“Alexander Acosta”的意思、由来-开放百科全书

Rene Alexander Acosta (born January 16, 1969)^[1] is an American attorney, academic, and politician who is the 27th and current United States Secretary of Labor.^[2]^[3] President Donald Trump nominated Acosta to be Labor Secretary on {{no wrap|February 16, 2017}}, and he was confirmed by the Senate on {{no wrap|April 27, 2017}}. Acosta is the first, and as of February 2019 the only, Hispanic person to serve in Trump's cabinet.^[4]^[5]^[6]^[7] A Republican, he was appointed by President George W. Bush to the National Labor Relations Board and later served as Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights and federal prosecutor for the Southern District of Florida. He is the former dean of Florida International University College of Law.

In late 2018, a Miami Herald report critical of a federal non-prosecution agreement with serial child molester and influential billionaire Jeffrey Epstein^[8] -- which had been approved by Acosta a decade earlier while he was serving as US Attorney for Southern District of Florida -- became a focus of Congressional concern and led to calls for an independent investigation and for Acosta's resignation from the Trump Administration. Previously, Acosta had publicly stated that the federal agreement (which required a guilty plea in state court and restitution to victims) was determined by prosecutors to be the best way to assure a conviction. When the controversy resurfaced, Acosta said he welcomed the opportunity to participate in any inquiry, and the US Justice Department notified Congress in early 2019 that it had opened an investigation into the federal handling of the Epstein case.

Background

Acosta is the only son of Cuban immigrants.^[9] He is a native of Miami, Florida, where he attended the Gulliver Schools. He received an A.B. degree in economics from Harvard College in 1990 and received a J.D. degree cum laude from Harvard Law School 1994.^[10]

Following law school, Acosta served as a law clerk to Samuel Alito, then a judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, from 1994 to 1995.^[11] Acosta then worked at the Washington, D.C. office of the law firm Kirkland & Ellis, where he specialized in employment and labor issues.^[12] While in Washington, Acosta taught classes on employment law, disability-based discrimination law, and civil rights law at the George Mason University School of Law.^[13]

On December 31, 2013, Acosta became the new chairman of U.S. Century Bank,^[14] the largest domestically owned Hispanic community bank in Florida and one of the 15 largest Hispanic community banks in the nation. He spearheaded the effort to establish the J.M. degree in banking compliance, BSA and anti-money-laundering at FIU Law. Acosta was a member of the Board of Trustees of Gulliver Schools, where he served a past term as board chairman.^[15]

Bush administration

Acosta served in four presidentially appointed, U.S. Senate-confirmed positions in the Bush administration. From December 2001 to December 2002, he served as Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General in the Civil Rights Division.^[16] From December 2002 to August 2003, he was a member of the National Labor Relations Board for which he participated in or authored more than 125 opinions.^[17]

Then, he became Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division on August 22, 2003,^[18] where he was known for increasing federal prosecutions against human trafficking.^[19] He authorized federal intervention in an Oklahoma religious liberties case to help assure the right to wear hijab in public school, ^[20] and worked with Mississippi authorities to reopen investigation of the 1955 death of Emmett Till, a 14-year-old black youth whose abduction and killing helped spark the civil rights movement.^[21]^[22]

While leading the Civil Rights division, Acosta allowed his predecessor, Bradley Schlozman, to continue to make decisions on hiring.^[23] A report by the Inspector General and the Office of Professional Responsibility later found that Schlozman illegally gave preferential treatment to conservatives and made false statements to the Senate Judiciary Committee. Those findings were relayed to the office of the United States Attorney for the District of Columbia,^[16] but Schlozman was not prosecuted.^[23] While it put the primary responsibility on Schlozman, the report also concluded that Acosta "did not sufficiently supervise Schlozman" and that "in light of indications [he and Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Sheldon Bradshaw] had about Schlozman's conduct and judgment, they failed to ensure that Schlozman's hiring and personnel decisions were based on proper considerations."^[16]^[23]

In 2005, Acosta was appointed United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida^[16]

U.S. Attorney for Southern District of Florida

In 2005, Acosta began serving as U.S. Attorney for Southern District of Florida, where his office successfully prosecuted the lobbyist Jack Abramoff, the terrorism suspect José Padilla, the founders of the Cali Cartel, and Charles McArther Emmanuel, the son of Liberia's former leader.^[24]

