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R. Alexander Acosta
Former U.S. Secretary of Labor
Labor Secretary 2017-2019, Former U.S. Attorney who gave Epstein sweetheart deal
Overview
Alexander Acosta served as U.S. Secretary of Labor under Trump from 2017-2019. He resigned in disgrace after renewed scrutiny of his role as U.S. Attorney in Florida in 2008, when he negotiated the infamous non-prosecution agreement with Jeffrey Epstein that allowed the billionaire pedophile to avoid federal charges for sex trafficking dozens of minors. Acosta's deal was later found to have violated the Crime Victims' Rights Act.
Key Affiliations
Controversies & Concerns
2008 Epstein non-prosecution agreement that violated victims' rights
Allowed Epstein to serve just 13 months in county jail with work release
Deal shielded Epstein's co-conspirators from federal prosecution
Failed to notify victims as required by law
Federal judge ruled deal violated Crime Victims' Rights Act in 2019
Resigned as Labor Secretary amid renewed Epstein scrutiny
Defended deal claiming it was better than state charges alone
Related Investigations (3)
Criminal Charges & Violations
8 documented violations
18 U.S.C. § 3771 (Crime Victims' Rights Act)VIOLATED; Federal judge ruled Acosta's office violated victims' rights by failing to notify Epstein's victims of plea deal(Federal: Adjudicated)
18 U.S.C. § 1591 (Sex Trafficking of Minors)Prosecutorial Misconduct; Failed to prosecute Epstein on federal sex trafficking charges despite FBI evidence of 36+ minor victims(Dereliction)
18 U.S.C. § 371Potential Conspiracy; Non-prosecution agreement shielded unnamed co-conspirators from federal prosecution(Potential Federal)
18 U.S.C. § 1519Potential Obstruction; Secret plea deal concealed from victims prevented accountability(Potential Federal)
28 U.S.C. § 530B (DOJ Standards)Professional Misconduct; DOJ OPR found he exercised"poor judgment"but declined prosecution(Professional Ethics)
FL Bar Rule 4-8.4Potential Attorney Misconduct; Florida Bar considered investigation into his handling of Epstein case(Professional)
18 U.S.C. § 242Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law; Victims denied their legal rights to participate in federal proceedings(Civil Rights)
Rome Statute Article 7 (Crimes Against Humanity)International Law Concern; Facilitated impunity for systematic sexual abuse of minors through sweetheart deal(International)
Known Associates & Connections
Donald Trump
Appointed him Labor Secretary
Jeffrey Epstein
Gave sweetheart plea deal as U.S. Attorney
Alan Dershowitz
Co-defense attorney who negotiated the plea deal terms
Courtney Wild
Victim who challenged the plea deal under CVRA
Joe Recarey
Palm Beach detective who investigated Epstein case
Michael Reiter
Palm Beach Police Chief who pushed for federal prosecution
Sources & Documentation
2 documented sources from official records, investigations, and reports
Personal Information
- Born
- January 16, 1969
- Birthplace
- Miami, Florida
- Also Known As
- Alexander Acosta
Education
- •Harvard Law School (J.D.)
- •Harvard University (B.A.)
Key Timeline
2005
Becomes U.S. Attorney for Southern District of Florida
2007
FBI investigation of Epstein presented to his office
2008
Negotiates non-prosecution agreement with Epstein
2017
Nominated as Secretary of Labor by Trump
2019
February: Judge rules Epstein deal violated victims' rights
2019
July: Epstein arrested on new federal charges
2019
July 12: Announces resignation from Labor Department