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President Donald Trump (g) alongside US Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta at the announcement of his resignation, Washington, July 12, 2019 Alastair Pike / AFP

Alexander Acosta was implicated in his handling of the Epstein case when he was a Florida attorney. He had negotiated an agreement to plead guilty with the billionaire accused of sexually exploiting underage girls. The secretary of labor gave Wednesday a press conference to try to justify himself. But that was obviously not enough.

With our correspondent in Washington , Anne Corpet

" I did everything for Jeffrey Epstein to go to jail, " Alexander Acosta assured on Wednesday. But the sexual predator had been sentenced and the victims had never been informed of the content of the agreement he had reached with the courts.

The explanations of the former Florida attorney did not convince and Alexander Acosta was forced to announce his resignation from his post. The US Secretary of Labor has himself announced his departure with Donald Trump to the press this Friday, July 12. He explains that he wants the focus to be on the good results of the economy and job creation, and not on the Epstein affair .

" What I want to underline today is that the unemployment rate is at its lowest point ever in my life and attention needs to be focused on the economy and the creations of not work on this case, "he said.

Donald Trump praised the qualities of his minister " He did a fantastic job. His resignation is his decision, not mine, "assured the president before declaring that the plea-guilty that Alexander Acosta negotiated ten years ago with Jeffrey Epstein had satisfied everyone. But this is not exactly the case. The victims of Jeffrey Epstein blame the former Florida prosecutor for not having informed them of the content of the agreement he made with their attacker.

The Secretary of Labor refused to express any regret or excuse for the victims.

Donald Trump said he did not demand the departure of his minister and attacked the Democrats who demanded his resignation. " Democrats do not work, all they do is hurt people like Alex Acosta. He did an amazing job as Secretary of Labor. And until this case came up, there was not the slightest problem with this man very well. So, it's very sad, "said the president.

The resignation of Alexander Acosta will be effective in a week. This is the eighth minister of Donald Trump who leaves his post since the arrival of the president at the White House.

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