US labor secretary steps down following plea deal scandal with wealthy financier, Jeffrey Epstein
US President Donald Trump on Friday announced the resignation of Alexander Acosta, US labour Secretary ,who is currently facing criticism over his handling of a plea deal of Jeffrey Epstein accused of sexually abusing minors .
Donald Trump made this announcement with Acosta by his side at the white House, before embarking on a trip to US state of Wisconsin.
“I hate to see this happen ,” President Trump said.
Acosta was the US attorney for the Southern District of Florida from 2005 to 2009. It was at that time he handled Epstein’s first case involving s*x with underage girls.
Epstein reached agreement with Acosta to end a s*x abuse investigation involving 40 underaged girls secretly, so he pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 13months in prison. He was also made to pay settlements to his victims and registered sex offender.
However, fresh charges filed against Epstein recently by the federal prosecutors in New York, put Acosta’s role in the 2008 plea deal under criticism .
