Fox News senior judicial analyst Andrew Napolitano predicted Thursday that Trump Labor Secretary Alexander Acosta will be out of the administration by the end of the week.
“I don’t think he will be around by Friday,” Napolitano told “Fox & Friends” co-host Griff Jenkins of the embattled Labor chief, who is facing renewed scrutiny over his role in securing a plea deal for billionaire financier Jeffrey Epstein in a sex crimes case back in 2008.
“Well, tomorrow is Friday,” co-host Steve Doocy noted in wrapping up the Thursday morning segment.
“I don’t think he will be around by Friday,” repeated Napolitano.
{mosads}The prediction comes one day after Acosta held a press conference defending his actions as a U.S. attorney in Miami. The case is again in the national spotlight after federal prosecutors in New York City brought sex trafficking charges against Epstein.
In the 2008 deal, Epstein pleaded guilty to soliciting prostitution under Florida law, registering as a sex offender and serving 13 months in jail while being granted work-release privileges.
“We believe that we proceeded appropriately,” Acosta told reporters at the Labor Department on Wednesday.
“We did what we did because we wanted to see Epstein go to jail. He needed to go to jail,” he also said, before later adding, “The Palm Beach State Attorney’s Office was ready to let Epstein walk free. No jail time. Nothing.”
Acosta is also facing criticism for failing to disclose the plea deal to Epstein’s victims, which he said could have jeopardized the agreement.
Acosta on Wednesday also defended his relationship with the president, saying it was “outstanding” and referencing Trump’s comments on Tuesday in which he said that Acosta has done a “very good” job and that he feels “very badly” for him.
“I am here to talk about this case. I’m doing my job. If at some point the president decides that I am not the best person to do this job, I respect that. That is his choice,” Acosta said Wednesday.