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US Labor Chief Acosta Defends Role in Sex Trafficking Case

Ken Bredemeier

   WASHINGTON - U.S. Labor Secretary Alexander Acosta on Wednesday
   defended his actions more than a decade ago as a federal prosecutor in
   agreeing to a light jail sentence for billionaire hedge fund manager
   Jeffrey Epstein, who was accused in a child sex trafficking case.

   "Without the work of our prosecutors, Epstein would have gotten away
   with" a lesser state charge that "would have let him avoid jail time,"
   Acosta told reporters. "We did what we did because Epstein needed to go
   to jail."

   "We believe we proceeded appropriately," Acosta said. "There is value
   to a sure guilty plea."

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