Chuck Schumer Calls For Acostas Resignation Over Involvement in 2008 Epstein Deal

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) on Tuesday called for Labor Secretary Alex Acostas resignation over his 2008 approval of a deal that allowed hedge fund manager Jeffrey Epstein to avoid federal charges for allegedly soliciting and molesting minors.

The newly released evidence of Epsteins behavior involving dozens of children is sickening, is appalling, is despicable, Schumer said on the Senate floor. Epstein should have been behind bars years ago.

Epstein, 66, was arrested Saturday for sex trafficking charges and taken into custody by federal agents and New York City police officers. The new charges included allegations of paying minors for sex since as early as 2002 as part of a scheme in New York and Florida.

His arrest brought new scrutiny to Acosta, who agreed about a decade ago as a U.S. attorney in Miami to end the federal investigation into Epsteins alleged solicitation of prostitution . He offered Acosta a non-prosecution agreement , which Schumer called a sweetheart deal. The hedge fund manager faced only state charges and 13 months in prison after pleading guilty.

Acosta commended New York prosecutors for reopening Epsteins case in a tweet Tuesday morning.

The crimes committed by Epstein are horrific, and I am pleased that NY prosecutors are moving forward with a case based on new evidence.

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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

Schumer made three demands: He called for Acostas resignation, for the Justice Departments Office of Professional Responsibility to publicize the results from its review of Acostas involvement in the deal, and for President Donald Trump to answer for his statements he has made about his relationship with Mr. Epstein. In 2002, Trump called Epstein a terrific guy who liked women on the younger side.

Law enforcement authorities unsealed information on Epsteins crimes Monday in Manhattan federal court following a criminal indictment. Epstein pleaded not guilty to the charges that same day.