The July 10, 2019 Press Conference
Following Epstein’s 2019 re-arrest, Labor Secretary Alexander Acosta held a press conference to defend the 2008 deal he had negotiated as U.S. Attorney.
His Key Arguments
Acosta made several arguments:
- The Palm Beach police and state attorney had already agreed to a state plea federal prosecutors were ‘second chair’
- The evidence for federal prosecution was uncertain at the time
- Epstein had to register as a sex offender, serve time in jail, and pay restitution
- The state charge conviction was a better outcome than a failed federal prosecution
The Critics’ Response
Critics argued:
- Federal prosecutors were not second chair they were independent
- The co-conspirators immunity was extraordinary and unjustified
- The secret negotiation violated victim rights
- A short jail sentence on work release was grossly inadequate
The Elephant in the Room
Acosta notably did not address why the NPA was negotiated entirely in secret without victim notification the specific violation a federal court had found. This silence was noted by journalists.
The Resignation Nine Days Later
Nine days after the press conference, Acosta resigned as Labor Secretary. The press conference was regarded as having failed to improve his political situation.