The following is extracted and generated from a recent copy of Acosta's biography on Wikipedia. You can click here to read the source article at Wikipedia.
Alexander Acosta
27th United States Secretary of Labor
Dean of the Florida International University College of Law
United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida
United States Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division
Member of the National Labor Relations Board
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 On
In late 2018, a Miami Herald report on a controversial plea agreement with billionaire hebephile Jeffrey Epstein, 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.
Background
Acosta is the only son of Cuban immigrants.7 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 1994.8
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 1995.9 Acosta then worked at the Washington, D.C. office of the law firm Kirkland & Ellis, where he specialized in employment and labor issues.10 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.11
On December 31, 2013, Acosta became the new chairman of U.S. Century Bank,12 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.13
Executive branch
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.14 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.15
Then, he became Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division on August 22, 2003.16 While leading the division, he allowed Bradley Schlozman to make decisions on hiring.17 A report by the Inspector General and the Office of Professional Responsibility later found that Schlozman illegally used his authority to give 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,18 but he was not prosecuted.19 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."2021
In 2005, Acosta was appointed United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida22
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 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.23
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.24
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,25 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.26
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.27
Jeffrey Epstein non-prosecution agreement
In 2007, while serving as the U.S. attorney for Southern Florida, Acosta approved a controversial plea agreement (Jeffrey Epstein case). Read full text of the federal non-prosecution agreement with Jeffrey Epstein here: 28
The Epstein case became a focus of Congressional concern in late 2018, as Acosta's name was being circulated as a possible successor to Trump Administration Attorney General, Jeff Sessions. On November 28, 2018, the Miami Herald published a detailed report critical of Acosta's work on the Epstein case,29 in which Jeffrey Epstein, a multimillionaire hedge fund manager with many influential friends, was said to have recruited minor girls from Palm Beach County middle schools and high schools for paid sexual activities at his Florida mansion. Acosta approved a federal non-prosecution agreement 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. He was sentenced to 18 months’ incarceration and served 13 months, followed by a year of probation. His sentence was served in a private wing of the Palm Beach County jail, with work release to his office allowed for up to 12 hours a day six days a week. While on probation he was allowed numerous trips on his corporate jet to his homes in Manhattan and the U.S. Virgin Islands.30 The immunity agreement and his lenient treatment were the subject of ongoing controversy, with the Miami Herald saying Acosta gave Epstein "the deal of a lifetime".31 The deal was kept secret until after it was finalized, which some victims believe to have been in violation of a federal law that requires notifying victims of any potential plea agreement.32 The US Attorney's office denies that it acted in violation of victims' rights laws. The case was scheduled to be examined in court for the first time in December 2018 as part of a civil lawsuit against Epstein, but that suit was settled before witnesses gave testimony.33 There is another lawsuit pending in federal court, aimed at vacating the plea agreement on the grounds that it violated victims' rights.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 a number of civil lawsuits related to these additional alleged activities, criminal charges against Epstein have not been filed in jurisdictions other than Florida.
Acosta's own account of his office's role in the Epstein case was published in 2011.35 It was also covered in his Senate testimony for confirmation as Trump Administration Secretary of Labor.3637
Following publication of the November 28, 2018 Miami Herald article about the Epstein case, 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 deal38, and several editorials called for Acosta's resignation or termination from his then-current position as US Labor Secretary. 3940
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." 41
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."42
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. During Acosta's tenure, FIU Law has risen to #100 in the U.S. News and World Report Rankings, improved its student to faculty ratio from 16.2 to 1, to 12.8 to 1, and reduced its class size by 40%.43
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.4445464748 Acosta was recommended by White House Counsel Don McGahn.49
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.50
Personal life
Acosta is married to Jan Williams.
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,51 on the Florida Supreme Court's Commission on Professionalism,52 and on the Commission for Hispanic Rights and Responsibilities.53