The District also targeted white collar crime, prosecuting several bank-related cases, including one against Swiss bank UBS. The case resulted in UBS paying $780 million in fines, and for the first time in history, the bank provided the United States with the names of individuals who were using secret Swiss bank accounts to avoid U.S. taxes.^[25]

Other notable cases during his tenure include the corruption prosecution of Palm Beach County Commission Chairman Tony Masilotti, Palm Beach County Commissioner Warren Newell, Palm Beach County Commissioner Mary McCarty,^[26] and Broward Sheriff Ken Jenne; the conviction of Cali Cartel founders Miguel and Gilberto Rodríguez Orejuela, for the importation of 200,000 kilos of cocaine, which resulted in a $2.1 billion forfeiture; and the white-collar crime prosecutions of executives connected to Hamilton Bank.^[27]

Acosta also emphasized health-care fraud prosecutions. Under Acosta's leadership the District prosecuted more than 700 individuals, responsible for a total of more than $2 billion in Medicare fraud.^[28]

Jeffrey Epstein non-prosecution agreement

In 2007-2008, while serving as the U.S. attorney for Southern Florida, Acosta approved a controversial non-prosecution agreement ^[29] (Jeffrey Epstein case).

In late 2018, as Acosta's name was being circulated as a possible successor to Trump Administration Attorney General Jeff Sessions, the Epstein case became a focus of Congressional concern. This followed publication by the Miami Herald of a detailed report critical of Acosta's work on the case,^[30] in which Jeffrey Epstein, a multimillionaire hedge fund manager with influential connections (including Bill Clinton, Donald Trump, Prince Andrew and many others^[8]), was said to have recruited minor girls from Palm Beach County middle schools and high schools for lewd massages and other paid sexual activities at his Florida mansion. Acosta approved a federal non-prosecution agreement^[29] under which Epstein, along with four co-conspirators and any unnamed “potential co-conspirators”, were granted immunity from all federal criminal charges. To avoid federal prosecution, Epstein agreed to plead guilty to two state prostitution charges, register as a sex offender, and pay restitution to three dozen victims identified by the FBI. The state court sentenced Epstein to 18 months’ incarceration, and he served 13 months, followed by a year of probation. His sentence was served in a private wing of the Palm Beach County Stockade, with work release to his office allowed for up to 12 hours a day six days a week.^[31] While on probation, he was allowed numerous trips on his corporate jet to his homes in Manhattan and the U.S. Virgin Islands.^[32] In a 2011 public letter about the case, Acosta himself seemed to express dissatisfaction with the terms of Epstein's incarceration, stating: "Epstein appears to have received highly unusual treatment while in jail. Although the terms of confinement in a state prison are a matter appropriately left to the State of Florida, and not federal authorities, without doubt, the treatment that he received while in state custody undermined the purpose of a jail sentence." ^[33] The immunity agreement and Epstein's lenient treatment while incarcerated were the subject of ongoing controversy, with the Miami Herald saying in 2018 that Acosta gave Epstein "the deal of a lifetime".^[34]

Subsequent to the federal non-prosecution agreement, additional information came to light indicating that Epstein's activities may have been significantly more extensive—perhaps affecting hundreds of minors, believed to have been recruited from the US and overseas to attend sex parties at Epstein homes in Florida, New York, New Mexico, and the US Virgin Islands, and aboard his private jet—it is alleged that girls as young as 13 were expected to perform sexual favors for Epstein and his guests. Although there have been books^[35] ^[36]and a number of news reports related to these additional alleged activities, criminal charges against Epstein have not been filed in jurisdictions other than Florida. The case was scheduled to be examined in court for the first time in December 2018 as part of a civil lawsuit between Epstein and a lawyer representing several victims, but that suit was settled before witnesses gave testimony.^[37]^[38] In a March 2019 letter to the New York Times, several of Epstein's lawyers (including Whitewater investigator Ken Starr) denied these additional allegations, stating: "The number of young women involved in the investigation has been vastly exaggerated, there was no 'international sex-trafficking operation' and there was never evidence that Mr. Epstein 'hosted sex parties' at his home."^[39]

