2020 Democrats call for Labor Secretary Acosta’s resignation after Epstein arrest

Democratic 2020 presidential candidates are rushing forward with calls for Labor Secretary Alexander Acosta to resign over his handling of a 2008 plea deal for billionaire financier Jeffrey Epstein, who was charged Monday with sex trafficking.

More than a decade ago, Acosta, then a U.S. attorney in Florida, oversaw a plea deal that allowed Epstein to avoid a life sentence and instead spend just 13 months in prison. A judge ruled in February that federal prosecutors under Acosta violated the law by hiding the agreement from Epstein’s victims, according to the Miami Herald.

{mosads}Epstein has pleaded not guilty to the new charges, which allege he abused dozens of underage girls from 2002 to 2005.

Former Vice President Joe Biden, Sens. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) as well as former Reps. Beto O’Rourke (D-Texas) and John Delaney (D-Md.), said they want Acosta to leave office.

Harris, a former prosecutor herself, accused Acosta of “protecting predators.” 

“Alex Acosta should resign as Labor Secretary,” she tweeted. “We need leaders committed to fighting for justice for survivors of abuse, not protecting predators.”

Alex Acosta should resign as Labor Secretary. We need leaders committed to fighting for justice for survivors of abuse, not protecting predators.

— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) July 9, 2019

Klobuchar said in a statement that the victims should have had a say in the agreement. 

“Since when do underage girl sex ring traffickers get to go to their office every day while they serve their time? The victims should have had a say. That’s what the law says. I didn’t vote for former Florida U.S. Attorney Acosta to begin with and he should step down.”

Warren called Acosta “ethically compromised and unfit to serve.”

I opposed Secretary Acosta’s nomination, and voted against his confirmation. The last few days have only highlighted how ethically compromised and unfit to serve he is. Acosta must resign—now. https://t.co/0XPrLO4N9K

— Elizabeth Warren (@ewarren) July 9, 2019

Sanders said in an MSNBC interview Tuesday that Epstein’s treatment is indicative of “the ugly two-tier criminal justice system that we have in America.”

Asked if he thinks Acosta should resign or the president should fire him, Sanders said that he thinks so. 

“He should be asked to resign because of his role because in the process with Epstein,” he said.

Biden slammed Acosta’s “inexcusably poor judgment” in his call for the labor secretary’s resignation.

The abuse of a child is one of the most heinous, despicable abuses of power imaginable. It is inexcusably poor judgment for a US Attorney to seek leniency for someone guilty of it. Secretary Acosta should provide his resignation immediately.

— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) July 9, 2019

Booker also called for him to step down and quote-tweeted a similar sentiment from the Miami Herald’s editorial board. 

Acosta should step down. https://t.co/NETzrtPIHk

— Cory Booker (@CoryBooker) July 9, 2019

Gillibrand tweeted that Acosta should have never been in a position of power in the first place. 

“There are few crimes more horrendous than sexual violence against minors—and enabling that kind of predatory behavior is disgusting,” she wrote. “I voted against Alex Acosta’s nomination because he should never have been in a position of power in the first place. He needs to resign now.”

There are few crimes more horrendous than sexual violence against minors—and enabling that kind of predatory behavior is disgusting. I voted against Alex Acosta’s nomination because he should never have been in a position of power in the first place. He needs to resign now.

— Kirsten Gillibrand (@SenGillibrand) July 9, 2019

Bennet lambasted what he called Acosta’s “disturbing failures as a U.S. attorney,” adding that he should be disqualified from further public service.

Acosta’s plea deal for Jeffrey Epstein underscores how the rich & powerful get off with a slap on the wrist for even the most disgusting of crimes. His disturbing failures as a U.S. attorney disqualify him from further public service.

He should resign immediately.

— Michael Bennet (@MichaelBennet) July 9, 2019

O’Rourke quote-tweeted former prosecutor and current NBC and MSNBC legal analyst Mimi Rocah, who posted a screenshot of Epstein’s bail memo.  

Acosta must resign. https://t.co/kCGBzRJrQx

— Beto O’Rourke (@BetoORourke) July 9, 2019

Delaney said in a statement that Acosta had displayed “terrible judgment” in the Epstein case. 

“Secretary Acosta should resign immediately,” he said. “It is clear that he displayed terrible judgment in the Epstein case and his continued presence in the cabinet is absolutely unacceptable.”

The Hill has reached out to the Labor Department for comment. Acosta on Tuesday defended the agreement but said the new charges against Epstein could “more fully bring him to justice.”

“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,” he tweeted.

Updated at 4:10 p.m.