Thread by @jentaub

So far he has only called on male journalists.

Asked whether he owes the victims an apology. Acosta dodges question, seems to blame the female "career prosecutor." Says he addressed victim notification in some document.

Keeps throwing the career prosecutor under bus

What a COWARD. He was afraid that he would have to go to trial if Epstein did not agree to plea deal. "We wanted to put Epstein away." What a joke. He got to spend his waking hours six days a week at his palatial home in Florida.

He is now making the dubious claim that the career prosecutor tried to notify the victims.

Now he's called on a fourth male journalist. I cannot hear the question.

3/

I cannot hear this journalist. It is a male voice, perhaps the same one.

Acosta says he does not believe he violated the APA standards by negotiating

4/

Again he says, "Sir," calling on another male journalist.

He says, "Based on the evidence, there was value to getting a guilty plea."

He did not say he had regrets

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Very condescending toward the victims.

"At the time. . . and I provided a timeline. . . this was the view of the office. There is a value to a short guilty plea."

Blames state attorney who would have let him walk, he claims.

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Calling on another male journalist. Are there literally no women in the room?

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Oh good. First women asks a question and it's the first good one. She asked him if it was true that he met offsite at a hotel with the defense counsel. He said "the meeting that was alleged" was at a breakfast meeting. Said after it was negotiated (but not signed) he met them.

8

He tries to minimize it. Claims it was after agreement had been negotiated. And only one thing changed. Said he referred it to career prosecutor.

Says the office was not open at 7.

She tried to follow up a second time, but he cut her off and called on another man

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This next guy has a good question. Asked why he broke the law when he did not share the settlement agreement with victims.

Acosta ignores question and says he followed departmental policy.

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He says the judge is wrong. Thinks he had no departmental (or other) obligation to tell victims.

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He claims that the DOJ says there was no violation of law.

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Great question from Caitlin Collins of @cnn. Asked if he would make this agreement today.

"Today's world does not allow some of the victim shaming that would have taken place at trial." REALLY? What planet is he on.

He does not answer her question

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@CNN "I know what the victims say. . . but I'm hear to say that we did what we did because .. . . he needed to go to jail and that was the focus."

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@CNN Now he's called on someone named John. Can't hear question.

"The victims of which we were aware were part of this." Said the victims in southern district of FL could proceed civilly.

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@CNN Acosta said he has "been aggressive prosecuting human trafficking."

"We stepped in, in this case and stopped a bad state plea."

This guy is so ARROGANT.
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@CNN Female journalist with a great question. Says office of professional responsibility is looking into his actions when he was in justice department. Asked would submit to an interview and if they find fault, will he resign. He said he'd "gladly be part of it."

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@CNN Someone from PBS Newshour. Did not hear her name. Asked when he's cutting funding for human trafficking. Why should we trust him. Again is not owning it. Said grants were taken out. Thinks Congress will put back i

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@CNN What conversations have you had with president, are you fighting for you job, or are you send any message to victims.

Said he won't discuss convo. with pres

Message to victims is that "they should come forward" then these cases can be brough

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@CNN No apology for victims. Just they should come forward.

Another journalist says, "you still haven't offered an apology."

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@CNN He won't apologize. Just says what they've gone through is horrible.

Talking about the "men and women of my office."

Acosta is the boss from hell. He never, ever, ever, ever is taking ownership. The buck stops with him. Shameful.

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@CNN Can't here well, but journalist is asking about Epstein's obstruction of justice.

Acosta says, "I can't comment."

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@CNN Journalist asked who at main justice reviewed decision and whether he contacted Mueller.

Acosta mentions letter that lays out who had been involved. He is NOT answering the question.

But did say he invited someone from main justice . . .said Epstein's attorneys went to DC

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@CNN Acosta says he does not have full list of who reviewed this at main justice. Said people there were aware of it.

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@CNN Reporter asked whether he treated victims as prostitutes.

Acosta said the victims were victims

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@CNN Again, he keeps saying this was a state court plea and so it was under the jurisdiction of state.

"Outrage over 13 months and getting to leave jail is entirely appropriate."

Acosta acts like that was out of his control

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@CNN A journalist asks him a question in Spanish and he responds in Spanish.

I won't attempt a translation as it won't be good enough

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@CNN Again a journalist asks him what about the victims who came forward and feel let down by you.

He won't answer.

Said he was focused on putting him in jail.

Says there was evidence victims said would get money if he was convicted. Said that made them look bad

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@CNN Next question is about being responsive to media but I cannot hear it b/c I'm on a train and wireless cut out

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@CNN Excellent question. You said the victims are not prostitutes. But he was charges with prostitution.

Keeps pointing to state of Florida. Said he had no control. "I don't consider the victims prostitutes. . . These were not just women victims, they were children victims."

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@CNN Female journalist asks what he thinks about Epstein not acting contrite.

He said "I'm glad to see that it's happened" -- that NY feds are bringing charges.

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@CNN Journalist asks whether he has heard that Epstein might be an intelligence asset.

He said he cannot address that reporting directly.

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@CNN Katie Rogers from NYT asks why he is so confident that the President will keep him on.

"If at some point the President decides" he doesn't want him

"We are hear because we are part of an administration that's creating jobs . . and focused on the forgotten man and woman."

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@CNN Asked why he has avoided addressing [victims] directly.

"I can't begin to fathom what the victims have been through."

Says, "their response is highly justified but at the same time I think it's important to stand up for the prosecutors in my office."

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@CNN Nobody is blaming Acosta's former employees in his office. The blame as at his feet. And it is shameful that he keeps holding out his own employees up for scorn each time anyone asks him to apologize.

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@CNN "The world is much more transparent" now he says. I am not sure what that has to do with his failings.

Conference over.

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