Federal judge rules Epstein NPA violated the Crime Victims' Rights Act

U.S. District Judge Kenneth Marra ruled on February 21, 2019 that the Justice Department violated the Crime Victims' Rights Act when it secretly negotiated and signed the 2007 non-prosecution agreement with Jeffrey Epstein without informing his victims. Judge Marra found that federal prosecutors had "affirmatively misled" victims about the status of the investigation and concealed the NPA's existence, a direct violation of 18 U.S.C. § 3771's guarantee that victims be consulted. The ruling established an official judicial record of government misconduct but did not immediately vacate the NPA.