Labor Secretary Alex Acosta under new scrutiny after Epstein arrest

Jeffrey Epstein has hobnobbed with some of the world's most powerful people during his jet-setting life. Future President Donald Trump called him a "terrific guy." Former President Bill Clinton praised his intellect and philanthropic efforts and was a frequent flyer aboard his private jet.

The arrest of the billionaire financier on child sex trafficking charges is raising questions about how much his high-powered associates knew about the hedge fund manager's interactions with underage girls, and whether they turned a blind eye to potentially illegal conduct.

It's also putting new scrutiny on Labor Secretary Alexander Acosta, who, as U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Florida, was involved in a 2008 secret plea deal that allowed Epstein to avoid federal charges.

The White House did not respond to repeated questions Monday about when Trump was last in contact with Epstein or if he had witnessed Epstein engage in illegal activity with underage girls.

At a morning press gaggle, White House Counselor Kellyanne Conway deflected questions about whether the president has confidence in Acosta leading the Labor Department given his role in Epstein's case.  Conway told reporters that the president told her this morning he didn't know Acosta at the time and that he hasn't spoken to Epstein in nearly 10-15 years.

In his most extensive known public comments about Epstein, Trump told New York magazine in 2002 that he'd known the financier for 15 years and praised him as a "terrific guy."

"He's a lot of fun to be with," Trump was quoted as saying. "It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side. No doubt about it - Jeffrey enjoys his social life."

Trump Organization attorney Alan Garten has since distanced Trump from Epstein, telling Politico in 2017 that Trump "had no relationship with Mr. Epstein and had no knowledge whatsoever of his conduct."

Asked about the charges on Sunday, Trump said, "I don't know about it."

Acosta, meanwhile, tweeted on Tuesday that the crimes committed by Epstein were "horrific" and was pleased that New York prosecutors were moving ahead "with a case based on new evidence."

"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. Now that new evidence and additional testimony is available, the NY prosecution offers an important opportunity to more fully bring him to justice," Acosta added. 

Epstein was also an associate of Clinton's, repeatedly lending the former president his jet to travel overseas. Flight logs obtained by Fox News showed the former president took at least 26 trips aboard Epstein's Boeing 727, nicknamed the "Lolita Express," from 2001 to 2003. That "included extended junkets around the world with Epstein and fellow passengers identified on manifests by their initials or first names, including 'Tatiana,'" the outlet found.

"Jeffrey is both a highly successful financier and a committed philanthropist with a keen sense of global markets and an in-depth knowledge of twenty-first-century science," Clinton told New York magazine though a spokesman for that same 2002 story. "I especially appreciated his insights and generosity during the recent trip to Africa to work on democratization, empowering the poor, citizen service, and combating HIV/AIDS."

Clinton spokesman Angel Ureña said the former president "knows nothing about the terrible crimes Jeffrey Epstein pleaded guilty to in Florida some years ago, or those with which he has been recently charged in New York." He said that, in 2002 and 2003, Clinton took four trips on Epstein's plane with multiple stops and that staff and his Secret Service detail traveled on every leg.

"He's not spoken to Epstein in well over a decade, and has never been to Little St. James Island, Epstein's ranch in New Mexico, or his residence in Florida," Ureña added.

Also back in the spotlight is Acosta, Trump's labor secretary, due to his role in the deal that ended an earlier investigation involving at least 40 teenage girls. The deal allowed Epstein to avoid federal charges and a possible life sentence. Instead, Epstein pleaded guilty to state charges and served 13 months in jail, during which he was allowed to leave for work during the day.

"I want real justice for these underage survivors - and Acosta to finally answer for his weak plea agreement," tweeted Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, who was among a number of congressional Democrats who had asked the Justice Department to reopen the case.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi went further, tweeting Monday night that Acosta should resign from Trump's Cabinet. "As US Attorney, he engaged in an unconscionable agreement w/ Jeffrey Epstein kept secret from courageous, young victims preventing them from seeking justice," Pelosi wrote.

Conway agreed with Pelosi that Epstein's alleged activities were unconscionable, but told reporters it was "classic" of her not to focus on the perpetrator. 

The Department of Labor referred questions about Acosta's future to the Department of Justice, which did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Then-White House press secretary Sarah Sanders had told reporters in February that the White House was looking into Acosta's handling of the case, but she never offered further details. Trump said in February that he didn't know much about the case but volunteered that Acosta had done "a great job" as labor secretary. As for the Epstein case, Trump added, "That seems like a long time ago."

Acosta has previously called the deal appropriate.

Epstein is accused of paying underage girls hundreds of dollars in cash for massages and then molesting them at his homes in Florida and New York. He "intentionally sought out minors and knew that many of his victims were in fact under the age of 18," according to prosecutors, who said he also paid some of his victims to "recruit additional girls to be similarly abused."

Epstein pleaded not guilty Monday to sex trafficking charges.

In:
• United States Department of Labor
• Donald Trump
• Alex Acosta
• Jeffrey Epstein