Labor Secretary Alex Acosta’s news conference Wednesday afternoon (watch above) was no doubt an effort to try to save his job. He spoke publicly after mounting pressure from Democrats to resign because of a sweetheart deal he gave Jeffrey Epstein back in 2008. At the time Acosta was the US Attorney for the Southern District of Florida.
Acosta’s statements seemed aimed at an audience of one, Donald Trump. Acosta made that clear early on saying, “My relationship with the president is outstanding. He has made clear I have his support.”
Labor Secretary Alex Acosta says President Trump has shown him "great support," but "if at some point the president decides that I am not the best person to do this job, I respect that. That is his choice. I serve at the pleasure of the president" https://t.co/NvFIuNHgwu pic.twitter.com/LV2HjJAOyJ
— This Week (@ThisWeekABC) July 10, 2019
Seems highly clear that Acosta is playing to Trump, all the hallmark aggressive posture, attacking press for not doing its job, etc etc.
— Josh Marshall (@joshtpm) July 10, 2019
Acosta was also asked, more than once if he would apologize to the victims, he repeatedly refused. Jeffrey Epstein’s crimes seemed secondary to the defense of Acosta himself.
.@TomLlamasABC asks Labor Secretary Alex Acosta if he owes victims of Jeffrey Epstein an apology who say they didn't hear back from Acosta "until it was too late."
Acosta does not offer an apology, but defends actions made at the time https://t.co/VgnE4NLiz3 pic.twitter.com/4ilMoXlxsQ
— This Week (@ThisWeekABC) July 10, 2019
The other intention of this 50-minute address seemed to be to throw other people, who worked the case, under the bus.
.@SecretaryAcosta says the Epstein case was "unusual" because state prosecutors were initially investigating Epstein. He claims FL prosecutors were ready to let Epstein not serve any jail time, and federal prosecutors from his office intervened to keep that from happening.
— Meet the Press (@MeetThePress) July 10, 2019
He also said, “Times have changed and coverage of this case has certainly changed.” Note this case was just 11 years ago, not decades ago.
https://twitter.com/AshaRangappa_/status/1149032086805929985
Somehow @SecretaryAcosta managed 53 minutes of victim blaming but he couldn’t manage to say the two words we needed to hear:
I resign. #AcostaMustGo
— Katherine Clark (@WhipKClark) July 10, 2019