Julie K. Brown’s three-part investigative series “Perversion of Justice,” published by the Miami Herald in November 2018, is considered one of the most consequential pieces of investigative journalism related to the Jeffrey Epstein case.
The Investigation
Brown spent months locating and interviewing more than 60 women who said they had been abused by Epstein as teenagers. Her methodology involved painstaking records research, travel to interview subjects who had been scattered and silenced, and verification of accounts through court documents and independent sources.
Key Findings
The series documented:
- The systematic nature of Epstein’s abuse and the recruitment network
- The extent to which the 2008 plea deal had shielded Epstein from serious consequences
- The role of the U.S. Attorney, Alex Acosta, in negotiating the deal
- The degree to which victims had been excluded from the non-prosecution agreement
Acosta’s Resignation
The series’ renewed attention directly contributed to pressure on Alex Acosta, who had become Secretary of Labor in the Trump Administration. When Epstein was arrested in July 2019, public scrutiny of Acosta’s 2008 decision became intense. He resigned on July 12, 2019, citing distraction from the case.
Path to 2019 Prosecution
SDNY prosecutors have indicated that Brown’s reporting was part of a broader re-examination of the Epstein case that culminated in the July 2019 indictment. Without the renewed public attention generated by the series, the re-prosecution might not have gained the momentum it did.
Journalism Legacy
Brown won several awards including the Selden Ring Award and the George Polk Award for the series. “Perversion of Justice” became a model of sustained investigative reporting on a case many outlets had previously declined to pursue.