EFTA00175131.pdf

Department of Justice EXECUTIVE SECRETARIAT CONTROL SHEET DATE OF DOCUMENT: 8/29/2019 WORKFLOW ID: 4325153 DATE RECEIVED: 9/4/2019 DUE DATE: 9/19/2019 FROM: The Honorable Debbie Wasserman Schultz* U.S. House of Representatives Washington, DC 20515-0001 TO: AG (cc indicated for OIG) MAIL TYPE: Congressional Priority SUBJECT: (Rec'd from OLA via email) Urging DOJ to allow the Inspector General to conduct an independent and comprehensive investigation into the non- prosecution agreement that DOJ provided Mr. Epstein, as well as the circumstances surrounding his death. Advises the investigation should not only cover Mr. Epstein's death, but also investigate the conduct of any officials who approved, reviewed and defended his egregious and unprecedented plea deal. Ltr also signed by 5 other MCs. DATE ASSIGNED ACTION COMPONENT & ACTION REOUESTED 09/05/2019 OLA For appropriate handling. Advise ES of any action taken. INFO COMPONENT: OAG, ODAG, CRM, EOUSA, FBI, O1G, OPR COMMENTS: 09/05/2019: Per OLA, assign to OLA (M. FILE CODE: EXECSEC POC: EFTA00175131  Congress of the Iliniteb aides Wastlington, 33C 20515 August 29, 2019 The Honorable William Barr U.S. Attomey General U.S. Department of Justice 950 Pennsylvania Ave N.W. Washington, DC 20530 Dear Attorney General Barr: It has been announced that the Department of Justice's (DOJ) Office of Inspector General (OIG) will investigate the questionable circumstances surrounding the recent death ofJeffrey Epstein.' While that certainly merits OIG attention, limiting the scope of an independent inquiry solely into his death is grossly inadequate, and would ignore the various DOJ officials who have allowed this serial pedophile to elude true justice for more than a decade.2 We respectfully request that the Department permit the OIG to conduct a broad, independent investigation of this entire case. It should be one that not only covers his death, but also investigates the conduct of any officials who approved, reviewed, and defended Mr. Epstein's egregious and unprecedented plea deal. That agreement was not only intolerably lenient, but it was recently deemed illegal by a federal judge.3 Members of Congress made a similar request for an independent investigation of this potentially illegal plea deal last year (see attached item 1, dated Nov. 30, 2018). Regrettably, we were denied. The subsequent response from Inspector General Michael Horowitz (see attached item 2, dated Jan. 29, 2019) stated that his Office lacked the authority to conduct such an investigation, and that Congress in Sec 8E(b)(3) of the Inspector General Act had delegated exclusive jurisdiction into such matters to the DOD's Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR). The Inspector General has requested authority from the Department on several other occasions to investigate issues related to attorney misconduct and every time that authority has been denied. While we understand his concerns regarding the limitations on the statutory independence of the OIG, there are no legitimate legal barriers to an independent investigation of the circumstances surrounding this plea deal. More importantly, these concerns should not be used to starve Mr. Epstein's victims of the justice they so desperately still seek Department of Justice, "Statement from Attorney General William P. Ban on the Death of Jeffrey Epstein," August 10, 2019, https://www.justice.gov/opa/pastatement-attorney-gencral-william-p-barr-deathieffrey-epstein. 2 The Washington Post, "'He was inappropriate with me': Epstein face to face with accusers at bail hearing," Renae Merle and Man Zapotosky, July 15, 2019, htrns://www.washingtonpost.comrnational-security/he-was-inappropriate- with-me-epstein-comes-face-to-face-with-accusers-at-bail-hearing/2019/07/15/0e067664-a706-11e9-a3a6- ab670962db05_story.html. 3 Jane Doe I and Jane Doe 2 v. United States 359 F.Supp.3d 1201 (S.D. Fla. 2019). PAINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER EFTA00175132  • As has been well puhlicizal, pcnitAriotably in the Miami iterald's."PervetOon otIustice" newsPaper tepoiting, the plea SgreeMentthat-.the DOJ gave Mr. Epstein is now shrouded,in corrosive allegations .6f official misconduct, corruption and illegality. Therefore, theJustice Department owes these victims arid the public its-absolute highest level of transparency and self-examination.. A limited OPR inquiry into this•matter, which we understand was opened in February ofthis year, will not satisfy that demand. An OIG investigation which can fully examine all issues surrounding the Epstein case is:needed. • As Members of Congress intent on ensuring the equal application of justice, especially as it relates to the.plague of sex trafficking and sexual abuse, we urge you to allow the Inspector General to conduct an independent and comprehensive investigation into the• • non- prosecution agreemem that the Department of Justice provided Mr. Epstein, as well as the circumstances surrounding his death. Mr. Epstein is alleged to have manipulated every level of out legal system, throughlis .Wealtii.and polities! connections. If justice was indeed for .sale, or the procesS.that led to. the non-prosecution agreement violated ethical and legal standards•within the Department of Justice, the Inspector General must conduct a thorough ". . • investigation that extends far beyond the jail cell where he died. Mr. Epstein's victims have been denied justice at every turn so • far. They must be granted this dignity, white some measure of true accountability is still within reach. Sincerely, Debbie Wasserman Schultz Lois Fratikel Member of Congress • Member of Congress Debbie Weasel-Powell Member,•of Congress Ted Deutch Jamie Raskin' Member of Congress Member of Congress CC: Mr. Michael I4orowitz, Inspector General, U.S. Department of Justice EFTA00175133  Page 1 of 2 From: DOJ Correspondence (SMO) [ Sent: Wednesday, September 4, 2019 8:55:10 AM To: DOJExecSec JMD CC: ' Subject: FW: Letter from Members of Congress to Attorney General Barr Good morning, Please log & assign to OLA M). Thank you, From: Sent: Tuesday, September 03, 2019 5:25 PM To: DOJ Correspondence (SMO) <E Subject: RE: Letter from Members of Congress to Attorney General Barr Please assign to Thanks! From: Dal Correspondence (SMO) < Sent: Tuesday, September 3, 2019 1:15 PM To: DOJ Correspondence (SMO) Subject: FW: Letter from Members of Congress to Attorney General Barr Importance: High Good afternoon, Please provide assignment guidance. Thanks, From: Kugler, Sara Sent: Friday, August 30, 2019 10:10 AM To: DO1 Corresponde Cc Wolman, Lauren Subject: Letter from Members of Congress to Attorney General Barr Good afternoon, l am emailing to send a letter from Congresswoman Wasserman Schultz and the co-signed Members of Congress to Attorney General Barr concerning an Office of Inspector General investigation into Jeffrey Epstein's plea deal. Inspector General Michael Horowitz is CC'd on the letter. Thank you for your attention to this correspondence. Regards, • https://igapp.justapps.doj.gov/iq/StreamDownloader.aspx?path=&filename=962019_31845... 9/6/2019 EFTA00175134  Page 2 of 2 Sara Kugler Legislative Assistant/D.C. Press Secretary Office of U.S. Re . Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-23) Sign up for weekly legislative updates here https://igappjustapps.doj.govfig/StrearnDownloader.aspx?path=&filename=962019_31845... 9/6/2019 EFTA00175135