How the #MeToo Movement Helped Make New Charges Against Jeffrey Epstein Possible

Federal prosecutors unveiled sex-trafficking charges against wealthy financier Jeffrey Epstein on Monday, revisiting years-old allegations. But their announcement was quickly followed by questions about why prosecutors (led by then-U.S. Attorney, now-Labor Secretary Alexander Acosta) had treated Epstein leniently in the past and why it had taken so long to meaningfully target allegations of sexual misconduct that were long an open secret.

Federal prosecutors unveiled sex-trafficking charges against wealthy financier Jeffrey Epstein on Monday, revisiting years-old allegations. But their announcement was quickly followed by questions about why prosecutors (led by then-U.S. Attorney, now-Labor Secretary Alexander Acosta) had treated Epstein leniently in the past and why it had taken so long to meaningfully target allegations of sexual misconduct that were long an open secret.