Acosta's own account of his office's role in the Epstein case was published in 2011.^[40] It was also covered in his Senate testimony for confirmation as Trump Administration Secretary of Labor.^[41]^[42]

Following publication of the November 28, 2018 Miami Herald article about the Epstein case,^[30] Acosta was removed from consideration for US Attorney General, members of Congress submitted a formal request to the US Department of Justice for review of Acosta's role in the Epstein deal^[43], and several editorials called for Acosta's resignation or termination from his then-current position as US Labor Secretary. ^[44]^[45]

David Markus, a Florida defense attorney familiar with Acosta's work as US Attorney for Southern District of Florida offered a contrarian view, stating: "[T]here are many — including the New York Times, Miami Herald, and others — who are calling for Congress to investigate Acosta and force him out, equating Acosta’s approval of the deal to Epstein’s actions. Although it is fair to have an honest disagreement about the Epstein plea agreement, the attacks on Acosta are not justified....At the time this case was being investigated, there were serious questions about whether Epstein’s crimes had the required federal nexus. These were traditional state court crimes with local victims, which the federal government decided should be prosecuted by the state system....In addition, there were legitimate concerns about how a trial would have turned out. These trials are difficult.... Here, prosecutors have said that many of the victims either refused to testify or were going to say things that helped Epstein." ^[46]

Former federal prosecutor, Jeffrey Sloman, echoed this view, writing: “Our priorities were to make sure Epstein could not hurt anyone else and to compensate Epstein’s victims without retraumatizing them. Our team worked diligently to build a federal case against Epstein. Throughout the investigation, we took care to be respectful of the pain Epstein’s victims had endured. As we continued, however, it became clear that most of Epstein’s victims were terrified to cooperate against him. Some hired lawyers to avoid appearing before a grand jury. One of the key witnesses moved to Australia and refused to return calls from us. We also researched and discussed significant legal impediments to prosecuting [in federal court] what was, at heart, a local sex abuse case. Given the obstacles we faced in fashioning a robust federal prosecution, we decided to negotiate a resolution. ….You can disagree with the result we reached, but our whole team — from Alex [Acosta] on down the chain of command — always acted with integrity and in good faith.” ^[47]

In December 2018, a Labor Department spokesperson replied to questions about renewed interest in the Epstein case as follows: "For more than a decade, this prosecution has been reviewed in great detail by newspaper articles, television reports, books, and Congressional testimony, and has been defended by the Department of Justice in litigation across three administrations and several attorneys general. If the Department of Justice’s Office of the Inspector General chooses to review this matter, Secretary Acosta welcomes the opportunity to participate."^[48]

On January 29, 2019, Justice Department inspector general Michael Horowitz asked the Senate to take up legislation already passed by the House that would authorize him to investigate alleged prosecutorial misconduct by Acosta.^[49] Two days later, the Justice Department's Office of Professional Responsibility notified Senator Ben Sasse that it had opened an investigation into Epstein's prosecution.^[50]^[51]

On February 21, 2019, a ruling in federal court on a related matter returned Acosta's role in the Epstein case to the headlines.^[52] ^[53]^[54] ^[55] A key criticism of the Epstein case was that the federal deal with Epstein had been kept secret until after it was finalized, a practice that had been common prior to passage of the Crime Victims' Rights Act of 2004 (CVRA), which requires notifying victims of the progress of federal criminal cases. The CVRA was new and relatively untested at the time of the Epstein non-prosecution agreement. In 2008, two of Epstein's victims filed a lawsuit in federal court aiming to vacate the federal non-prosecution agreement on the grounds that it violated the CVRA.^[34] For more than a decade, the US Attorney's office denied that it acted in violation of victims' rights laws and argued that the CVRA did not apply in the Epstein case.^[56] The government's contention that the CVRA did not apply was based on questions of timing (whether or not CVRA applied prior to filing of federal charges) and jurisdiction (whether the case should be considered a federal case or a state case under the CVRA). The court rejected those arguments in the February 21, 2019 ruling, finding that the CVRA did apply and that victims should have been notified of the Epstein non-prosecution agreement in advance of its signing, to afford them the opportunity to influence its terms. Because the CVRA does not provide for specific penalties in cases where the government fails to meet its notification requirements, the judge gave the parties fifteen days to present the court with possible remedies. At the conclusion of his ruling, Kenneth Marra, the federal judge in the case, noted that he was “not ruling that the decision not to prosecute was improper,” but was “simply ruling that, under the facts of this case, there was a violation of the victims rights [for reasonable, accurate, and timely notice] under the CVRA .”^[57]

