US Labor Secretary Acosta Announces Resignation Over Epstein Affair
Faizan Hashmi Published July 12, 2019 | 09:21 PM
US Labor Secretary Alex Acosta resigned Friday, amid a backlash over a secret plea deal he negotiated a decade ago with Jeffrey Epstein, the financier accused of sexually abusing young girls
"I called the president this morning and told him that I thought the right thing was to step aside," Acosta said in a joint appearance with President Donald Trump at the White House.
Acosta, 50, a former Federal prosecutor, has been facing mounting calls to resign over the deal that saw Epstein serve just 13 months in a county jail.
Trump said the decision to go came from Acosta, who telephoned the president Friday morning. He described Acosta as a "tremendous talent" and "great secretary of labor" who had done a "very good job." Epstein, 66, was charged on Monday by prosecutors in New York with one count of sex trafficking of minors and one count of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of minors.
Those charges carry a maximum of 45 years in prison.
According to prosecutors, Epstein sexually exploited dozens of underage teen girls at his homes in Manhattan and Palm Beach, Florida, between 2002 and 2005. Some were as young as 14.
Acosta fielded a barrage of questions Wednesday from reporters about his office's handling of the Epstein case when he was a federal prosecutor in Florida.
The deal reached with Epstein required him to admit a single state charge of soliciting prostitution from a minor and register as a sex offender.
Acosta said prosecutors agreed to the deal rather than take Epstein to trial on more serious charges because that would have been a "roll of the dice"
Recent Stories
Rock-solid Ruud racks up season-leading win in Barcelona
At UN, Iran says it will make Israel 'regret' reprisals
G7 hears calls for 'critical' Ukraine aid
EU seeks to leverage might to confront China, US challenge
5 Customs officials martyred as their vehicle ambushed by terrorists in D I Khan
Pak-New Zealand match called off due to rain
NHA restores traffic on roads affected by recent rains in Balochistan
China to fully support Pakistan's efforts against terrorism: Ambassador Jiang
U.S. envoy calls on Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar
Poland arrests man over suspected plan to kill Zelensky
EU wants to ease youth movement to and from UK
Police foils attempt of supply mainpuri raw material
More Stories From World
-
At G7, Blinken seeks European support for pressure on China
3 hours ago -
Thousands of Bosnian Serbs rally against UN resolution on Srebrenica
3 hours ago -
Israel assault has turned Gaza into 'humanitarian hellscape': UN
3 hours ago -
Husband of ex-Scottish leader charged over alleged embezzlement: police
4 hours ago -
Ecuador hit by power cuts of up to 13 hours amid drought
4 hours ago -
Hugs or bullets? How Mexico presidential rivals aim to curb violence
4 hours ago
-
Kenya military chopper crash kills defence chief, senior officers
5 hours ago -
Biden hails 'incredible' Kennedy family backing against RFK Jr.
5 hours ago -
Maldives court frees jailed ex-president ahead of vote
5 hours ago -
Probe into Portugal ex-PM Costa appears to collapse
5 hours ago -
Jury selection stalls in Trump criminal trial
5 hours ago -
At UN, Iran says it will make Israel 'regret' reprisals
5 hours ago