The CVRA Lawsuit
Beginning in 2008, two victims represented as Jane Doe 1 and Jane Doe 2 filed a civil action under 18 U.S.C. 3771, the Crime Victims’ Rights Act. They alleged the government violated their statutory rights by entering the NPA without consulting them or providing them notice.
The CVRA Rights at Issue
The CVRA guarantees victims the right:
- To be reasonably heard at public proceedings
- To be treated with fairness and respect for dignity
- To be informed of any NPA or plea agreement
The Court Finding
After years of litigation, District Court Judge Kenneth Marra (S.D. Fla.) found in 2019 that the government had indeed violated the CVRA by concealing the agreement from victims and entering into the secret deal. The NPA violated the statute.
No Remedy Available
Despite finding the violation, Judge Marra concluded that because Epstein had been re-arrested and was facing new federal charges, there was no appropriate remedy to impose. The NPA remained in effect.
The Significance
The Marra ruling was historically significant: a federal court found that the Department of Justice had violated the Crime Victims’ Rights Act in its handling of the Epstein case. This finding contributed substantially to Acosta’s political difficulties in 2019.