Dean of the Florida International University College of Law

On July 1, 2009, Acosta became the second dean of Florida International University College of Law.^[58]

Secretary of Labor

After the nomination of Andrew Puzder to United States Secretary of Labor was withdrawn, President Donald Trump announced in a press conference on February 16, 2017, that he would nominate Acosta to fill the position.^[59]^[60]^[61]^[62]^[63] Acosta was recommended by White House Counsel Don McGahn.^[64]

On April 27, 2017, Acosta was confirmed as Secretary of Labor by the U.S. Senate in a 60–38 vote. He received the votes of 8 Democratic Senators and all Republican Senators except Senator Pat Toomey (R-PA), who did not participate in the vote.^[65]

Personal life

Recognition

Acosta has twice been named one of the nation's 50 most influential Hispanics by Hispanic Business Magazine. He serves on the Florida Innocence Commission,^[66] on the Florida Supreme Court's Commission on Professionalism,^[67] and on the Commission for Hispanic Rights and Responsibilities.^[68]

References

1. ^{{cite news |url=http://archive.tcpalm.com/news/us-attorney-alexander-acosta-to-lead-fius-law-school-ep-398936799-347426931.html |title=U.S. Attorney Alexander Acosta to lead FIU's law school |last1=Weaver |first1=Jay |last2=Yanez |first2=Luisa |date=May 28, 2009 |work=The Miami Herald}}
2. ^{{cite news|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=MH&s_site=miami&p_multi=MH&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=128765BC41ABD758&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM|title=U.S. Attorney R. Alexander Acosta to head FIU law school|date=May 27, 2009|work=Miami Herald|accessdate=August 18, 2011}}
3. ^{{Cite web|url=https://thehill.com/opinion/criminal-justice/431468-trump-should-fire-labor-secretary-acosta-for-cowardice-in-child-sex|title=Trump should fire Labor Secretary Acosta for cowardice in child sex abuse case|last=Ayala|first=Christine|date=2019-02-25|website=TheHill|language=en|access-date=2019-02-27}}
4. ^{{cite web |url=http://www.politico.com/story/2017/02/trump-to-announce-alexander-acosta-as-labor-secretary-nominee-235089|title=Trump to name Alexander Acosta as labor secretary nominee|accessdate=February 16, 2017}}
5. ^{{cite web |url=http://www.cnn.com/2017/02/16/politics/donald-trump-white-house-announcement/index.html|title=Trump to announce Alexander Acosta as labor secretary pick|first=John King, Manu Raju and Dan Merica|last=CNN|accessdate=February 16, 2017}}
6. ^{{cite web |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2017/02/16/president-trump-hold-press-conference/97992390/|title=Trump to name Alexander Acosta as new Labor secretary nominee|accessdate=February 16, 2017}}
7. ^{{Cite web |url=http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/trump-cabinet/story?id=43478002|title=A look at Trump's Cabinet picks|last=News|first=A. B. C. |date=March 3, 2017|website=ABC News|access-date=August 25, 2017}}
8. ^¹{{Cite web|url=https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/article221897990.html|title=Sex abuser Jeffrey Epstein was surrounded by powerful people. Here’s a sampling|website=miamiherald|language=en|access-date=2019-02-23}}
9. ^{{cite web|url=http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article133102649.html|title=Trump’s labor pick is FIU law dean and a former Miami U.S. attorney|accessdate=August 9, 2018}}
10. ^{{cite news|title=Alexander Acosta ’94 nominated to be labor secretary |url=https://today.law.harvard.edu/alexander-acosta-94-nominated-secretary-labor/|accessdate=February 21, 2017|publisher=Harvard Law Today|date=February 16, 2017}}
11. ^{{cite news|last1=Adams|first1=T. Becket|title=6 things to know about Alexander Acosta, Trump's new pick for labor secretary|url=http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/6-things-to-know-about-alexander-acosta-trumps-new-pick-for-labor-secretary/article/2615033|accessdate=February 21, 2017|publisher=Washington Examiner|date=February 16, 2017}}
