Julie K. Brown

INTELLIGENCE SUMMARY

Julie K. Brown is an investigative journalist at the Miami Herald who is widely credited with re-opening and exposing the Jeffrey Epstein sex trafficking case. She is not a victim, perpetrator, or subject of any legal proceedings in connection with Epstein. Her role in this case is that of a key journalistic figure whose work drove accountability for others. Brown began investigating Epstein in early 2017 and published her landmark investigative series titled "Perversion of Justice" in November 2018. The series documented Epstein's abuse of dozens of underage girls, identified approximately 80 potential victims, and exposed the deeply flawed 2008 non-prosecution agreement negotiated by then-U.S. Attorney Alexander Acosta. Her reporting directly contributed to Epstein's federal arrest in July 2019 and led to Acosta's resignation from his position as Secretary of Labor. Brown has continued her investigative work well beyond Epstein's 2019 death in federal custody. In 2024 and into 2026, she has responded publicly to newly unsealed court documents, commenting on the connections between Epstein and powerful figures across politics and business. She has been critical of government opacity, stating that "our government is still hiding a lot about this." In February 2026, she reported on how Epstein aggressively attempted to influence the very prosecutors assigned to his case. An unusual note emerged from newly released Epstein files: Brown's personal American Airlines flight details from July 2019 (the date of Epstein's arrest) were found in the documents, attached to a grand jury subpoena. The full reason for inclusion of her travel records has not been officially confirmed, though some observers suggest she may have booked a flight on behalf of a victim she was working with. Brown has also authored the book "Perversion of Justice: The Jeffrey Epstein Story" and has received multiple George Polk Awards for Justice Reporting for her Epstein investigation. She remains one of the most prominent and knowledgeable journalists covering the ongoing case as of 2026.