless lawmakers tasked an entirely new special counsel with probing the Department of Justice’s handling of the investigation into Hillary Clinton’s emails, among other things.” [Sam Brodey, “Lindsey Graham: Don’t Make Mueller Report Public Without Setting Up Special Counsel to Probe Hillary’s Emails,”Daily Beast, 03/14/19]

• Graham Sought To File An Amendment On Legislation To Make The Mueller Probe Public—His Amendment Would Require The Attorney General To Further Investigate “‘Misconduct’ In The Department Of Justice.” “On Thursday morning, the House passed—without a single no vote—a nonbinding resolution to make the Mueller report public. Hours later, Graham went to the floor aiming to file an amendment to the version the Senate would take up. It called for Attorney General William Barr to appoint a new special counsel to investigate ‘misconduct’ in the Department of Justice over the email investigation and the FBI’s surveillance of Carter Page, a former aide to the Trump campaign.” [Sam Brodey, “Lindsey Graham: Don’t Make Mueller Report Public Without Setting Up Special Counsel to Probe Hillary’s Emails,”Daily Beast, 03/14/19]

After Blocking A Senate Vote On Making The Mueller Report Public, Lindsey Graham Said, “‘We Don’t Want Partial Transparency. We Want Full Transparency.’”

Lindsey Graham, After Blocking A Vote To Make The Mueller Report Public, Said, “We Don’t Want Partial Transparency. We Want Full Transparency.” “The House voted 420-0 to make Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s report on Russian interference in the 2016 election public, but Republican South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham blocked a vote on the bill in the U.S. Senate, USA Today reports. Speaking this week after a Republican event in his home state, Graham told the Charleston Post and Courier, ‘We don’t want partial transparency. We want full transparency of 2016.’ He said he wants the FBI to also release information about the investigation into the Hillary Clinton campaign, according to the newspaper.” [Charles Duncan, “Lindsey Graham explains why he blocked a bill to make the Mueller report public,” McClatchy DC, 03/19/19]

Lindsey Graham Has Argued That There Should Not “‘Two Systems’” And There Should Not Be Different Standards Applied In Different Investigations.

Graham Proclaimed That The Investigation Must “‘Find Out If The FBI And The DOJ Has Two Systems[…]’”Graham said, “’We let Mueller look at all things Trump related to collusion and otherwise. Somebody needs to look at what happened on the other side and find out if the FBI and the DOJ had two systems, one supporting the person they wanted to win and one out to get the person they wanted to lose.’” [Sam Brodey, “Lindsey Graham: Don’t Make Mueller Report Public Without Setting Up Special Counsel to Probe Hillary’s Emails,”Daily Beast, 03/14/19]

The Inspector General Access Act Of 2019 Would Empower The Department Of Justice Inspector General To Investigate Alex Acosta’s Work As A U.S. Attorney.

H.R. 202, The Inspector General Access Act Of 2019, “Transfers Responsibility For Investigating Certain Allegations Of Misconduct From The Department Of Justice (DOJ) Office Of Professional Responsibility To The DOJ Office Of The Inspector General.” “[The Inspector General Access Act of 2019] transfers responsibility for investigating certain allegations of misconduct from the Department of Justice (DOJ) Office of Professional Responsibility to the DOJ Office of the Inspector General. Specifically, the bill transfers responsibility for allegations relating to a DOJ attorney’s authority to investigate, litigate, or provide legal advice.” [H.R. 202 – Inspector General Access Act of 2019, U.S. House of Representatives, 01/03/19]

The Bill Has Already Passed The House Without Opposition And Is Currently Sitting In The Senate Judiciary Committee Under Chairman Lindsey Graham.

H.R. 202, The Inspector General Access Act of 2019, Passed The U.S. House of Representatives By Voice Vote On January 15, 2019. [“Actions Overview, H.R.202 – Inspector General Access Act of 2019,” U.S. House of Representatives, 01/03/19]

• The Inspector General Access Act Of 2019 Was Referred To The Senate Committee On The Judiciary On January 16, 2019. [All Actions, H.R.202 – Inspector General Access Act of 2019, U.S. House of Representatives, 01/03/19]

• Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) Is Chairman Of The Senate Judiciary Committee. [“About the Chairman,” U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, accessed 03/21/19]

The Department Of Justice’s Office Of Professional Responsibility Has Launched A Investigation Into How Jeffrey Epstein’s Case Was Handled By Federal Attorneys Including Alex Acosta.

In February 2019, The Department Of Justice’s Office Of Professional Responsibility “Launched An Investigation Into How Federal Government Lawyers Handled The Case Of” Jeffrey Epstein. “The Justice Department has launched an investigation into how federal government lawyers handled the case of a wealthy Florida man accused of having sex with underage girls, a DOJ official confirmed Thursday. One of those lawyers, Alex Acosta, is now President Donald Trump’s labor secretary. But he was the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida when key decisions about the case of Jeffrey Epstein were made. […] On Thursday, the Justice Department notified [Sen. Ben] Sasse that the department’s Office of Professional Responsibility ‘has now opened an investigation into allegations that Department attorneys may have committed professional misconduct in the manner in which the Epstein criminal matter was resolved.’ The letter does not mention Acosta by name.” [Pete Williams, “Justice Department opens probe into Jeffrey Epstein’s plea deal,” NBC News, 02/06/19]

The Office Of Professional Responsibility (OPR) Is “Notoriously Secretive,” Doesn’t Have Subpoena Power, And May Have Conflicts Of Interest When Investigating Fellow Attorneys.

The Office Of Professional Responsibility’s “Fact-Finding Abilities Are Somewhat Limited Because It Doesn’t Have Subpoena Power Or Investigators.” According to former federal prosecutor Mimi Rocah, “‘OPR’s fact-finding abilities are somewhat limited because it doesn’t have subpoena power or investigators. More may need to be done to ensure that Congress and the public find out the facts.’” [Pete Williams, “Justice Department opens probe into Jeffrey Epstein’s plea deal,” NBC News, 02/06/19]

• The Office of Professional Responsibility “is notoriously secretive with its probes,” which “rarely become public.”[Julie K. Brown, “Justice Department opens probe into Jeffrey Epstein plea deal,” Miami Herald, 02/06/19]

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