Secret NPA Negotiations Begin Between Epstein Defense and Federal Prosecutors
Following State Attorney Barry Krischer's inadequate prosecution that only produced a single charge, the US Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida (SDFL) under Alex Acosta begins secret negotiations with Epstein's legal team on a federal Non-Prosecution Agreement. These negotiations are conducted without notifying Epstein's victims — a deliberate exclusion that will later be ruled unconstitutional. The negotiations will last approximately a year before the NPA is finalized.
People Involved
Background
After Krischer’s state prosecution produced only a single solicitation charge (inadequate given 40+ identified victims), federal prosecutors began parallel negotiations.
The Defense Team
Epstein assembled an extraordinary legal team for the NPA negotiations:
- Alan Dershowitz (Harvard Law professor)
- Jay Lefkowitz (former Bush administration official)
- Jack Goldberger (Florida criminal defense specialist)
- Gerald Lefcourt (prominent New York defense attorney)
- Roy Black
The Secret Process
Negotiations were conducted without notifying victims — a fundamental violation of the Crime Victims’ Rights Act. Victims had no opportunity to object or be heard.
This secrecy was later ruled unconstitutional by Judge Kenneth Marra in 2019.
What Was Negotiated
The NPA ultimately traded Epstein’s guilty plea to state solicitation charges for federal immunity — including immunity for named co-conspirators — and an 18-month work-release arrangement rather than federal prosecution.