Miami Herald investigation forced federal charges after 11 years

Miami Herald investigative reporter Julie Brown's Nov. 2018 exposé revealed how federal prosecutors gave Jeffrey Epstein unprecedented immunity from prosecution despite evidence of trafficking dozens of underage girls. Brown's reporting forced the unsealing of court documents that exposed prosecutor Alex Acosta's secret deal, leading to new federal charges against Epstein in Jul. 2019. Her investigation identified over 80 victims and showed how Epstein's legal team worked directly with federal prosecutors to suppress evidence and avoid accountability. The series won multiple journalism awards and demonstrated how elite connections protected Epstein for over a decade.