Acosta, of Cuban ancestry, has been happily married to wife Jan Elizabeth Acosta, for years. He was believed to have recruited minor girls for lewd massages and other paid sexual activities at his Florida mansion. RELATED: The Complete Order Of Presidential Succession In The Event That Donald Trump Actually Gets Impeached. Villafaa wrote Epstein lawyer Jay Lefkowitz to discuss the wording of the sentencing agreement for the judge: I will include all our standard language regarding resolving all criminal liability and I will mention co-conspirators, but I would prefer not to highlight for the judge all of the other crimes and all the other persons we could charge, Villafaa wrote. Following law school, Acosta served as a law clerk to Samuel Alito, then a judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, from 1994 to 1995. I wanted to help them. He was the first Hispanic to serve as Assistant Attorney General. She talks about the challenges faced, she talks about the victims being scared and traumatized, refusing to testify, and how some victims actually exonerated Epstein. Jeffrey Epstein is a sex offender and the girl accused of trafficking is just 14 years old. jan elizabeth acosta epstein. Another coincidence he shares with Alex Acosta. A. Marie Villafaa, the lead prosecutor in the case and one of the few women in Mr. Acostas leadership team, pushed him to bring charges even if it risked losing in court. There has been some reference to another incident with a minor girl. Pressed on whether he had any regrets, Acosta repeatedly suggested that circumstances had changed since then. At the time, investigators working for Acosta had identified thirty-six victims of Epstein, according to the Miami Heralds Julie K. Brown, whose dogged investigative reporting effectively reopened the case. Sexual assault involving CHILDREN is NOT a Democratic or Republican issue, Brown commented on Twitter, after Acostas press conference on Wednesday. She received the 2011 National Crime Victims Rights Service Award as well as the Attorney Generals Project Safe Childhood Award. Acosta has not responded to the Heralds repeated requests for comment. "Epstein's death shouldn't mean all the wrongdoing in this case is swept under the rug," Wild told ABC News earlier this year. On February 21, 2019, a ruling in federal court returned Acosta's role in the Epstein case to the headlines. Acosta approved Epsteins plea of 13 months in jail, despite an indictment that could have landed him in prison for life, while serving as a U.S. Attorney, leading to calls for investigation and Acostas resignation. The Judicial System Finally Catches Up to Jeffrey Epstein. Lemondsra knyszerlt, helyre Eugene Scalia rkezett. Its coming from Cuba, weather forecasters say, Biden closes in on order to restrict US investment in China tech, Biden expected to tighten rules on US investment in China, Texas congressman who broke with GOP is censured, Californians await key decisions from reparations task force, Trump backs flying cars, calls for new cities in campaign video, Trump supporters spared more jail time in weapons case. 2018 In late 2018, as rumors circulated that Acosta was being considered as a possible successor to Attorney General Jeff Sessions, the Miami Herald published an investigation detailing Acosta's role in the Epstein case. It is impossible to know how members of a jury might have responded to the evidence if it had been presented to them in a federal trial or whether efforts by Mr. Epsteins team to pressure the victims or intimidate prosecutors would have worked. It was then that the judge heard from the victims mother. The Washington native is also a son of Cuban refugees. They go to the heart of the American class system and the manner in which people of great wealth and high social standing are often able to buy their own brand of justice, regardless of how flagrant or hideous their crimes may be. We did what we did because we wanted to see Epstein go to jail, he said, refusing to apologize for his actions. EVERYONE should be asking hard questions about this decisions made in this case Not just why the deal was madebut because these decisions were made in secret, without telling the victims; by misleading the victims AND likely led to more victims being harmed. Trump announced the news on Friday with Acosta by his side at the White House. Jeffrey Epstein died while in jail, his death being officially ruled as a suicide by the New York City medical examiner. Another attorney for Epstein victims, Paul Cassell, said Associate Deputy Attorney General Stacie Harris told those at the briefing that Acosta's incoming emails between May 2007 and May 2008 . Where is Alex Acosta now? Epstein was a wealthy hedge fund manager with influential connections, including Prince Andrew, Tom Barrack, Leon Black, Bill Clinton, Alan Dershowitz, Wilbur Ross, and Donald Trump, among others. New Details About His Rumored Political Aspirations, Who Is Don McGahn's Wife? The two have a primary residence in