House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) gave a full-throated rebuke of Secretary of Labor Alex Acosta on Monday evening, calling on the former U.S. Attorney to resign from his post and accusing President Trump of knowing about the deal Acosta struck with billionaire Jeffrey Epstein more than a decade ago.
.@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
Pelosi is one of the first in congressional leadership to call for the secretary’s resignation over his involvement in a deal back in 2008 when Epstein faced sex crime charges related to underage girls. Acosta was the prosecutor in the case and arranged for a sweetheart deal with Epstein that involved a 13-month prison sentence, which included a work release program so he could come and go from prison.
Acosta’s role in the unprecedentedly lenient deal is facing new scrutiny after Epstein was charged with new sex crimes on Monday, for allegedly running a sex-trafficking ring with underage girls in the early 2000s. Epstein now faces up to 45 years in prison if convicted.
Speaking from the Senate floor Tuesday morning, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) called for Acosta’s resignation, as well. He said if the labor secretary didn’t resign, Trump should “fire” him.
“It is now impossible for anyone to have confidence in Secretary Acosta’s ability to lead the Department of Labor. If he refuses to resign, President Trump should fire him,” Schumer said. “Instead of prosecuting a predator and serial sex trafficker of children, Acosta chose to let him off easy. This is not acceptable.”
Schumer joins calls for Acosta's resignation pic.twitter.com/GTZ88lAVMU
— TPM Livewire (@TPMLiveWire) July 9, 2019
A few other prominent Democrats like Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) have also called on Acosta to step down.
In a just world, Acosta would not merely resign.
He’d be competently investigated and possibly prosecuted.
Still, it’s good that Pelosi is at least calling for him to
be firedresign.This will be followed by a strongly worded letter, then nothing will happen.
So Nancy’s going out on a limb here? And Epstein’s a flight risk?
Time for shuffleboard Nancy. Or Canasta. Can we get a name tag over here please.
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/nancy-pelosi-house-democrats_n_5d155cece4b07f6ca57ac4cb
Flight-log discrepancies aside, the fact that Clinton associated with Epstein at all is shameful (at best).
Epstein’s abuse of girls entered the public record in 2005 but his predilections were known before that. Even if a corrupt system was protecting him, and it was, good people knew better than to give him any cover at all.
Exactly
Day Late , Dollar short
Its not like anyone didn’t know . Common knowledge when he was confirmed
Outrage
It’s what Dems need more of.
Screaming at the top of your lungs outrage
The Trump administration hires pedophile enablers