It was public knowledge for years before, the Miami Herald doggedly pursued him for years, and is the ONLY reason he faced any consequences, as they championed some of his victims that wanted justice, until the state prosecutors couldn't ignore it any longer, at which point Epstein used his corrupt influence to get the feds to convince the state to transfer to them, and then give him a sweetheart deal letting him off the hook, without following their own rules about consulting victims either. Acosta was the prosecutor, and he was HHS secretary in the president's first term too, had to resign because of that plea deal.