12. ^{{cite news|last1=King|first1=John|last2=Raju|first2=Manu|last3=Merica|first3=Dan|title=Trump names first Hispanic Cabinet pick|url=http://www.cnn.com/2017/02/16/politics/donald-trump-white-house-announcement/|accessdate=February 21, 2017|publisher=CNN |date=February 16, 2017}}
13. ^{{cite news|last1=Smith|first1=Nancy |url=http://www.sunshinestatenews.com/story/fiu-law-school-dean-alexander-costa-trumps-secretary-labor-pick|title=FIU Law School Dean, Alexander Acosta, Trump's Secretary of Labor Pick|accessdate=February 21, 2017|publisher=Sunshine State News|date=February 16, 2017}}
14. ^{{cite news |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/southflorida/news/2013/12/12/former-us-attorney-becomes-chairman.html|title=Former U.S. Attorney becomes chairman of U.S. Century Bank|work=By Brian Bandell of South Florida Business Journal |accessdate=February 24, 2014 |date=December 12, 2013}}
15. ^{{cite web|title=Our Leadership|url=https://www.gulliverschools.org/about/our-leadership|publisher=Gulliver School |accessdate=February 21, 2017}}
16. ^¹²³{{cite report |author1=Office of the Inspector General |author2=Office of Professional Responsibility |author-link1=Office of Professional Responsibility |author-link2=United States Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General |title=An Investigation of Allegations of Politicized Hiring and Other Improper Personnel Actions in the Civil Rights Division |url=https://oig.justice.gov/special/s0901/final.pdf|accessdate=May 12, 2017 |date=January 13, 2009}}
17. ^{{Cite web |url=http://heavy.com/news/2017/02/alexander-acosta-donald-trump-labor-secretary-national-relations-board-assistant-attorney-general-civil-rights-justice-department-muslims-southern-district-florida-dean-international-university/ |title=R. Alexander Acosta: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know |last=Morrow |first=Brendan}}
18. ^{{cite news|last1=Vitali|first1=Ali|last2=Alexander|first2=Peter |title=Trump Announces Alexander Acosta as New Labor Secretary Pick|url=http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/amp/trump-announces-alexander-acosta-new-labor-secretary-pick-n721771|accessdate=February 21, 2017|publisher=NBC News|date=February 16, 2017}}
19. ^{{Cite web|url=https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article133142059.html|title=A passion of Trump’s new Labor secretary pick: Trafficking ‘is evil. It is hideous.’|website=miamiherald|language=en|access-date=2019-01-30}}
20. ^{{Cite web|url=https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/11-3-29%20Acosta%20Testimony.pdf|title=Statement of R. Alexander Acosta before the United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Human Rights Hearing Entitled: "Protecting the Civil Rights of Muslim Americans", March 29. 2011.|last=|first=|date=|website=|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=|access-date=}}
21. ^{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/10/national/us-to-reopen-investigation-of-emmett-tills-murder-in-1955.html|title=U.S. to Reopen Investigation of Emmett Till's Murder in 1955|last=Newman|first=Maria|date=2004-05-10|work=The New York Times|access-date=2019-01-30|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}
22. ^{{Cite web|url=https://www.justice.gov/archive/opa/pr/2004/May/04_crt_311.htm|title=#311: 05-10-04 JUSTICE DEPARTMENT TO INVESTIGATE 1955 EMMETT TILL MURDER|website=www.justice.gov|access-date=2019-01-30}}
23. ^¹²{{cite web |last1=Serwer|first1=Adam|title=The Scandal That May Haunt the New Nominee for Labor Secretary |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/02/trump-labor-nominee-presided-over-politicized-hiring-scandal-at-justice/517002/|website=The Atlantic|accessdate=May 12, 2017}}
24. ^{{cite news |last1=Rappeport|first1=Alan|title=R. Alexander Acosta, Law School Dean, Is Trump’s New Pick for Labor |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/16/us/politics/alexander-acosta-labor-secretary-trump.html|accessdate=February 21, 2017 |publisher=New York Times|date=February 16, 2017}}
