Miami Herald Publishes 'Perversion of Justice' Series — November 28, 2018
The Miami Herald publishes the first story of Julie K. Brown's landmark 'Perversion of Justice' series on November 28, 2018. The three-part series documents the full scope of the Palm Beach investigation, the victims whose accounts were ignored, the details of the 2008 NPA's extraordinary immunity provisions, and the systemic failure of federal prosecution. The series triggers immediate public attention, political response, and directly catalyzes the SDNY's reopening of the case.
People Involved
November 28, 2018 is a pivotal date in the Epstein case — the day the story that could no longer be suppressed was published.
What the Series Documented
Julie K. Brown’s “Perversion of Justice” series gave readers, for the first time, a comprehensive account of:
- The scale of Epstein’s victim network — identified by name and in their own words
- The thoroughness of the Palm Beach Police investigation and the evidence assembled
- The specific provisions of the 2008 NPA, including the co-conspirator immunity already known to civil litigants but not widely reported
- How victims were not notified of the deal and discovered it only afterward
- The inadequacy of the state and federal response given the evidence available
Immediate Impact
Within days of publication:
- Political figures called for investigations
- Alexander Acosta faced renewed scrutiny as Labor Secretary
- The CVRA civil case in Florida attracted new national attention
- SDNY prosecutors were reported to be reviewing the case
The Road to the 2019 Arrest
The Herald series directly created the conditions for the SDNY investigation and July 2019 indictment. By documenting the NPA’s unprecedented scope and the government’s CVRA violation, the series made clear that new prosecution was both justified and politically necessary.
Brown won the George Polk Award for Justice Reporting for the series, one of journalism’s highest honors.