Ken Starr, once the relentless prosecutor of Bill Clinton, later used his influence to secure Jeffrey Epstein a lenient plea deal.
At a Glance
- Starr joined Epstein’s defense team in 2007.
- He helped broker the 2008 plea deal that shielded Epstein from federal charges.
- Reports describe Starr’s “scorched-earth” tactics and political lobbying.
- His role drew renewed scrutiny during Trump’s impeachment defense team.
From Prosecutor to Defender
Ken Starr’s reputation was forged during the 1990s as independent counsel investigating President Bill Clinton. He became a symbol of prosecutorial zeal, pressing impeachment over the Monica Lewinsky scandal.
By 2007, Starr’s career took a sharp turn. He joined Jeffrey Epstein’s defense team as the financier faced charges of sex trafficking minors. Starr’s presence lent weight to a roster of high-profile attorneys.
He helped negotiate a plea agreement in 2008. Epstein pled guilty to minor state charges, served minimal time, and avoided federal prosecution. The deal later drew outrage when Epstein’s abuse pattern became fully known.
The Scorched-Earth Campaign
Reports describe Starr’s aggressive tactics. According to The Guardian and journalist Julie K. Brown, he launched a “scorched-earth” campaign against prosecutors. He used his ties to Bush-era officials to pressure the Justice Department.
Starr wrote a dramatic eight-page letter to Deputy Attorney General Mark Filip, a former colleague. The tone echoed his past flair for sweeping legal indictments. The move helped tilt momentum toward Epstein’s defense.
Watch now: [Julie K. Brown: The Jeffrey Epstein Story]
Alongside attorney Jay Lefkowitz, Starr also worked to discredit lead prosecutor Marie Villafaña. Reports claim they spread doubts about her handling of the case, weakening the government’s stance.
Fallout and Irony
The plea deal held for years, until Epstein’s 2019 arrest reignited scrutiny. Critics pointed to Starr’s role as emblematic of how power and influence distorted justice.
The irony was clear: a prosecutor once seen as a moral crusader had defended a sex offender. For Epstein’s victims, the deal represented betrayal, shielding their abuser from meaningful punishment.
Starr resurfaced in 2020 during Donald Trump’s impeachment trial. He joined Trump’s defense, alongside Alan Dershowitz, another Epstein attorney. The pairing sparked backlash, reviving questions about Starr’s record.
Legacy in Question
Ken Starr died in 2022, leaving a complicated legacy. His career spanned high ideals and controversial choices. His role in Epstein’s defense remains a lasting stain, tied to a plea deal many see as a miscarriage of justice.
The Epstein saga exposed how legal firepower and political clout can warp accountability. Starr’s involvement showed that even prosecutors who once preached accountability could switch sides when power and money were in play.