Miami, Florida. Jan Elizabeth Acosta is the lovely wife of attorney and politician, Alexander Acosta -who most recently served as Secretary of Labor. Acosta, who would later be named the secretary of the Department of Labor in the Trump administration, and almost everyone else involved has left government. She advocated for a sentence of five to six years, which was at the low end of the guideline. But nine months later, in September 2007, Villafaa was in the throes of thorny negotiations with Epsteins lawyers. Acosta served in four presidentially appointed, U.S. Senate-confirmed positions in the George W. Bush administration. Epstein, 66, was arrested on Saturday on charges of child sex trafficking stemming from alleged incidents that happened from 2002 to 2005. We also researched and discussed significant legal impediments to prosecuting [in federal court] what was, at heart, a local sex abuse case. Given the obstacles we faced in fashioning a robust federal prosecution, we decided to negotiate a resolution. Jan Elizabeth Acosta is the wife of former Labor Minister Alexander Acosta. And above her, there were superiors, including Alex Acosta, that fought against her and fought on behalf of Jeffrey Epstein to keep victims in the dark and to ensure that the non prosecution agreement was put in place., Edwards, who now represents more than 50 alleged victims of Epstein, derided the report for backing into the conclusions they wanted., They decided before it started, how are we going to reach the conclusion that there was no wrongdoing or that the victims rights werent violated, Edwards told ABC News following the briefing on Thursday. On June 15, 2017, President Trump signed Executive Order 13801, "Presidential Executive Order Expanding Apprenticeships in America," establishing the Task Force on Apprenticeship Expansion with Acosta serving as the chair. Brendan Smialowski / AFP - Getty Images. Acosta received a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics from Harvard College in 1990 and received a Juris Doctor degree cum laude from Harvard Law School 1994. Nonetheless, federal prosecutors had legal firepower and resources not available to a local prosecutor. Nine months before cutting a covert plea deal with sex trafficking suspect Jeffrey Epstein, Miami U.S. Attorney Alexander Acosta was notified that the lead prosecutor in Epsteins case had concealed information in another underage sex crimes case, the Miami Herald has learned. Al Stuart is currently serving as the acting secretary of Labor until Walsh is confirmed by the Senate. What the victims continue to go through is horrific. Announcing Acostas resignation, he said: Yes, I did have a falling out a long time ago. Associated Press contributed to this report, The latest major Trump resignations and firings, Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning, Acosta resignation: 'I hate to see this happen,' says Trump video, Trump labor secretary Alex Acosta resigns amid Epstein plea deal scandal live, awaiting trial on charges of sex trafficking underage girls. Pam Baker Cocker: Singer Joe Cockers Wife, Melinda Trucks Allman Brothers Butch Trucks Wife, Armstead Edwards: Patti LaBelles Ex- Husband, Jen Psaki and Gregory Mecher, 2021 facts you need to know, 5 Facts about Charles Paynes Wife Yvonne Payne, Vivienne Westwood Husband Andreas Kronthaler, Francesca Hetfield Metallicas James Hetfields Wife. His office began directly negotiating a plea agreement with Mr. Epsteins lawyers in August 2007, according to The Miami Herald. They argued that since McDaniel had never before been charged with a crime, the history was not relevant at sentencing. Rene Alexander Acosta is a Florida native who was born to Cuban refugee parents. Also learn how He earned most of networth at the age of 51 years old? Jan Elizabeth Acosta is the wife of former Labor Minister Alexander Acosta. But Mr. Acostas decision to accept a plea deal was widely but not universally supported by his own team at the time. He is the only child of Rene and Delia Acosta. Nor was Acosta responsible for the inexplicable 2011 effort by the office of Cyrus Vance, Jr., the Manhattan attorney, to reduce Epsteins sex-offender status to the lowest possible classification, which an incredulous New York State Supreme Court Justice dismissed, saying that she had never seen anything like it before. She alleges that Epstein sexually abused her multiple times over the next two years. Please consult your doctor before taking any action. After its release on May 27, the documentary has raised many questions about Jeffrey Epstein and all the people involved in his conviction. Acosta assigned another prosecutor in his office to write a treatise for the judge in an unsuccessful attempt to persuade him to soften the stinging language in his order. At one point, they discussed charging Epstein in Miami, instead of Palm Beach County, where the crimes happened, noting there would be less media coverage. The report was launched in early 2019, on the heels of