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2.15 MB

Extraction Summary

6
People
4
Organizations
0
Locations
2
Events
3
Relationships
4
Quotes

Document Information

Type: Legal correspondence / letter
File Size: 2.15 MB
Summary

This document is page 7 of a letter addressed to Honorable Mark Filip, dated May 19, 2008. It details allegations that Assistant U.S. Attorney David Weinstein leaked confidential information regarding the Epstein case and plea negotiations to New York Times reporter Landon Thomas. The text criticizes the U.S. Attorney's Office, specifically First Assistant Sloman and U.S. Attorney Acosta, for their handling of these leaks and the subsequent internal review.

People (6)

Name Role Context
Mark Filip Honorable (Recipient)
Addressee of the letter, likely a high-ranking DOJ official or Judge.
David Weinstein Assistant U.S. Attorney
Accused of leaking confidential case details and plea negotiations to a NYT reporter.
Landon Thomas Reporter
Reporter for the New York Times who received leaks from David Weinstein.
Jeffrey Epstein Defendant
Subject of the federal investigation and allegations of luring girls for underage sex.
Sloman First Assistant
Defended Weinstein's actions; noted in footnote as having potential conflict regarding former law firm listing.
Alexander Acosta U.S. Attorney
Mentioned regarding a review of the investigation and his discretion to proceed.

Organizations (4)

Name Type Context
New York Times
Employer of reporter Landon Thomas.
USAO
United States Attorney's Office.
CEOS
Entity mentioned as conducting a limited review of the investigation (likely a typo for EOUSA or internal oversight b...
House Oversight Committee
Source of the document (inferred from footer 'HOUSE_OVERSIGHT').

Timeline (2 events)

Unknown
Review of the investigation requested by U.S. Attorney Acosta.
USAO
Unknown (Prior to May 19, 2008)
Leak of confidential information to New York Times reporter Landon Thomas by AUSA David Weinstein.
Unknown

Relationships (3)

David Weinstein Source/Reporter Landon Thomas
Weinstein spoke about the case in great detail to Landon Thomas.
Alexander Acosta Superior/Subordinate David Weinstein
Acosta is U.S. Attorney, Weinstein is Assistant U.S. Attorney.
Sloman Colleague/Defender David Weinstein
Sloman defended Weinstein's interactions with the press.

Key Quotes (4)

"Assistant U.S. Attorney David Weinstein spoke about the case in great detail to Landon Thomas... and revealed confidential information about the Government’s allegations against Mr. Epstein."
Source
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Quote #1
"Mr. Weinstein told Mr. Thomas that federal authorities believed that Mr. Epstein had lured girls over the telephone and traveled in interstate commerce for the purpose of engaging in underage sex."
Source
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Quote #2
"Mr. Weinstein forcefully 'reminded' Mr. Thomas that all prior conversations were merely hypothetical."
Source
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Quote #3
"CEOS’s only conclusion, based on its limited review of the investigation, is that U.S. Attorney Acosta would not abuse his discretion by proceeding against Mr. Epstein."
Source
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Quote #4

Full Extracted Text

Complete text extracted from the document (2,685 characters)

Honorable Mark Filip
May 19, 2008
Page 7
Government’s confidential “list of victims.” Most of these lawsuits seek $50 million in money damages.4
• Assistant U.S. Attorney David Weinstein spoke about the case in great detail to Landon Thomas, a reporter with the New York Times, and revealed confidential information about the Government’s allegations against Mr. Epstein. The Assistant U.S. Attorney also revealed the substance of confidential plea negotiations.
• When counsel for Mr. Epstein complained about the media leaks, First Assistant Sloman responded by asserting that “Mr. Thomas was given, pursuant to his request, non-case specific information concerning specific federal statutes.” Based on Mr. Thomas’ contemporaneous notes, that assertion appears to be false. For example, Mr. Weinstein told Mr. Thomas that federal authorities believed that Mr. Epstein had lured girls over the telephone and traveled in interstate commerce for the purpose of engaging in underage sex. He recounted to Mr. Thomas the USAO’s theory of prosecution against Mr. Epstein, replete with an analysis of the key statutes being considered. Furthermore, after Mr. Epstein’s defense team complained about the leak to the USAO, Mr. Weinstein, in Mr. Thomas’ own description, then admonished him for talking to the defense, and getting him in trouble. Mr. Weinstein further told him not to believe the “spin” of Mr. Epstein’s “high-priced attorneys,” and then, according to Mr. Thomas, Mr. Weinstein forcefully “reminded” Mr. Thomas that all prior conversations were merely hypothetical.
We are constrained to conclude that the actions of federal officials in this case strike at the heart of one of the vitally important, enduring values in this country: the honest enforcement of federal law, free of political considerations and free of the taint of personal financial motivations on the part of federal prosecutors that, at a minimum, raise the appearance of serious impropriety.
We were told by U.S. Attorney Acosta that as part of the review he requested, the Department had the authority, and his consent, to make any determination it deemed appropriate regarding this matter, including a decision to decline federal prosecution. Yet, CEOS’s only conclusion, based on its limited review of the investigation, is that U.S. Attorney Acosta would not abuse his discretion by proceeding against Mr. Epstein. Thus, the decision of whether
4 As recently as two months ago, Mr. Sloman was still listed publicly as a part of his former law firm. While we assume this was an oversight, Mr. Sloman’s identification as part of the firm raises the appearance of impropriety.
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