Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer Thursday called for Labor Secretary Alex Acosta to resign, joining House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
The two top leaders say Acosta should step down from his post over his role in the 2008 agreement that allowed accused sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein to escape prosecution. At the time, Acosta served as a U.S. attorney in Florida.
“It is now impossible for anyone to have confidence in Secretary Acosta’s ability to lead the department,” Schumer, a New York Democrat, said Tuesday on the Senate floor. “If he refuses to resign, President Trump should fire him.”
Schumer also called on the Justice Department to release publicly a review of Acosta’s handling of the 2008 case against Epstein.
“This review cannot be kept in the dark,” Schumer said. “Particularly given the new revelations and there should be hearings.”
Schumer said Trump “needs to answer” for his statements regarding his relationship with Epstein, who has been a guest at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago golf club.
Trump once called Epstein “a terrific guy” who liked to date younger women.
Trump subsequently banned Epstein from the club for allegedly assaulting an underage girl, according to court documents. And Trump also helped prosecutors in their case against Epstein.
Republicans have not yet called for Acosta to resign but they are unhappy with the revelations that Acosta reached the deal with Epstein and did not inform the victims, which violates federal law.
“I just don’t understand why victims were not notified,” said Maine Republican Sen. Susan Collins. “And that’s a concern.”
[Related: Kellyanne Conway defends Alexander Acosta from attacks over 2007 Epstein plea deal]
