STATEMENT FROM CONGRESSWOMAN CLARK ON THE RESIGNATION OF SECRETARY OF LABOR ALEXANDER ACOSTA:

“Secretary Acosta’s resignation is a step toward justice for the girls assaulted by Jeffrey Epstein and is good for working people and children across the United States who rely on the Department of Labor to protect their rights. Alexander Acosta’s career has been defined by preferential treatment for the powerful over the people. As Attorney General for the Southern District of Florida, he illegally negotiated a secret sweetheart deal for Jeffery Epstein. A person who chooses a sexual predator over children has no place in our government, especially one meant to oversee the exact crimes he concealed. The American people can sleep better knowing that Alexander Acosta is out.”

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Background: Congresswoman Katherine Clark, Vice Chair of the Democratic Caucus, first called for Secretary Acosta’s resignation in April during his testimony before the House Appropriations Committee. Clark grilled Acosta on his involvement in the Epstein deal as well as his proposal to cut the Labor Department’s human trafficking program by 80% in the FY 2020 budget. Here is a clip of the April hearing.