Jeffrey Epstein’s luck has run out. The well-connected billionaire financier linked to President Donald Trump and former President Bill Clinton was denied bond in an appearance in federal court on Monday.
Epstein was arrested on Saturday and indicted on child sex trafficking and child sex trafficking conspiracy, including allegations he sexually abused dozens of girls as young as 14. He pleaded not guilty on Monday.
On Tuesday, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer on Tuesday joined House Speaker Nancy Pelosi calling for Trump’s Labor Secretary Alexander Acosta to step down.
Acosta cut a deal with Epstein giving him a light sentence for two felony prostitution charges in Florida in 2007. The deal allowed Epstein to remain on house arrest and allowed him to work at his office while serving his term for 13 months.
“Epstein should have been behind bars years ago, but unfortunately Secretary of Labor Alex Acosta cut Epstein a sweetheart deal while Acosta was a U.S. attorney in Florida in 2008,” Schumer said Tuesday on the Senate floor.
“It is now impossible for anyone to have confidence in Secretary Acosta’s ability to lead the Department of Labor,” Schumer added. “If he refuses to resign, President Trump should fire him. Instead of prosecuting a predator, a serial sex trafficker of children, Acosta chose to let him off easy. This is not acceptable.”
The Trump administration defended Acosta while downplaying Trump’s connections to Epstein. Embarrassing quotes have surfaced in which Trump refers to Epstein as a “terrific guy” who’s “fun” to be with.
“I’ve known Jeff for fifteen years. Terrific guy. He’s a lot of fun to be with. It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side.” Trump told New York Magazine in 2002.
Bill Clinton’s link to Epstein is even more problematic. Clinton was a regular passenger on Epstein’s own Boeing 727 – dubbed the “Lolita Express” by the news media. Flight logs show Clinton hitched a ride to Epstein’s private island 26 times.
According to reports, Epstein threw lavish parties featuring underage girls who were provided to his guests for their own personal pleasure on his island.
Clinton released a statement on Monday downplaying his connection to Epstein, saying he only flew on the Lolita Express 4 times. In the statement obtained by Fox News, Clinton said he “knows nothing” about the “terrible crimes” linked to Mr. Epstein.
In July 2013, Epstein was arrested again and charged with procuring a minor for prostitution in Florida. He skated on that charge also.
The 66-year-old billionaire financier is in jail awaiting a hearing on the latest charges involving 3 of his victims who were minors when they were allegedly sexually abused by Epstein.
Photos by Davidoff Studios/Getty Images, Florida Department of Law Enforcement via Getty Images, Stephanie Keith/Getty Images
