DeSantis Signs Executive Order 19-183: FDLE Takes Over Sheriff's Epstein Work-Release Investigation, Special Prosecutor Assigned

On August 6, 2019, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed Executive Order 19-183 and asked the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) to take over the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Epstein investigation. The order recites that the sheriff “has requested of me that the Florida Department of Law Enforcement now assume that investigation,” following a letter from Sheriff Ric Bradshaw. The investigation concerned how the sheriff’s office handled the work-release program under which Jeffrey Epstein served his 2008 state sentence.

The order also reassigned the prosecutorial side. It assigns Nineteenth Circuit State Attorney Bruce Colton to discharge the duties of Fifteenth Circuit State Attorney David Aronberg as they relate to “the investigation, prosecution, and all matters related to allegations related to Jeffrey Epstein and his assigned work release program.” The assignment ran through August 6, 2020.

The order’s recitals state that FDLE “may initiate a preliminary inquiry beyond the work release of Jeffrey Epstein,” so the probe’s authorized reach was wider than the work-release program alone.