Pence responds to Acosta’s explanation of role in Epstein case

Vice President Pence told reporters Wednesday the White House welcomes the prosecution of financier and registered sex offender Jeffrey Epstein on new sex trafficking charges amid ongoing controversy over Labor Secretary Alexander Acosta’s role in Epstein’s 2007 prosecution.

“There can be no tolerance of sexual abuse of children,” Pence told reporters. “I was glad to see the Southern District of New York bringing prosecution against Jeffrey Epstein. We believe he should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

{mosads}Pence said the White House also welcomed Acosta’s explanation of a controversial deal he made with Epstein as a U.S. attorney in 2008. Under the arrangement, Epstein served 13 months and was allowed to spend 16 hours per day outside prison.

Pence characterized the agreement as a “plea agreement that resulted in a guilty plea, jail time and restitution.”

The vice president demurred on whether Acosta had the confidence of the White House amid the controversy, saying, “Every member of our Cabinet serves at the pleasure of the president” and adding that “we were pleased to see Secretary Acosta step forward and explain the basis of the plea agreement in 2008.”

In a news conference earlier Wednesday, Acosta defended the plea deal, saying “facts are being overlooked” by its critics.

“We did what we did because we wanted to see Epstein go to jail. He needed to go to jail,” Acosta said amid calls from numerous Democratic members of Congress for his resignation.