Trump news: President's labour secretary defends handling of Jeffrey Epstein case as new alleged child victim comes forward

Labour secretary refuses to resign amid growing calls from Democrats

Trump's labour secretary says 'no regrets' over handing of Jeffrey Epstein case as new alleged child victim comes forward

Donald Trump has tried to downplay his relationship with disgraced billionaire Jeffrey Epstein after previously labelling the former Mar-a-Lago guest “a terrific guy”, insisting: ”I don’t think I have spoken with him for 15 years. I was not a fan.”

The financier was arrested and charged in a New York court on Monday with sex trafficking, accused of luring dozens of underage girls to his luxury homes and paying them for sex, a development inspiring Democratic calls for labour secretary Alexander Acosta to resign over his involvement in the Epstein case while working as an attorney in Florida in 2008.

The news comes as the president prepares to host a social media summit at the White House on Thursday, with alt-right meme-makers and a political cartoonist whose work has been branded “blatantly antisemitic” by the Anti-Defamation League in attendance.

Mr Acosta meanwhile addressed his involvement in the Florida case during a press conference on Wednesday afternoon, saying that when he was a federal prosecutor in Florida, his office acted appropriately when it came to the secret plea deal offered to Epstein.

Mr Acosta was asked if he owed an apology to women who said Epstein molested them when they were underage.

He said the prosecution didn’t want to share with the victims that there were efforts to gain restitution for them from Epstein.

He also said there was concern that if negotiations fell through, Epstein’s counsel could use the prospect of restitution to question their credibility.

Mr Acosta said, “In our heart we were trying to do the right thing for these victims.”

Epstein has pleaded not guilty to new charges in New York.

The labour secretary also said he was not intending to resign and that his relationship with the president is “outstanding.”

Additional reporting by AP

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Key Points

• Sir Kim Darroch resigns over criticism of 'dysfunctional' administration
• Trump seeks to downplay relationship with Jeffrey Epstein
• Democrats call for resignation of labour secretary Alexander Acosta
• Trump Organization hosting strip club-sponsored golf tournament
• Megan Rapinoe tells Trump: 'Your message is excluding people'

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Donald Trump's labour secretary has taken to the White House press briefing room to discuss his involvement in a previous sentencing deal for billionaire financier Jeffrey Epstein -

[10 July 2019 19:46 · Chris Riotta]

Labour Secretary Alexander Acosta has not yet mentioned yet why he allowed Jeffrey Epstein's sentencing agreement to be made in secret.

[10 July 2019 19:52 · Chris Riotta]

Donald Trump’s labour secretary Alexander Acosta said he believes he proceeded “appropriately” in designing his so-called sweetheart deal with Jeffrey Epstein, the billionaire financier and alleged paedophile accused of creating a sex trafficking ring. 

Mr Acosta said times have changed since his deal with Mr Epstein was made in secret years ago in Florida. 

[10 July 2019 20:00 · Chris Riotta]

Alexander Acosta has explained his apparent reasoning for not telling Jeffrey Epstein's victims about the secret deal made behind closed doors:

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The labour secretary continues to make it seem as if the case he handled with Jeffrey Epstein was done in some long ago time - the case dates back to 2007 -