Alexander Acosta
Alexander Acosta (lawyer) | |
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Nationality | US |
The US lawyer whose approval of a plea deal with Jeffrey Epstein avoided a public trial. |
Alexander Acosta is a US lawyer.
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In 2007–2008, as U.S. Attorney, Acosta approved a plea deal with Jeffrey Epstein to plead guilty to a state charge of solicitation for the purposes of prostitution involving a 14-year-old girl, a deal which required he register as a sex offender and pay restitution to victims as part of a federal non-prosecution agreement. The prosecutors had identified 36 victims of Epstein, most of them having no prior knowledge of the agreement and no opportunity to give input. The deal has been the subject of long-term criticism by the Miami Herald and others. Acosta's involvement in the Epstein plea deal received renewed scrutiny following Epstein's arrest in July 2019, on new child prostitution charges. Acosta resigned as US Secretary of Labor on July 19, 2019.