Labor Secretary Alex Acosta Resigns Amid Epstein Controversy

Former Labor Secretary Alex Acosta

The New York Times reports that R. Alexander Acosta, his embattled secretary of labor, will resign following controversy over a lenient plea deal he made with Jeffrey Epstein when he was a prosecutor in Florida.

Donald Trump made the announcement as he left the White House for travel to Milwaukee and Cleveland.

Mr. Trump said Mr. Acosta called him this morning and that it was Mr. Acosta’s decision to resign.

Trump continues to moan about how poorly Acosta has been treated over a 12-year-old case.

But, you don't hear him expressing concern for the allegedly victims in the Jeffrey Epstein case.

Epstein aside, Acosta's relationships in the White House wore thin in recent months.

In January, acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney cut back Acosta’s authority by requiring three White House aides to sit in on all the agency's regulatory meetings https://t.co/7XDLAL1ll5

— POLITICO (@politico) July 12, 2019

Ah yes, the real victim here: Alexander Acosta https://t.co/O4WNWCmHf7

— Parker Molloy (@ParkerMolloy) July 12, 2019

Here's Alexander Acosta gaslighting by trying to make it sound like 2007 was an eternity ago.

"Today's world does not allow some of the victim-shaming that could take place at trial 12 years ago."

(Christine Blasey Ford & E. Jean Carroll would likely disagree.) pic.twitter.com/od3pUWEJpk

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) July 10, 2019

Michael Reiter, former police chief in Palm Beach, is willing to testify that people associated with both Acosta and Trump pressured him not to arrest Epstein.

— Pesach Lattin פסח לאטין (@pacelattin) July 12, 2019