renewed public outrage over the Epstein deal that was sparked by an in-depth series by the Miami Herald. The Herald article contended that certain aspects of Acosta's non-prosecution agreement violated federal law. At sentencing, McDaniels public defender, Patrick Hunt, argued for a reduced sentence, blaming his clients immaturity for the crime. Scalia then held the role from September 2019 until January 20, 2021. Local law enforcement officials and the F.B.I. Giuffre claims that among them was the son of Queen Elizabeth II, too. The only surprise about the resignation of Labor Secretary Alex Acosta is that it took so longfour days after the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York arrested the financier Jeffrey Epstein on federal charges of sex trafficking. Alex Acosta has stayed away from the media and public eye since his resignation. She never came out and said this, but I suspected that someone above her directed her to do what she did, Edwards said. Federal prosecutors do not take a back seat to state prosecutors. Hes a Hispanic man. He added that he was hopeful that Acosta would abide by a promise to keep the deal confidential. Jan Elizabeth Acosta and her family are residents of Miami. One of the key witnesses moved to Australia and refused to return calls from us. Acosta chose to haggle with Epstein's attorneys, striking a decidedly low-ball compromise: the billionaire would spend three months in a private wing of a county jail, from which he could walk away six days a week in . prince remigius of jaffna net worth jan elizabeth acosta epstein. The prosecutor, A. Marie Villafaa, was harshly rebuked by a federal judge in January 2007 for what he called her intentional and/or serious lapse in judgment when she failed to explicitly inform him that the defendant, a Texas man who traveled to Florida to have sex with a 14-year-old girl, had a prior history of predatory behavior with minors, court records show. began investigating Mr. Epstein in 2006 to Sept. 24, 2007, Mr. Acostas office never conferred with the victims or informed them that such an agreement was under consideration, a 2019 federal court ruling shows. What jumped off the page to everybody today is that there was a line prosecutor who drafted the indictment and tried to fight for the victims all along, Edwards said. Jan Elizabeth Acosta. On June 27, 2008, Mr. Edwards was informed that Mr. Epstein would plead guilty in court, but was not told that the state plea would be the resolution to the federal case. He received his law degree from Harvard Law School in 1994. In a statement, the mother decried the emotional and mental trauma her daughter suffered and the long road to recovery she had ahead of her. By Samantha Maffucci Written on Dec 14, 2018. While the Government spent untold hours negotiating the terms and implications of the [agreement] with Epsteins attorneys, scant information was shared with victims., This comes as Acosta, who is now the U.S. secretary of labor, is facing mounting scrutiny for his oversight of the Epstein case. Villafaa disagreed, but conceded that McDaniel would benefit from psychological treatment. Why Was The Legendary German Cyclist In A Psychiatric Hospital? Alex Acosta, then-U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, exercised "poor judgment" when he resolved a federal investigation into Jeffrey Epstein through a state-based plea agreement in 2008, the Justice Department's Office of Professional Responsibility has concluded in a new report. Donald Trumps labor secretary, Alexander Acosta, has resigned following criticism of his handling of a 2008 plea deal with the disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, who is awaiting trial on charges of sex trafficking underage girls. Acosta is the only Hispanic person to have served in President Trump's Cabinet. cutting a covert plea deal with sex trafficking suspect Jeffrey Epstein, mounting scrutiny for his oversight of the Epstein case, AG nominee Barr pledges to look into handling of Epstein case, Our best days are ahead. The indictment charges that Epstein enticed and recruited, and caused to be enticed and recruited, minor girls to engage in sex acts with him, after which he would give the victims hundreds of dollars in cash. The moment the Southern District unveiled its indictment, which alleged that between 2002 through 2005, Epstein sexually exploited and abused dozens of underage girls by enticing them to engage in sex acts with him in exchange for money, it was clear that Acostas position as a Cabinet secretary was untenable. Everyone needs to be held accountable for the role they played in this. He resigned after reaching an interesting deal with wealthy financier Jeffrey Epstein and resigned on July 12, 2019. 02:31. Even if there had been a finding of misconduct there would be no authority to punish. January 10, 2022. Federal investigators ultimately identified more than 30 alleged underage victims and prepared a 53-page indictment of Epstein that could have sent him to prison for decades if convicted. Villafaa, a well-regarded 18-year veteran federal prosecutor, would not comment for this story. Text Size:general jonathan krantz hoi4 remove general traits. It is less clear what they discussed. To be sure, that was reprehensible behavior on the part of Epstein's lawyers, but the fact is that Acosta was a U.S. Attorney, an agent of the highest power in the land, and many of Epstein's . Where do Alex Acosta and Jan Elizabeth Acosta live? The mother mentioned she was further upset that McDaniel continued contact with her daughter after his arrest and she said she believed that McDaniel was still trying to manipulate her daughter by blaming her for his arrest. How is he connected in the Jeffery Epstein case. We believe that we proceeded appropriately.. Some hired lawyers to avoid appearing before a grand jury. Specifically, who is Alex Acostas wife? News. A spokesman at the Labor Department told The Washington Post last month: The offices decisions were approved by departmental leadership and followed departmental procedures.. In a statement released on Thursday, the Justice Department said that when Acosta let Epstein enter the non-prosecution agreement in 2008 that spared him from federal sex trafficking charges, he "failed to make certain that the state of Florida intended to and would notify victims identified through the federal investigation about the state plea hearing." jan elizabeth acosta epsteinmiss kitty black ink crew net worth jan elizabeth acosta epstein. Even after the agreement was reached with Mr. Epstein, the prosecutors kept the details from victims. On Wednesday, Axioss Jonathan Swan reported, on Twitter, A source close to President Trump tells me there is zero chance he fires Labor Secretary Alex Acosta over his handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case. And lets figure out a way to maneuver around the actual facts and reach those conclusions.. In February 2019, the Justice Department's Office of Professional Responsibility notified Senator Ben Sasse that it had opened an investigation into Epstein's prosecution. He'd cut the non-prosecution deal with one of Epstein's attorneys because he had "been told" to back off, that Epstein was above his pay grade. Senior U.S. District Court Judge William J. Zloch copied Acosta on his order, noting, The court is at a total loss as to why the Office of the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, as well as the Assistant United States Attorney assigned to the above-styled cause, found it appropriate to intentionally withhold information from the court.. Alexander Acosta's net worth Both his parents are of Latino origin, having been born in Cuba and later becoming Cuban refugees after arriving to the US. Epstein, a well-connected financier, was known for socializing with politicians and royalty, with friends who have included Trump, Bill Clinton and, according to court papers, Prince Andrew. Wild has alleged that she was recruited as a 14-year-old by a peer to Epstein's Palm Beach home under the expectation that she would be giving an older man a massage. He resigned after reaching an interesting deal with wealthy financier Jeffrey Epstein and resigned on July 12, 2019. Acosta resigned as Labor secretary in July 2019 following criticism of his handling of the Epstein case. For more than 12 years, Wild has been pressing her case against the government trying to get Epstein's deal, which also conferred immunity in Florida to Epstein's alleged co-conspirators, torn up. When they heard that from prosecutors, sure, they were intimidated, Mr. Horowitz said. The issues raised by the Epstein saga and the plea bargain that Acosta agreed to are systemic, rather than partisan. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? Acosta had attempted to clear his name and, encouraged by Trump, held a news conference on Wednesday to defend his actions. Acosta, who would later be named the secretary of the Department of Labor in the Trump administration, and almost everyone else involved has left government. And she talks about how over the weekend, she made every effort to notify the victims at that time.. Rene Alexander Acosta (born January 16, 1969) is an American attorney and politician who served as the 27th United States Secretary of Labor from 2017 to 2019. That said, the housewife and mother, Jan Elizabeth Acosta has been pictured many times next to her husband at important events. Acosta is the first, and as of May2019 the only Hispanic person to serve in Trump's cabinet. Among their frustrations were Acostas decisions to proceed with several employment discrimination lawsuits and to allow certain Obama holdovers to remain on the job. Consequently, Alex Acosta came out to the media and revealed the names of other high profile people also involved. On July 6, 2019, Epstein was arrested by the FBI-NYPD Crimes Against Children Task Force on sex trafficking charges stemming from activities alleged to have occurred in 20022005. We will update