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World / Americas

White House looking into Acosta role in sex abuse plea deal

Published: 22 Feb 2019 - 05:39 pm | Last Updated: 01 Nov 2021 - 09:44 pm
The US flag flies at full staff less than 48 hours after the death of John McCain over the White House, August 27, 2018. Reuters Kevin Lamarque

The US flag flies at full staff less than 48 hours after the death of John McCain over the White House, August 27, 2018. Reuters Kevin Lamarque

Associated Press

WASHINGTON:  The White House says it's "looking into" Labor Secretary Alex Acosta's handling of a secret plea deal with a wealthy financier accused of sexually abusing dozens of underage girls

A federal judge ruled Thursday that prosecutors in Florida violated the rights of victims by reaching the non-prosecution agreement with Jeffrey Epstein. Acosta was the Miami U.S. attorney who oversaw the arrangement.

President Donald Trump's spokeswoman, Sarah Sanders, on Friday called it a "complicated case" that the White House was "looking into."

Asked if Trump still had confidence in Acosta, Sanders said: "Again, we're looking into the matter. I'm not aware of any changes."

Acosta has called the deal appropriate.