On Labor Secretary Acosta’s Handling of the Epstein Sex Abuse Case and What It Means for the Labor Department

Following is a statement from Christine Owens, Executive Director, National Employment Law Project:

“Accountability is, or at least should be, the hallmark of public service, whatever roles officials occupy. NELP remains deeply troubled by Labor Secretary Alexander Acosta’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein sex abuse prosecution during his time as U.S. attorney in Miami. We call on Congress to launch an investigation into this case.

“Too often, money and power buy outsized influence in Washington at the expense of regular people. That certainly seems to be what happened in Florida, with tragic consequences, and we fear it is what may be happening again in the Department of Labor.

“For that reason, Congress should not simply investigate the Epstein case; it should also take up the question of who is driving the current Department of Labor’s agenda.

“Time after time, the Trump administration has sided with corporate lobbyists over working people, ignoring the very core of its mission to ‘foster, promote and develop the welfare of the wage earners, job seekers, and retirees of the United States.’

“It’s time to find out who the Department of Labor is really working for.”

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