House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has become the highest-profile lawmaker to demand President Trump’s labor secretary to step down over his handling of an earlier case against billionaire financier and registered sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Alexander Acosta served as U.S. attorney in Florida in 2008, striking a lenient plea deal with Epstein, who was charged with sex crimes.
Epstein, 66, was charged with sex trafficking and conspiracy on Monday. Prosecutors allege he “sexually exploited and abused dozens of minor girls at his homes in Manhattan, New York and Palm Beach, Florida, among other locations” between 2002 and 2005 and possibly later. Epstein denies the charges.
Pelosi said late Monday that Acosta “must resign” over the “unconscionable agreement” with Epstein that prevented his young victims from seeking justice.
.@SecretaryAcosta must step down. As US Attorney, he engaged in an unconscionable agreement w/ Jeffrey Epstein kept secret from courageous, young victims preventing them from seeking justice. This was known by @POTUS when he appointed him to the cabinet. #AcostaResign
— Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) July 9, 2019
Several other lawmakers have called for Acosta’s resignation, including Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia and Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida.
“Acosta must go,” Kaine said in a tweet Monday. “He handed a sweetheart deal to a serial sexual predator. Survivors of Epstein’s abuse have been denied their day in court for too long. I’m thankful other prosecutors stepped in to finally deliver justice.”
Acosta must go. He handed a sweetheart deal to a serial sexual predator. Survivors of Epstein’s abuse have been denied their day in court for too long. I’m thankful other prosecutors stepped in to finally deliver justice.
— Tim Kaine (@timkaine) July 8, 2019
“Someone with such poor judgement & utter disregard for survivors should not be our Secretary of Labor,” Wasserman Schultz wrote in a tweet.
The new sex trafficking charges announced today make it agonizingly clear that Acosta failed to deliver true justice for the underage girls Jeffrey Epstein mercilessly exploited. Someone with such poor judgement & utter disregard for survivors should not be our Secretary of Labor
— Rep. Wasserman Schultz (@RepDWStweets) July 8, 2019
Sen. Ted Cruz agreed with a tweet from CNN anchor Jake Tapper, who wrote that he hopes the Epstein case brings down others involved.
“Epstein’s conduct was despicable, and everyone who participated should be vigorously prosecuted,” the Texas Republican wrote.
Fully agree. Epstein’s conduct was despicable, and everyone who participated should be vigorously prosecuted. https://t.co/84X4bNytvr
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) July 8, 2019