References
| 1 | Weaver, Jay et al. U.S. Attorney Alexander Acosta to lead FIU's law school, May 28, 2009. LINK |
| 2 | U.S. Attorney R. Alexander Acosta to head FIU law school, May 27, 2009, accessed August 18, 2011. LINK |
| 3 | Trump to name Alexander Acosta as labor secretary nominee, accessed February 16, 2017. LINK |
| 4 | CNN, John King, Manu Raju and Dan Merica. Trump to announce Alexander Acosta as labor secretary pick, accessed February 16, 2017. LINK |
| 5 | Trump to name Alexander Acosta as new Labor secretary nominee, accessed February 16, 2017. LINK |
| 6 | News, A. B. C.. A look at Trump's Cabinet picks, at ABC News, March 3, 2017. LINK |
| 7 | Trump’s labor pick is FIU law dean and a former Miami U.S. attorney, accessed August 9, 2018. LINK |
| 8 | Alexander Acosta ’94 nominated to be labor secretary, Harvard Law Today, February 16, 2017, accessed February 21, 2017. LINK |
| 9 | Adams, T. Becket. 6 things to know about Alexander Acosta, Trump's new pick for labor secretary, Washington Examiner, February 16, 2017, accessed February 21, 2017. LINK |
| 10 | King, John et al. Trump names first Hispanic Cabinet pick, CNN, February 16, 2017, accessed February 21, 2017. LINK |
| 11 | Smith, Nancy. FIU Law School Dean, Alexander Acosta, Trump's Secretary of Labor Pick, Sunshine State News, February 16, 2017, accessed February 21, 2017. LINK |
| 12 | Former U.S. Attorney becomes chairman of U.S. Century Bank, December 12, 2013, accessed February 24, 2014. LINK |
| 13 | Our Leadership, Gulliver School, accessed February 21, 2017. LINK |
| 14, | An Investigation of Allegations of Politicized Hiring and Other Improper Personnel Actions in the Civil Rights Division, January 13, 2009, accessed May 12, 2017. LINK |
| 15 | Morrow, Brendan. R. Alexander Acosta: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know. LINK |
| 16 | Vitali, Ali et al. Trump Announces Alexander Acosta as New Labor Secretary Pick, NBC News, February 16, 2017, accessed February 21, 2017. LINK |
| 17, | Serwer, Adam. The Scandal That May Haunt the New Nominee for Labor Secretary, at The Atlantic, accessed May 12, 2017. LINK |
| 23 | Rappeport, Alan. R. Alexander Acosta, Law School Dean, Is Trump’s New Pick for Labor, New York Times, February 16, 2017, accessed February 21, 2017. LINK |
| 24 | Graham, David. Trump's New Pick for Secretary of Labor: Alexander Acosta, The Atlantic, February 16, 2017, accessed February 21, 2017. LINK |
| 25 | Mary McCarty's Fall From Grace, at FloridaTrend, FloridaTrend, accessed January 3, 2018. LINK |
| 26 | Wilkie, Dana. Alexander Acosta Is Trump’s New Pick for Labor Secretary, Society for Human Resource Management, February 16, 2017, accessed February 21, 2017. LINK |
| 27 | The Issue: Health Care Fraud Costly, Sun Sentinel, May 24, 2009, accessed February 21, 2017. LINK |
| 28 | "Non Prosecution Agreement In Re Investigation of Jeffrey Epstein," September 24, 2007, at Scribd. LINK |
| 29 | How a future Trump Cabinet member gave a serial sex abuser the deal of a lifetime, at Miami Herald, November 28, 2018. LINK |
| 30 | Brown, Julie K.. Even from jail, sex abuser manipulated the system. His victims were kept in the dark, November 28, 2018, accessed 4 December 2018. LINK |
| 31, | Brown, Julie. How a future Trump Cabinet member gave a serial sex abuser the deal of a lifetime, Miami Herald, November 28, 2018, accessed November 28, 2018. LINK |
| 33, | Flores, Rosa et al. Millionaire sex offender Jeffrey Epstein apologizes in settling malicious prosecution suit, December 4, 2018, accessed 4 December 2018. LINK |
| 35 | Aitken, Conchita Sarnoff|Lee. Jeffrey Epstein: How the Hedge Fund Mogul Pedophile Got Off Easy, 25 March 2011. LINK |
| 36 | Labor Secretary Nominee Outlines Policy Priorities Confirmation Hearing, at www.c-span.org. LINK |
| 37 | - NOMINATION OF ALEXANDER ACOSTA OF FLORIDA TO BE SECRETARY OF LABOR, at www.congress.gov. LINK |
| 38 | Birnbaum, Emily. Lawmakers call for investigation into Labor Secretary Acosta for sex offender plea deal, at TheHill, 4 December 2018. LINK |
| 39 | Goldberg, Michelle. Opinion | Why Does Alex Acosta Still Have a Job?, 3 December 2018. LINK |
| 40 | Alex Acosta, you made a mockery of Florida’s sex offender laws. It’s time to resign., at miamiherald. LINK |
| 41 | Alexander Acosta is being unfairly criticized for his handling of Epstein’s plea deal, at miamiherald. LINK |
| 42 | North, Anna. Trump’s labor secretary once helped a sex offender stay out of prison. The Senate wants answers., at Vox, 11 December 2018. LINK |
| 43 | FIU Law Dean Acosta nominated for U.S. labor secretary post, accessed August 9, 2018. LINK |
| 44 | President Donald J. Trump Nominates R. Alexander Acosta to be Secretary of Labor, accessed August 9, 2018. LINK |
| 45 | Trump announced Alexander Acosta as new Labor Secretary pick on Thursday, accessed August 9, 2018. LINK |
| 46 | Baker, Peter. R. Alexander Acosta, Law School Dean, Is Trump’s New Pick for Labor, The New York Times, February 16, 2017. LINK |
| 47 | Rucker, Philip. In an erratic performance, President Trump shows his supporters who's boss, at Washington Post, accessed August 9, 2018. LINK |
| 48 | ‘I Inherited a Mess,’ Trump Says, Defending His Performance, accessed August 9, 2018. LINK |
| 49 | Cook, Nancy. Trump’s top lawyer faces a giant cleanup job, Politico, May 16, 2017. LINK |
| 50 | United States Senate. On the Nomination (Confirmation R. Alexander Acosta, of Florida, to be Secretary of Labor). LINK |
| 51 | Publications, August 5, 2014, accessed August 9, 2018. LINK |
| 52 | Who is Labor secretary pick Alexander Acosta?, February 16, 2017, accessed August 9, 2018. LINK |
| 53 | Commission on Hispanic Legal Rights & Responsibilities, at www.americanbar.org, accessed August 9, 2018. LINK |