Alexander Acosta's Height, weight, Body Measurements, Eye Color, Hair Color, Shoe & Dress size soon as possible. He has served in three presidentially appointed positions. The case was then dismissed, but one of the alleged victims, Courtney Wild, has appealed that ruling to the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals. We recommend you to check the complete list of Famous People born on 16 January. The TV critic in chief will be watching closely to see how well Acosta defends himself. Acosta took on the role of labor secretary officially in early 2017, leading a sprawling agency that enforces more than 180 federal laws covering about 10 million employers and 125 million workers. As we continued, however, it became clear that most of Epstein's victims were terrified to cooperate against him. Even if there had been a finding of misconduct there would be no authority to punish. Zero, they repeated. However, Politico reported that Mick Mulvaney, Trumps chief of staff, was quietly urging Trump to dismiss Acosta, and it seemed inconceivable that the Administration would keep the Labor Secretary in place as the case in the Southern District proceeded and more of Epsteins victims emerged, creating more questions about the 2008 plea deal. Acosta was then criticized for negotiating a light sentence for Epstein in 2008, when he pleaded guilty to prostitution charges. Labor Secretary Alex Acosta defended his role on Wednesday in cutting a deal for sex offender Jeffrey Epstein more than a decade ago that critics have . Pin. It seems to show that they are not taking these cases very seriously, they are not advocating for strong punishment for sexual predators, and not advocating for victims in a meaningful way.. Lack of candor to the court is a serious charge, and the judge has quite reasonably expressed dismay that the assistant U.S. attorney apparently intended that he never be given a full picture of the defendants conduct, Hakes said. In addition to his achievements, hes also been named one of the nations 50 most influential Hispanics by Hispanic Business magazine, and was also added to the list of 100 most influential individuals in business ethics in 2008, according to his White House biography. The prosecutors were saying, These defense lawyers are going to go through your whole personal life, dig up your bad acts and your sex life. Indeed, Epsteins story is a searing indictment of the entire criminal-justice system, and the special treatment it grants to people of great wealth who can afford to hire high-priced legal mercenaries like Roy Black, Alan Dershowitz, Jay Lefkowitz, and Kenneth Starrthe latter two being attached to the Washington office of Kirkland & Ellis, the worlds largest law firm. None of the civil lawsuits related to these additional claims have gone to trial. He resigned as Trump took the opportunity to distance himself again from Epstein, saying that he banned him from his Mar-a-Lago resort and adding, I havent spoken to him in probably fifteen years or more. With Acostas departure, Trumps political allies, including some of the online incendiaries who were invited to the White House for Thursdays social-media summit, will surely seek to shift the focus to Epsteins ties to prominent Democrats, including the former President Bill Clinton. Another alleged victim who attended the briefing, Dainya Nida, said shes losing hope of ever getting answers to the questions that have troubled her for years. While the two cases are unrelated, it shows that both Acosta and Villafaa had been warned about the importance of victim disclosure in sex crimes cases before the Epstein agreement. This story was originally published March 14, 2019, 12:18 PM. But only a year later in 2019, Alex Acosta stepped away from his position due to heavy scrutiny for his role in the Epstein case. pic.twitter.com/Q9bxwmzKQM. The Office of Professional Responsibility cleared Acosta of misconduct in opting to resolve the case in the way that he did. His previous Senate-confirmed positions include: National Labor Relations Board member, assistant attorney general and U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida. ALSO READ |Where Is Jan Ullrich Now? Later that year, Acosta and Villafaa put together a plea bargain for Epstein, a multimillionaire money manager accused of sexually abusing dozens of teenage girls at his mansion in Palm Beach. He said his resignation would be effective in seven days. They nevertheless forged ahead with a pact with Epstein that violated the law. As @maggieNYT first reported, and Ive confirmed separately, Acosta is doing the press conference today at President Trumps urging. Elizabeth HolmesRamesh Balwani were charged . And rather than having him sit in a cell most of the day, the Palm Beach County Sheriffs Office allowed Epstein work release privileges, which enabled him to leave the jail six days a week, for 12 hours a day, to go to a comfortable office that Epstein had set up in West Palm Beach. That is whenhe got involved in several high profile cases on of them being the Epstein case. But you still havent offered an apology to them. Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand. Alex Acosta has been out of the medias radar since then. During his sentence, he was permitted to participate in a work-release program that allowed him to go to his office six days a week for 12 hours a day. jan elizabeth acosta epstein. Still, Hunt argued that a sentence of five years was overly harsh. Thats not how the system works in the real world. Krischer added, If Mr. Acosta was truly concerned with the States case and felt he had to rescue the matter, he would have moved forward with the fifty-three-page indictment that his own office drafted., On Friday morning, Acosta appeared alongside Trump at the White House to make the announcement that he was stepping down. Alexander Acosta attended Gulliver Preparatory School in Miami and skipped his senior year to attend Harvard University, from which he graduated in 1990. During Acosta's confirmation hearing, he discussed the need and his support of apprenticeship as a workforce development tool to close the skills gap. Acosta is stepping down following criticism of his handling of a 2008 plea deal with Jeffrey Epstein, who is awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. Jovita Carranza was nominated to Trump's cabinet on April 4, 2019, but not yet confirmed, to serve as the Administrator of the Small Business Administration. When Financier Jeffrey Epstein was arrested once again in July 2019 on similar charges of sex trafficking,Alex Acosta had posted a tweet that stated that the crimes committed by Epstein were horrific. However, Alex Acosta hasnt come forward after his resignation for any statements. Federal laws, they said, would have required the United States attorneys office to prove that Mr. Epstein, a financier, crossed state lines with the intent to commit the acts. Jan Elizabeth Acosta was born Jan Elizabeth Williams; the political spouse who is currently in her 40s, leads a low profile, not much is known about her as it is clear she rather let her husband in the spotlight. For more than a decade, the U.S. Attorney's office denied that it acted in violation of victims' rights laws and argued that the CVRA did not apply in the Epstein case. He resigned after reaching an interesting deal with wealthy financier Jeffrey Epstein and resigned on July 12, 2019. Ad Choices. As the U.S. Attorney for Southern Florida a decade ago, it was Acosta who approved the now-notorious deal that allowed Epstein to escape federal prosecution and plead guilty to two state charges of soliciting. And in their heart in our heart, we were trying to do the right thing for these victims., Simply put, the Palm Beach state attorneys office was ready to let Epstein walk free, no jail time, nothing.. While in Washington, Acosta taught classes on employment law, disability-based discrimination law, and civil rights law at the George Mason University School of Law. By signing up, you agree to our User Agreement and Privacy Policy & Cookie Statement. He was also having another relationship with a 15-year-old girl at the time of his arrest, Villafaa admitted in court. From the time the F.B.I. AUSA Villafaa has spent her 18-year career advocating tirelessly on behalf of victims of some of the most serious crimes in Florida, and has received numerous awards for her successful prosecution of major cases, Biran said, adding that Villafaa has made South Florida a safer place for children and adults alike.. Jan Elizabeth Acosta is the wife of former Labor Minister Alexander Acosta. RELATED: Is Michael Douglas Running For President? As of now, staff think Trump wont fire him. Francey Hakes, who worked in the Justice Departments Crimes Against Children unit, said Zlochs comments were so brutal that it should have deterred Acosta and Villafaa from keeping the Epstein deal secret. The actor presents a prescient poem from his upcoming book, Dumpty: The Age of Trump in Verse., The Devastating New History of the January 6th Insurrection. AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka publicly endorsed Walsh for the position of Labor Secretary and praised the selection, underscoring Walshs background in organized labor. A judge isn't letting Alexander Acosta get away with Jeffrey Epstein's sweetheart deal. Alex Acosta also served under the Bush administration's Senate-confirmed positions. in January 2008 informing them . There are signs that voters are inclined to give President Trump credit for the recent good economic news. Newly sworn-in Commissioner Sabina Covo said, We know that our residents want to love where they live and to achieve this we must move to protect and enhance the quality of life of our community.. Acosta becomes the latest in a long line of high-profile officials to resign their post. You can disagree with the result we reached, but our whole team from Alex [Acosta] on down the chain of command always acted with integrity and in good faith.".