25. ^{{cite news |last1=Graham|first1=David|title=Trump's New Pick for Secretary of Labor: Alexander Acosta |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/02/trump-names-alexander-acosta-as-labor-pick/516987/|accessdate=February 21, 2017|publisher=The Atlantic|date=February 16, 2017}}
26. ^{{cite web|url=http://www.floridatrend.com/article/6059/mary-mccartys-fall-from-grace|title=Mary McCarty's Fall From Grace|website=FloridaTrend|publisher=FloridaTrend|accessdate=January 3, 2018}}
27. ^{{cite news|url=https://www.shrm.org/hr-today/news/hr-news/pages/alexander-acosta-is-trump%E2%80%99s-new-pick-for-labor-secretary.aspx|title=Alexander Acosta Is Trump’s New Pick for Labor Secretary|last1=Wilkie|first1=Dana|date=February 16, 2017|accessdate=February 21, 2017|publisher=Society for Human Resource Management}}
28. ^{{cite news|url=http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2009-05-24/news/0905210261_1_medicaid-fraud-health-fraud-medicare-billings|title=The Issue: Health Care Fraud Costly|date=May 24, 2009|accessdate=February 21, 2017|publisher=Sun Sentinel}}
29. ^¹{{Cite web|url=https://www.scribd.com/document/342637849/Acosta-Epstein|title="Non Prosecution Agreement In Re Investigation of Jeffrey Epstein," September 24, 2007|last=|first=|date=|website=Scribd|language=en|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=|access-date=2018-12-29}}
30. ^¹{{cite web|url=https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/article220097825.html|title=How a future Trump Cabinet member gave a serial sex abuser the deal of a lifetime|date=November 28, 2018|website=Miami Herald|access-date=November 28, 2018}}
31. ^{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/21/us/jeffrey-epstein-judge-prosecution-agreement.html|title=Prosecutors Broke Law in Agreement Not to Prosecute Jeffrey Epstein, Judge Rules|first=Patricia|last=Mazzei|date=February 21, 2019|publisher=|via=NYTimes.com}}
32. ^{{cite news|url=https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/article219494920.html|title=Even from jail, sex abuser manipulated the system. His victims were kept in the dark|last=Brown|first=Julie K.|date=November 28, 2018|work=Miami Herald|accessdate=4 December 2018}}
33. ^{{Cite news|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2011/03/25/jeffrey-epstein-how-the-billionaire-pedophile-got-off-easy|title=Jeffrey Epstein: How the Hedge Fund Mogul Pedophile Got Off Easy|last=Aitken|first=Conchita Sarnoff{{!}}Lee|date=2011-03-25|access-date=2019-01-30|language=en}}
34. ^¹{{cite news|url=https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/article220097825.html|title=How a future Trump Cabinet member gave a serial sex abuser the deal of a lifetime|last1=Brown|first1=Julie|date=November 28, 2018|accessdate=November 28, 2018|publisher=Miami Herald}}
35. ^{{Cite book|title=TrafficKing|last=Sarnoff|first=Conchita|publisher=Zumbaba.com|year=2016|isbn=978-168273-599-2|location=|pages=}}
36. ^{{Cite book|title=Filthy Rich: Filthy Rich: The Billionaire's Sex Scandal--The Shocking True Story of Jeffrey Epstein|last=Patterson|first=James|publisher=|year=2016|isbn=|location=|pages=}}
37. ^{{cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/12/04/politics/jeffrey-epstein-lawsuit-settled/index.html|title=Millionaire sex offender Jeffrey Epstein apologizes in settling malicious prosecution suit|last1=Flores|first1=Rosa|date=December 4, 2018|work=CNN|accessdate=4 December 2018|last2=McLaughlin|first2=Eliott C.}}
38. ^{{Citation|last=WPTV News {{!}} West Palm Beach Florida|title=Settlement reached in Jeffrey Epstein civil lawsuit|date=2018-12-04|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAgq6Y28CtA|access-date=2019-02-25}}
39. ^{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/04/opinion/letters/jeffrey-epstein.html|title=Opinion {{!}} Jeffrey Epstein’s Attorneys: A Fair Plea Deal|date=2019-03-04|work=The New York Times|access-date=2019-03-28|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}
