House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer say President Donald Trump's labor secretary should resign because of his role in a 2008 plea deal that let a billionaire financier escape prison time for alleged sex crimes.
Additionally, Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar, a 2020 presidential candidate, called for Alexander Acosta's resignation.
Acosta was a federal prosecutor in South Florida when he was involved in a secret 2008 plea deal that let Epstein avoid federal charges.
That investigation involved at least 40 teenage girls. The agreement let him avoid a possible life sentence.
Epstein was charged in New York on Monday in a new federal indictment accusing him of sexually abusing dozens of underage girls.
Schumer during a Senate floor speech said it was "impossible for anyone to have confidence in Secretary Acosta's ability to lead the Department of Labor. If he refuses to resign, President Trump should fire him.”
Pelosi tweeted: "As US Attorney, [Acosta] engaged in an unconscionable agreement w/ Jeffrey Epstein kept secret from courageous, young victims preventing them from seeking justice. This was known by @POTUS when he appointed him to the cabinet."
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