Donald Trump defended Labor Secretary Alexander Acosta, who is facing calls to resign over his role in a non-prosecution agreement with billionaire financier Jeffrey Epstein in a sex-crimes case.
Trump told reporters at the White House on Tuesday that Acosta has been a “very good” Labor secretary and said he probably wished he handled the Epstein case differently. The president added that he would be looking at the case “very carefully.”
Trump also said he feels “very badly” for Acosta, but failed to mention the numerous underage girls who were victims of Epstein.
The president also sought to distance himself from Epstein, with whom he used to socialize with in Palm Beach, Fla., saying they had a falling out and had not spoken in years.
Acosta issued his first public statement on Jeffrey Epstein since the financier was arrested over the weekend.
The crimes committed by Epstein are horrific, and I am pleased that NY prosecutors are moving forward with a case based on new evidence.
— Secretary Acosta (@SecretaryAcosta) July 9, 2019 [1]
With the evidence available more than a decade ago, federal prosecutors insisted that Epstein go to jail, register as a sex offender and put the world on notice that he was a sexual predator.
— Secretary Acosta (@SecretaryAcosta) July 9, 2019 [2]
Now that new evidence and additional testimony is available, the NY prosecution offers an important opportunity to more fully bring him to justice.
— Secretary Acosta (@SecretaryAcosta) July 9, 2019 [3]
WATCH:
President Trump on Jeffrey Epstein: "I had a falling out with him a long time ago, I don’t think I've spoken to him for 15 years. I wasn't a fan…I was not a fan of his…I feel very badly actually for Secretary Acosta." pic.twitter.com/vtIOCUhH8s [4]
— CSPAN (@cspan) July 9, 2019 [5]