40. ^{{Cite news|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2011/03/25/jeffrey-epstein-how-the-billionaire-pedophile-got-off-easy|title=Jeffrey Epstein: How the Hedge Fund Mogul Pedophile Got Off Easy|last=Aitken|first=Conchita Sarnoff{{!}}Lee|date=2011-03-25|work=The Daily Beast|access-date=2018-12-13|language=en}}
41. ^{{Cite web|url=https://www.c-span.org/video/?425697-1/labor-secretary-nominee-outlines-policy-priorities-confirmation-hearing|title=Labor Secretary Nominee Outlines Policy Priorities Confirmation Hearing|website=www.c-span.org|language=en-us|access-date=2018-12-13}}
42. ^{{Cite web|url=https://www.congress.gov/115/chrg/shrg24848/CHRG-115shrg24848.htm|title=- NOMINATION OF ALEXANDER ACOSTA OF FLORIDA TO BE SECRETARY OF LABOR|website=www.congress.gov|access-date=2018-12-29}}
43. ^{{Cite web|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/house/419620-lawmakers-call-for-investigation-into-labor-secretary-acosta-for-sex-offender|title=Lawmakers call for investigation into Labor Secretary Acosta for sex offender plea deal|last=Birnbaum|first=Emily|date=2018-12-04|website=TheHill|language=en|access-date=2018-12-29}}
44. ^{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/03/opinion/alex-acosta-jeffrey-epstein-trump.html|title=Opinion {{!}} Why Does Alex Acosta Still Have a Job?|last=Goldberg|first=Michelle|date=2018-12-03|work=The New York Times|access-date=2018-12-29|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}
45. ^{{Cite web|url=https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/news-columns-blogs/fabiola-santiago/article222416805.html|title=Alex Acosta, you made a mockery of Florida’s sex offender laws. It’s time to resign.|website=miamiherald|language=en|access-date=2018-12-29}}
46. ^{{Cite web|url=https://www.miamiherald.com/opinion/op-ed/article222705765.html|title=Alexander Acosta is being unfairly criticized for his handling of Epstein’s plea deal|website=miamiherald|language=en|access-date=2018-12-29}}
47. ^{{Cite web|url=https://www.miamiherald.com/opinion/op-ed/article226331175.html|title=Alex Acosta acted with professionalism and integrity in handling the Jeffrey Epstein case|website=miamiherald|language=en|access-date=2019-02-24}}
48. ^{{Cite web|url=https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2018/12/11/18134325/jeffrey-epstein-miami-herald-alex-acosta-trump|title=Trump’s labor secretary once helped a sex offender stay out of prison. The Senate wants answers.|last=North|first=Anna|date=2018-12-11|website=Vox|access-date=2018-12-13}}
49. ^{{cite web|url=https://news.bloomberglaw.com/daily-labor-report/labor-secretarys-role-in-abuse-deal-could-get-doj-scrutiny-2|title=Labor Secretary’s Role in Abuse Deal Could Get DOJ Scrutiny (2)|first1=Chris|last1=Opfer|first2=Jaclyn|last2=Diaz|website=news.bloomberglaw.com}}
50. ^{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/justice-department-opens-probe-jeffrey-epstein-s-plea-deal-n968551|title=Justice Department opens probe into Jeffrey Epstein's plea deal|website=NBC News}}
51. ^{{Cite web|url=https://politi.co/2MSIls9|title=DOJ opens investigation into Alexander Acosta plea deal|last=Kullgren|first=Ian|website=POLITICO|language=en|access-date=2019-02-09}}
52. ^{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/21/us/jeffrey-epstein-judge-prosecution-agreement.html|title=Prosecutors Broke Law in Agreement Not to Prosecute Jeffrey Epstein, Judge Rules|last=Mazzei|first=Patricia|date=2019-02-21|work=The New York Times|access-date=2019-02-22|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}
53. ^{{Cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/federal-prosecutors-broke-the-law-in-jeffrey-epstein-case-judge-rules-11550790872|title=Federal Prosecutors Broke the Law in Jeffrey Epstein Case, Judge Rules|last=Gershman|first=Jacob|date=2019-02-21|work=Wall Street Journal|access-date=2019-02-23|language=en-US|issn=0099-9660}}
