[Nobles:] President Trump is standing by his labor secretary, Alex Acosta. This after a federal judge ruled that he and other prosecutors broke the law over a plea deal with an alleged sex trafficker back when Acosta was a U.S. attorney in Florida. Jessica Schneider has more.
[Jessica Schneider, Cnn Correspondent:] Jeffrey Epstein is the politically-connected Palm Beach billionaire who struck a 2008 plea deal with federal authorities who had uncovered evidence of him sexually abusing dozens of teenage girls. The U.S. attorney at the time, a current member President of Trump's cabinet, Labor Secretary Alex Acosta, allegedly met up with a lawyer for Epstein and assured his legal team that prosecutors would not contact any of the identified individuals, potential witnesses or potential civil claimants. As the two sides hammered out an agreement that met Epstein, avoided trial and federal charges, and only served 13 months in a county jail after pleading guilty to two state prostitution charges. A judge has now ruled that pledge not to inform any of Epstein's accusers of the plea deal was illegal, violating victims' rights.
[Julie Brown, Senior Investigative Reporter, "the Miami Herald":] They felt elated that finally someone, you know, of authority conceded that they had violated the law and that they had treated these girls unfairly.
[Schneider:] Julie Brown exposed the agreement in a November story for "The Miami Herald." She's interviewed several victims who is detail their abuse. Everything down to how to be quiet, be subservient, give Jeffrey what he wants. And, you know, before you know it, I'm being lent out to politicians and to academics. Now, the real criticism is centering around Alex Acosta, who insisted in early February, he wasn't alone in approving this deal.
[Alexander Acosta, U.s. Labor Secretary:] The Department of Justice leadership, at the time, reviewed that plea deal. The Department of Justice has been defending the actions of the office over the intervening 12 years.
[Schneider:] Acosta has not commented, since Thursday's court ruling. But the Labor Department reiterated Acosta's stance, saying the office's decisions were approved by departmental leadership. The president appointed Acosta to his position and long before he ran for office, Donald Trump flaunted his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein, who has also socialized with former President Bill Clinton. This is a photo from Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in 1997. And he told "New York Magazine" in 2002, I have known Jeff for 15 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. President Trump was asked about his labor secretary's role in the Epstein deal Friday.
[Donald Trump, President Of The United States:] I really don't know too much about it. I know he's done a great job as labor secretary. And that seems like a long time ago. But I know he's been a fantastic labor secretary.
[Schneider:] So, what happens now that the judge has ruled the Justice Department's failure to notify victims was illegal? It's unclear. The judge has asked both sides to weigh in on an appropriate remedy. But since Epstein has already served his sentence, it could be difficult to redo any deal. Now, as for the Department of Justice, its Office of Professional Responsibility has opened an investigation into whether Alex Acosta and others might have committed professional misconduct. And Acosta has told CNN that he will cooperate with that investigation. Jessica Schneider, CNN, Washington.
[Nobles:] Jessica, thank you very much. And that does it for me. But I'll be back tomorrow at 5:00 p.m. Eastern. Coming up next is CNN's special report, Facebook at 15. It starts, next. Have a great night.