Former U.S. Solicitor General, federal judge, and independent counsel in the Clinton-Lewinsky investigation who served as a key member of Jeffrey Epstein's high-powered defense team during the 2007-2008 plea deal negotiations. Starr was hired alongside Alan Dershowitz, Gerald Lefcourt, Jack Goldberger, Jay Lefkowitz, and Martin Weinberg - collectively described as one of the most formidable defense teams ever assembled for a criminal case.
Starr's primary role was leveraging his political connections and legal prestige to apply pressure on the U.S. Attorney's office. He personally lobbied officials in Washington to intervene in the Florida prosecution, writing letters to the DOJ arguing that the case should be handled as a state matter rather than a federal one.
His efforts contributed to the controversial Non-Prosecution Agreement (NPA) that allowed Epstein to plead guilty to two state prostitution charges, serve 13 months with work-release privileges, and receive blanket immunity for unnamed co-conspirators - despite the FBI having identified at least 36 victims. EFTA documents (EFTA00013989, EFTA02163796, EFTA02163863) contain direct correspondence involving Starr and the Epstein defense strategy. Starr later served as President and Chancellor of Baylor University (2010-2016) but was removed after a sexual assault scandal involving the school's football program.
He died on September 13, 2022 at age 76, following complications from surgery.