Donald Trump defends Labor Secretary Alexander Acosta amid Jeffrey Epstein deal
Donald Trump has said he is “not a fan” of Jeffrey Epstein but defended his Labor Secretary as Democrats called for his resignation over a secret plea deal he struck for the paedophile.
US President Donald Trump says he’ll look “very closely” at Labor Secretary Alex Acosta’s handling of a sex trafficking case involving billionaire financier Jeffrey Epstein.
However, Mr Trump said he feels “very badly” for Mr Acosta because he’s been a “very good” secretary.
Mr Acosta was a federal prosecutor in south Florida when he was involved in a 2008 plea deal that allowed Epstein to avoid prosecution on federal charges of molesting teenage girls. He pleaded guilty to state charges and spent 13 months in jail.
Mr Acosta’s role in the Epstein case came under renewed scrutiny after federal prosecutors in New York filed similar charges on Monday against Epstein.
Epstein has pleaded not guilty to the new sex trafficking charges.
Mr Trump spoke publicly about Epstein for the first time since the charges.
“I had a falling out with him a long time ago. I wasn’t a fan,” Mr Trump said, without providing details. “I was not a fan of his. That I can tell you.”
“He was a fixture in Palm Beach,” Mr Trump said of Epstein.
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In a 2002 New York magazine article, Mr Trump referred to Epstein as a “terrific guy”.
“He’s a lot of fun to be with,” Mr Trump was quoted as saying. “It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side. No doubt about it — Jeffrey enjoys his social life.”
CALLS MOUNT FOR TRUMP TO FIRE ACOSTA
Meanwhile, Democratic Party leaders called for Mr Acosta’s resignation over the secret plea deal he made a decade ago.
Labor Secretary Acosta, 50, was serving as a federal prosecutor in Florida when his office entered into the controversial plea agreement with lawyers for Epstein.
The well-connected Epstein, whose friends have included Mr Trump, former president Bill Clinton and Prince Andrew, faced similar charges in Florida a decade ago but managed to escape a stiff sentence through the plea agreement with Mr Acosta’s office.
The plea deal was kept secret from Epstein’s victims until his sentencing.
“@SecretaryAcosta must step down,” Nancy Pelosi, the Democratic speaker of the House of Representatives, said in a tweet.
.@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
“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 (Mr Trump) when he appointed him to the cabinet. #AcostaResign.”
New York Senator Chuck Schumer, the top Democrat in the Senate, also called for Mr Acosta to step down.
“Epstein should have been behind bars years ago but unfortunately Secretary of Labor Alex Acosta cut Epstein a sweetheart deal,” Sen. Schumer said.
Jeffrey Epstein should have been behind bars years ago as a serial sex trafficker of children.
— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) July 9, 2019
But unfortunately as a U.S. Attorney in Florida in 2008, @SecretaryAcosta chose to let Epstein off easy.
Acosta must resign. If he refuses, @realDonaldTrump should fire him.
“We cannot have as one of the leading appointed officials in America someone who has done this,” he added.
Mr Acosta has welcomed the renewed prosecution of Epstein.
“With the evidence available more than a decade ago, federal prosecutors insisted that Epstein go to jail, register as a sex offender and put the world on notice that he was a sexual predator,” Mr Acosta tweeted.
“Now that new evidence and additional testimony is available, the NY prosecution offers an important opportunity to more fully bring him to justice,” he said.
The crimes committed by Epstein are horrific, and I am pleased that NY prosecutors are moving forward with a case based on new evidence.
— Secretary Acosta (@SecretaryAcosta) July 9, 2019
With the evidence available more than a decade ago, federal prosecutors insisted that Epstein go to jail, register as a sex offender and put the world on notice that he was a sexual predator.
— Secretary Acosta (@SecretaryAcosta) July 9, 2019
Now that new evidence and additional testimony is available, the NY prosecution offers an important opportunity to more fully bring him to justice.
— Secretary Acosta (@SecretaryAcosta) July 9, 2019
Epstein pleaded not guilty on Monday to the charges which carry a maximum of 45 years in prison. A bail hearing was set for Thursday.
According to prosecutors, Epstein sexually exploited dozens of underage girls at his homes in Manhattan and Palm Beach, Florida, between 2002 and 2005. Some were as young as 14.
BARR WON’T RECUSE HIMSELF FROM EPSTEIN CASE
It comes as US Attorney-General William Barr will not recuse himself from overseeing Epstein’s case in New York, according to reports.
Mr Barr said initially he would recuse himself but after consulting Justice Department ethics officials reportedly changed his mind, said the New York Post.
A Justice official told the Associated Press on condition of anonymity that Mr Barr is still recused from any review of a 2008 plea deal that allowed Epstein to avoid federal charges in Florida.
“I am recused from that matter because one of the law firms that represented Epstein long ago was a firm I subsequently joined for a period of time,” Mr Barr told reporters in South Carolina on Monday.
That’s because Mr Barr’s former law firm, Kirkland & Ellis, had previously represented the convicted sex offender. The deal Epstein secretly made allowed him to avoid federal prosecution for nearly identical allegations.
Epstein was charged Monday in federal court in New York with sexually abusing dozens of underage girls.
Mr Barr considered whether he would have to remove himself from involvement in the New York case in part because Epstein had previously hired lawyers from the law firm.
Barr served as counsel to the company before becoming AG.
Labor Secretary Alex Acosta was the top federal prosecutor in southern Florida when he signed off on the widely criticised deal under which Epstein was allowed to plead guilty to two state charges of soliciting a prostitute.
Epstein served 13 months in a Florida jail — but was released during the day to conduct his business.
Some former federal prosecutors have voiced concern that Mr Barr might interfere in the New York case if he didn’t recuse himself.
Mr Trump, who used to socialise with Epstein, once called him “a terrific guy,” but White House adviser Kellyanne Conway told reporters that “he hasn’t talked to or had contact with Epstein in years and years and years,” according to Bloomberg News.
Mrs Conway also indicated that Mr Acosta still enjoys Mr Trump’s support.
“I would go back to who the perpetrator is here; his name is Jeffrey Epstein,” she said.
Mr Acosta said on Twitter: “The crimes committed by Epstein are horrific, and I am pleased that NY prosecutors are moving forward with a case based on new evidence.”
During Epstein’s court appearance in New York, one of his lawyers made it clear he’d use the Florida plea deal as a central part of Epstein’s defence.
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