Acosta under fire over Epstein deal
What happened
Democrats are calling on Labor Secretary Alexander Acosta to resign over a 2008 plea deal he struck as federal prosecutor with billionaire financier Jeffrey Epstein, who was arrested on new sex-trafficking charges in New York last week. As U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Acosta oversaw a deal that let Epstein avoid federal charges for allegedly sexually abusing dozens of young women and girls. Instead, Epstein pled guilty to two state prostitution charges and served 13 months in jail; he was allowed to work from home six days a week. The New York indictment says Epstein “exploited and abused dozens of minor girls,” as young as 14, at his Manhattan and Palm Beach, Fla., homes from 2002 to 2005. Acosta called Epstein’s actions “despicable” and said his deal had ensured Epstein did time. He said the evidence prosecutors now have—including a trove of lewd photos of girls found in a safe in Epstein’s Manhattan mansion—could “more fully bring him to justice.” Epstein has pleaded not guilty.
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi called Acosta’s agreement with Epstein “unconscionable.” Former President Bill Clinton said he knew nothing of Epstein’s “terrible crimes” despite flying on the billionaire’s private jet at least 26 times from 2001 to 2003. Clinton is among a cadre of celebrities, politicians, and bigwigs Epstein counted among his friends. In 2002, President Trump called Epstein “a terrific guy” who “likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side.” Trump said this week that he hadn’t spoken to Epstein in 15 years, and was “not a fan of his.”