Labor Secretary Alex Acosta has defended his role in convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein’s 2008 plea deal and enjoys the full support of President Donald Trump. But he made the decision Friday to avoid drawing further controversy to the Trump administration by stepping down.
Standing outside the White House next to President Donald Trump, Acosta spoke with reporters Friday morning and announced his voluntary resignation.
The former U.S. attorney has faced mounting calls for his resignation this week from Democrats and the media in the wake of Epstein’s indictment on new sex trafficking charges.
Acosta stepping down
Trump praised Acosta for his work as head of the Labor Department and clarified that Acosta had not been fired. “But I just want to let you know, this was him, not me, because I’m with him,” the president told reporters.
While speaking to the press, Trump emphasized that he would have preferred Acosta to have stayed. But Acosta told reporters that he didn’t want the Epstein issue to distract from the stellar economic news.
“And as I look forward, 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,” Acosta said. “And so I called the President this morning. I told him that I thought the right thing was to step aside.”
Acosta’s letter, Trump’s tweet
Acosta shared his resignation letter to the president on Twitter. In it, he thanked Trump profusely for the opportunity to serve the nation and achieve good things with the U.S. economy, as well as for the public and private support Trump had offered him during the recent controversy.
“Your agenda, putting the American people first, must avoid any distractions,” Acosta wrote. He later added, “Therefore, I am offering, and wish for you to accept, my resignation as United States Secretary of Labor effective one week from today.”
Thank you, @POTUS. pic.twitter.com/Q9bxwmzKQM
— Secretary Acosta (@SecretaryAcosta) July 12, 2019
Trump also announced the news of Acosta’s resignation on Twitter and named current Deputy Secretary Pat Pizzella as Acosta’s replacement on an acting basis.
….Alex was a great Secretary of Labor and his service is truly appreciated. He will be replaced on an acting basis by Pat Pizzella, the current Deputy Secretary.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 12, 2019
Plea deal criticism
Opinions vary on Acosta’s role in Epstein’s 2008 plea deal. The surprisingly lenient agreement allowed Epstein to plead guilty to two state-level prostitution charges and register as a sex offender to avoid being prosecuted for federal sex trafficking crimes, which could carry stiff prison sentences.
The agreement also included a brief 13-month prison sentence, albeit one that allowed Epstein to leave confinement on work release during weekdays.
When news of Epstein’s arrest broke, partisan hacks in Congress and the media immediately attempted to use Acosta and the plea deal as a cudgel against Trump. The loss of a devoted Cabinet member is unfortunate, but in the case, it may have been the wisest choice.
No comments: