WASHINGTON – Labor Secretary Alex

Acosta resigned amid the fallout over a plea deal he

made with wealthy financier Jeffrey Epstein, a sex
offender charged with human trafficking girls as
young as 14.

President Donald Trump announced Acosta's

resignation Friday morning with Acosta at his side.
Trump said the secretary called him Friday morning
to say that the decision to resign was his.

“I thought the right thing was to step aside," Acosta

said.

Acosta added, "I do not think it is right and fair for

this administration's labor department to have
Epstein as the focus rather than the incredible
economy that we have today."

In a tweet, Trump said Acosta "felt the constant

drumbeat of press" about the Epstein case and
decided it "was bad for the Administration."

Trump, who had defended Acosta after Epstein's

arrest last week, praised him as a “great labor
secretary, not a good one," and added, Acosta did a
“very good job.”

The White House said Acosta's deputy, Pattrick

Pizzella, would become the acting labor secretary.
Donald J. Trump
✔@realDonaldTrump

Alex Acosta informed me this morning that he felt the

constant drumbeat of press about a prosecution which
took place under his watch more than 12 years ago
was bad for the Administration, which he so strongly
believes in, and he graciously tendered his
resignation....

13.2K
7:55 AM - Jul 12, 2019
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Acosta, formerly a federal prosecutor, had defended

his handling of the 2007 case and said he was
"pleased" prosecutors were moving forward against
Epstein, who was arrested on July 6 on charges of
sex-trafficking. Epstein pleaded not guilty in a
Manhattan federal court on July 8. The
indictment alleges he "sexually exploited and
abused dozens of minor girls at his homes" in New
York City and Palm Beach, Florida.

'We proceeded appropriately': Acosta defends role

in controversial Jeffrey Epstein plea deal
 Acosta gave a press conference on July 10 where
he said Epstein would not have gone to jail without
the plea deal.

"The goal here was straightforward — put Epstein

behind bars," Acosta said at a news conference.

"We believe we proceeded appropriately," he said.

Epstein case: Billionaire Jeffrey Epstein pleads not

guilty to sex-trafficking claims that 'shock the
conscience'

The recent charges against Epstein drew

attention to Acosta's role in the 12-year-old plea deal
and prompted calls for his resignation.

A Miami Herald investigation in November

2018 revealed Acosta, as U.S. Attorney for the
Southern District of Florida, had been directly
involved in negotiating the 2007 deal with Epstein's
lawyers. The wealthy and influential hedge fund
manager agreed to plead guilty to two state felony
prostitution charges, pay restitution to his victims,
register as a sex offender and serve 13 months in
county jail.

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In February 2019, a federal judge ruled Acosta had
broken the law in negotiating the plea deal by failing
to notify Epstein's underage victims of the plea deal.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was among the chorus

calling for Acosta to resign.

Who is Jeffrey Epstein?:The wealthy financier is

charged with sex trafficking girls as young as 14?

In a tweet on July 8, Pelosi said Acosta "must step

down" because "he engaged in an unconscionable
agreement" with Epstein, which was "kept secret
from courageous, young victims preventing them
from seeking justice. This was known by @POTUS
when he appointed him to the cabinet.
#AcostaResign."

The next day, Senate Minority Leader Chuck

Schumer, D-N.Y., said he was "calling on Secretary
Acosta to resign" during a speech from Senate floor.
 President Donald Trump defended Acosta, saying
he feels "very badly" for him while calling him an
"excellent" labor secretary.

"I do hear there were a lot of people involved in that

decision, not just him," the president said on July 9.

Epstein is known for his ties to powerful figures

including Trump and former President Bill Clinton.
However, Trump has tried to distance himself from
Epstein. On July 9, he said the multimillionaire was a
fixture in Palm Beach and that he knew him, but said
they had a falling out about 15 years ago.

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Labor Secretary Alexander Acosta resigns

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