The Press Conference
On July 10, 2019, just four days after Epstein’s re-arrest, Labor Secretary Alex Acosta convened an unusual press conference at the Department of Labor to defend his handling of the 2008 Epstein case. He stood at a podium and took questions for nearly an hour.
The Defense Arguments
Acosta made several key arguments:
- He claimed the 2008 deal was the best achievable outcome given the evidence at the time
- He argued that the state case against Epstein was weak before federal intervention
- He said he had secured more time in prison through the federal deal than Krischer’s state prosecution would have
- He contended that the victims would have had to testify at trial in the absence of a deal
The Credibility Problem
Journalists and legal observers quickly identified problems with Acosta’s account. His claim that the state case was weak contradicted statements from Palm Beach investigators. His claim that victims’ interests drove the deal was undermined by the fact that victims were not notified.
The Reaction
The press conference was broadly criticized. Even supporters of the Trump administration questioned why Acosta had authorized the extraordinary protections given to Epstein in the agreement.
Resignation
Two days after the press conference, on July 12, 2019, Acosta announced his resignation as Labor Secretary. President Trump praised him publicly while accepting the resignation.