Trump's labour secretary says 'no regrets' over handing of Jeffrey Epstein case as new alleged child victim comes forward
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Donald Trump has tried to downplay his relationship with disgraced billionaire Jeffrey Epstein after previously labelling the former Mar-a-Lago guest “a terrific guy”, insisting: ”I don’t think I have spoken with him for 15 years. I was not a fan.”
The financier was arrested and charged in a New York court on Monday with sex trafficking, accused of luring dozens of underage girls to his luxury homes and paying them for sex, a development inspiring Democratic calls for labour secretary Alexander Acosta to resign over his involvement in the Epstein case while working as an attorney in Florida in 2008.
The news comes as the president prepares to host a social media summit at the White House on Thursday, with alt-right meme-makers and a political cartoonist whose work has been branded “blatantly antisemitic” by the Anti-Defamation League in attendance.
Mr Acosta meanwhile addressed his involvement in the Florida case during a press conference on Wednesday afternoon, saying that when he was a federal prosecutor in Florida, his office acted appropriately when it came to the secret plea deal offered to Epstein.
Mr Acosta was asked if he owed an apology to women who said Epstein molested them when they were underage.
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He said the prosecution didn’t want to share with the victims that there were efforts to gain restitution for them from Epstein.
He also said there was concern that if negotiations fell through, Epstein’s counsel could use the prospect of restitution to question their credibility.
Mr Acosta said, “In our heart we were trying to do the right thing for these victims.”
Epstein has pleaded not guilty to new charges in New York.
The labour secretary also said he was not intending to resign and that his relationship with the president is “outstanding.”
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Show latest update 1562785535 Alexander Acosta said the prosecution of a sex crime targeting children was “even more so” challenging in 2006 -
Chris Riotta 10 July 2019 20:05
1562785832 Here's Alexander Acosta on whether he regrets his handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case in Florida:
"No regrets is a very hard question ... We expect a lot more transparency today ... As you watch these victim interviews, it's very obvious that the victims feel this was not a sufficient outcome."
Chris Riotta 10 July 2019 20:10
1562785952 Alexander Acosta has now begun speaking in Spanish.
Chris Riotta 10 July 2019 20:12
1562786179 Alexander Acosta was unable to fully explain his reasoning behind this separate department decision when asked by a reporter in the room -
Chris Riotta 10 July 2019 20:16
1562786547 Alexander Acosta said he "serves at the pleasure of the president" and will step down from his post if Donald Trump decides it would be best for the country. The president has made no indication he will fire his labor secretary.
Chris Riotta 10 July 2019 20:22
1562786907 Alexander Acosta has not apologised to the victims of Jeffrey Epstein for making the billionaire's sentencing agreement secretive.
Chris Riotta 10 July 2019 20:28
1562787027 US Labour Secretary Alexander Acosta has ended his press conference.
Chris Riotta 10 July 2019 20:30
1562788227 Here's my story on Lindsey Graham (unironically) blaming the press after Kim Darroch's sudden resignation from his post as the UK ambassador to the US -
Chris Riotta 10 July 2019 20:50
1562788827 This was an incredible bizarre and interesting moment from Alexander Acosta's press conference earlier -
Chris Riotta 10 July 2019 21:00
1562790075 This concludes today's live coverage from Washington.
Chris Riotta 10 July 2019 21:21
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