Alexander Acosta

Robert Alexander Acosta is an American attorney and politician who served as the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida from 2005 to 2009 and as the 27th U.S. Secretary of Labor from 2017 to 2019. As U.S. Attorney, Acosta oversaw the negotiation and signing of the 2007 non-prosecution agreement (NPA) with Jeffrey Epstein, which allowed Epstein to plead guilty to minor state charges instead of facing a federal indictment for sex trafficking involving dozens of underage victims. The NPA was kept secret from the victims, later ruled to be a violation of the Crime Victims' Rights Act. Despite this controversial record, Acosta was nominated and confirmed as Secretary of Labor by President Trump in 2017. Following Epstein's 2019 arrest and renewed scrutiny of the plea deal, Acosta resigned from the Cabinet on July 12, 2019. He has defended his actions, claiming the NPA was the best deal that could be achieved given the circumstances.

Born in Miami to Cuban immigrant parents. Graduated from Harvard College and Harvard Law School. Clerked for Justice Samuel Alito (then on the Third Circuit).

Acosta reportedly told Trump's transition team that he had been told to leave Epstein alone because "he belonged to intelligence," though Acosta later denied making this specific statement. The NPA was so secretive that it was sealed from the victims for over a decade.

Son of Cuban immigrants. Married Jan Williams. Multiple children.