The Story Labor Secretary Alex Acosta is playing defense over how he handled the Jeffrey Epstein case. I know their names but could use a refresher. Epstein's a well-connected billionaire. By well-connected we mean...he spent time with President Trump, former President Bill Clinton, and Britain's Prince Andrew. Acosta was the US attorney in Miami. Now, he's the labor secretary â and part of his department's job is to combat sex trafficking. Got it. So what's going on? Epstein has been accused by dozens of girls of child molestation and sex trafficking dating back to the early 2000s. Last year, Miami Herald reporter Julie K Brown dropped a bombshell investigation into a backdoor plea deal he got in 2008, which many thought was essentially a slap on the wrist. When you say slap on the wrist⦠He avoided federal charges, pleaded guilty to just two solicitation of prostitution charges, and served 13 months in jail with permission to leave six days a week (count them, six). For context: he could have faced life in prison. Say what now? Ask Acosta. As the US attorney in Miami at the time, he was responsible for cutting the deal. Brown's reporting brought renewed accusations that Acosta had been too lenient on Epstein. He's defended his handling in the past. Now he's in the hot seat again. Why now? Earlier this week, Epstein was hit with new federal sex crime charges in New York. And people are now calling on Acosta to resign as labor secretary over all this. Yesterday, Acosta piped back up to defend his actions, claiming the deal was the best he could've gotten without letting Epstein off scot-free. This comes as yet another woman spoke out, accusing Epstein of raping her when she was 15. This is all making me nauseous. Yup. And former Palm Beach County State Attorney Barry Krischer denounced Acosta's claims, saying they're "completely wrong." And that secret negotiations took place between Epstein and Acosta back in the day that led to the plea deal. So what happens now? The House Oversight Committee has scheduled a hearing on Acosta's actions later this month â and has asked him to testify at it. Unclear if he will. But he has Trump's vote of confidence. For now. theSkimm The accusations against Epstein have been quietly growing for years. Now that his alleged actions are starting to come to light, it's putting the spotlight on a lot of powerful people and their connections to him. And that spotlight is not going away any time soon. | 