Alex Acosta Resigns as Secretary of Labor
Alex Acosta, who served as US Attorney for the Southern District of Florida when the 2008 Non-Prosecution Agreement was negotiated, resigns as Secretary of Labor — a position he had held since 2017 under President Trump. His resignation comes two weeks after Epstein's arrest and one day after a press conference in which Acosta defended the 2008 deal, claiming it was the best available outcome. Acosta notably states in his defense that he was told Epstein 'belonged to intelligence.' Trump accepts the resignation.
People Involved
Background
R. Alexander Acosta had been confirmed as Secretary of Labor in April 2017 despite controversy over the NPA’s lenient terms. Following Epstein’s July 2019 arrest, scrutiny of Acosta’s role intensified dramatically.
The July 10 Press Conference
On July 10, 2019, Acosta held a press conference defending the NPA, claiming:
- The NPA was the best deal federal prosecutors could obtain given the complexity of the case
- He had taken Epstein’s conduct seriously
- He had been told to “back off” because Epstein “belonged to intelligence”
The intelligence claim generated enormous attention and has been subject to extensive analysis.
The Resignation
On July 19, 2019 — the day after his press conference — Acosta submitted his resignation. He stated the resignation was voluntary and driven by his concern that the controversy was becoming a distraction for the Trump administration.
Trump accepted the resignation and praised Acosta publicly.
The Intelligence Statement
Acosta’s statement that he was “told” Epstein “belonged to intelligence” has been one of the most analyzed statements in the entire case:
- He did not specify which intelligence agency
- He did not name who told him
- The statement received brief attention in 2019 before being somewhat overshadowed by Epstein’s death the following month
Significance
Acosta’s resignation ended his public service career while leaving the intelligence claim unexplained.