54. ^{{Cite web|url=https://www.miamiherald.com/news/state/florida/article226577419.html|title=Federal prosecutors broke law in Jeffrey Epstein case, judge rules|website=miamiherald|language=en|access-date=2019-02-23}}
55. ^{{Cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/courts_law/judge-prosecutors-deal-with-jeffrey-epstein-in-molestation-case-violated-law-misled-victims/2019/02/21/2b48684a-3618-11e9-854a-7a14d7fec96a_story.html?utm_term=.6f6d227e1749|title="Judge: Prosecutors’ deal with Jeffrey Epstein in molestation case violated law, misled victims" Washington Post|last=|first=|date=|website=|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=|access-date=}}
56. ^{{Cite web|url=https://www.palmbeachdailynews.com/news/crime--law/breaking-feds-explain-sweet-deal-for-billionaire-sex-offender-epstein/nN5WTmFcZRaRXzHZSYWtLP/|title=BREAKING: Feds explain sweet deal for billionaire sex offender Epstein|last=Musgrave|first=Jane|website=Palm Beach Daily News|language=en|access-date=2019-02-13}}
57. ^{{Cite web|url=https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/5746136-Read-the-judge-s-ruling.html|title=Read the judge's ruling|last=Bureau)|first=DocumentCloud Admin (McClatchy Washington|website=www.documentcloud.org|language=en|access-date=2019-02-24}}
58. ^{{cite web|url=https://news.fiu.edu/2017/02/fiu-law-dean-acosta-nominated-for-u-s-labor-secretary-post/108809|title=FIU Law Dean Acosta nominated for U.S. labor secretary post|accessdate=August 9, 2018}}
59. ^{{cite web|url=https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2017/02/16/president-donald-j-trump-nominates-r-alexander-acosta-be-secretary-labor|title=President Donald J. Trump Nominates R. Alexander Acosta to be Secretary of Labor|accessdate=August 9, 2018}}
60. ^{{cite web|url=http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/trump-set-announce-alexander-acosta-new-labor-secretary-pick-n721771|title=Trump announced Alexander Acosta as new Labor Secretary pick on Thursday|accessdate=August 9, 2018}}
61. ^{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/16/us/politics/alexander-acosta-labor-secretary-trump.html|title=R. Alexander Acosta, Law School Dean, Is Trump’s New Pick for Labor|last=Baker|first=Peter|date=February 16, 2017|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=February 16, 2017|issn=0362-4331}}
62. ^{{cite web |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2017/02/16/a8ba8a48-f474-11e6-8d72-263470bf0401_story.html|title=In an erratic performance, President Trump shows his supporters who's boss|first=Philip|last=Rucker|website=Washington Post|accessdate=August 9, 2018}}
63. ^{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/16/us/politics/trump-news-conference.html|title=‘I Inherited a Mess,’ Trump Says, Defending His Performance|accessdate=August 9, 2018}}
64. ^{{cite news|last1=Cook|first1=Nancy|title=Trump’s top lawyer faces a giant cleanup job |url=http://www.politico.com/story/2017/05/16/trump-mcgahn-white-house-cleanup-238410|publisher=Politico|date=May 16, 2017}}
65. ^{{Cite web |url=https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=115&session=1&vote=00116 |title=On the Nomination (Confirmation R. Alexander Acosta, of Florida, to be Secretary of Labor)|last=United States Senate}}
66. ^{{cite web|url=http://www.flcourts.org/publications-reports-stats/publications/index.stml#innocence |title=Publications|date=August 5, 2014|accessdate=August 9, 2018}}
67. ^{{cite web|url=http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/02/16/who-is-labor-secretary-pick-alexander-acosta.html|title=Who is Labor secretary pick Alexander Acosta?|date=February 16, 2017|accessdate=August 9, 2018}}
68. ^{{cite web |url=http://www.americanbar.org/advocacy/commission_on_hispanic_legal_rights_responsibilities.html|title=Commission on Hispanic Legal Rights & Responsibilities|website=www.americanbar.org|accessdate=August 9, 2018}}