[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 114 (Tuesday, July 9, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Page S4708]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                            Jeffrey Epstein

  Madam President, on a much less happy note, this week, billionaire 
Jeffrey Epstein was indicted in New York on Federal sex trafficking 
charges. The newly released evidence of Epstein's behavior involving 
dozens of children is sickening, is appalling, is despicable.
  Epstein should have been behind bars years ago, but, unfortunately, 
the Secretary of Labor, Alex Acosta, cut Epstein a sweetheart deal 
while Acosta was a U.S. attorney in Florida in 2008. While a Federal 
prosecutor, Acosta signed a nonprosecution agreement that allowed 
Epstein and his coconspirators to remain free and evade justice, 
despite overwhelming evidence.
  Mr. Acosta hid this agreement from Epstein's victims. No one can 
figure out why Mr. Epstein was able to persuade U.S. Attorney Acosta 
not to prosecute, other than that Epstein could afford high-powered, 
high-priced attorneys. As the Miami Herald editorial board wrote this 
morning, it was not just that Acosta failed to get it right in 2008; 
the evidence suggests ``he didn't care to.''
  Accordingly, I am asking three things. First, I am calling on 
Secretary Acosta to resign. It is now impossible for anyone to have 
confidence in Secretary Acosta's ability to lead the Department of 
Labor. If he refuses to resign, President Trump should fire him. 
Instead of prosecuting a predator and serial sex trafficker of 
children, Acosta chose to let him off easy.
  This is not acceptable. We cannot have as one of the leading 
appointed officials in America someone who has done this--plain and 
simple.
  Second, I am calling on the Department of Justice's Office of 
Professional Responsibility to make public the results of its review of 
Acosta's handling of the Epstein case. Senators Murray and Kaine have 
called for these findings, but the Justice Department so far has 
stonewalled, has refused to make them public. This rebuke cannot be 
kept in the dark, and there should be hearings.
  Third, the President needs to answer for the statements he has made 
about his relationship with Mr. Epstein. In 2002, he said he had known 
Epstein for 15 years and that he was a ``terrific guy'' who enjoyed 
women ``on the younger side.'' Epstein was also reportedly a regular at 
the Mar-a-Lago Club for years. The President needs to answer for this, 
and ``I don't recall'' is not an acceptable answer in this case, 
particularly since President Trump appointed Mr. Acosta to such a 
powerful position.