Trump Limply Defends Acosta's Handling Of Sex Abuse Case: 'Seems Like A Long Time Ago'

David Moye
Updated

Donald Trump gave a limp defense on Friday to accusations that Labor Secretary Alexander Acosta broke federal law when he was a prosecutor by signing a plea deal with Jeffrey Epstein.

The former hedge fund manager recruited underage girls in Florida and from overseas to work in an international sex ring.

Although Epstein was convicted of soliciting an underage girl for prostitution, he only served about a year because of a lenient deal that Acosta, the federal prosecutor overseeing the case at the time, made privately with Epstein’s attorney in 2007.

As part of the deal, the future Trump appointee agreed to keep the arrangement from Epstein’s victims.

Now, Acosta is coming under fire for the deal, but not, apparently, from the president himself, based on comments he made to reporters on Friday, according to CNN’s Jake Tapper.

“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,” Trump said.

The collective reaction of many Twitter users seemed to be, “Same B.S., different day.”

Others figured Trump had a reason for keeping mum about the scandal.

Many people had a big problem with Trump’s use of the phrase “seems like a long time ago,” especially since he has claimed one of his reasons for wanting to build a border wall is to stop human sex trafficking, which he claimed last April was “worse than it’s ever been in the history of the world.”

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Some Twitter users pointed out Trump’s close relationship with Epstein.

Some noticed the president’s comments fit a pattern...

Others pointed out that the president didn’t think the following incidents should be ignored because they also happened a long time ago.

Meanwhile, Patton Oswalt couldn’t help but comment that the Acosta allegations are just one-third of a sex scandal hat trick.

Also on HuffPost

That giving your wife "negotiable assets" is a terrible mistake.

“I would never buy Ivana any decent jewels or pictures. Why give her negotiable assets?” Trump is quoted as saying of his then-wife in a <a href="http://www.vanityfair.com/magazine/2015/07/donald-ivana-trump-divorce-prenup-marie-brenner" target="_blank">1990 Vanity Fair piece</a>.

That women are essentially aesthetically-pleasing objects.

In his 2006 book <em>Trump 101: The Way to Success</em>, Trump wrote: "Beauty and elegance, whether in a woman, a building, or a work of art, is not just superficial or something pretty to see."
In his 2006 book Trump 101: The Way to Success, Trump wrote: "Beauty and elegance, whether in a woman, a building, or a work of art, is not just superficial or something pretty to see."

That women on The Apprentice need to rely on sex appeal.

"It's certainly not groundbreaking news that the early victories by the women on 'The Apprentice' were, to a very large extent, dependent on their sex appeal." -- <em>How To Get Rich</em>, 2004
"It's certainly not groundbreaking news that the early victories by the women on 'The Apprentice' were, to a very large extent, dependent on their sex appeal." -- How To Get Rich, 2004

That bad press doesn't matter as long as you have a sexy girlfriend.

"You know, it doesn't really matter what [the media] write as long as you've got a young and beautiful piece of ass." -- from an interview with Esquire, 1991
"You know, it doesn't really matter what [the media] write as long as you've got a young and beautiful piece of ass." -- from an interview with Esquire, 1991

That pumping breast milk is "disgusting."

When a lawyer facing Trump in 2011 asked for a break to pump breastmilk for her infant daughter, The Donald reacted very poorly. "He got up, his face got red, he shook his finger at me and he screamed, 'You're disgusting, you're disgusting,' and he ran out of there," attorney <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2015/07/29/politics/trump-breast-pump-statement/" target="_blank">Elizabeth Beck told CNN</a>. Trump's attorney does not dispute that his client called Beck "disgusting."

That all women hate prenups, because they are gold diggers.

“The most difficult aspect of the prenuptial agreement is informing your future wife (or husband): I love you very much, but just in case things don’t work out, this is what you will get in the divorce. There are basically three types of women and reactions. One is the good woman who very much loves her future husband, solely for himself, but refuses to sign the agreement on principle. I fully understand this, but the man should take a pass anyway and find someone else. The other is the calculating woman who refuses to sign the prenuptial agreement because she is expecting to take advantage of the poor, unsuspecting sucker she’s got in her grasp. There is also the woman who will openly and quickly sign a prenuptial agreement in order to make a quick hit and take the money given to her.” --<em><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Trump-The-Comeback-Donald-J/dp/0812929640" target="_blank">Trump: The Art of the Comeback</a></em>, 1997

That women have a "great act" going on to trick men.

“Women have one of the great acts of all time. The smart ones act very feminine and needy, but inside they are real killers. The person who came up with the expression ‘the weaker sex’ was either very naive or had to be kidding. I have seen women manipulate men with just a twitch of their eye — or perhaps another body part.” -- <em>Trump: The Art of the Comeback</em>, 1997

That Hillary would be a bad president because her husband cheated on her.

Just... what?
Just... what?

That Angelina Jolie has dated too many guys to be attractive.

“[Angelina Jolie’s] been with so many guys she makes me look like a baby... And, I just don’t even find her attractive," he said <a href="http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0610/09/lkl.01.html" target="_blank">in an interview with Larry King</a> in 2006.

That the best line in any movie is this beautiful gem.

“My favorite part [of 'Pulp Fiction'] is when Sam has his gun out in the diner and he tells the guy to tell his girlfriend to shut up. Tell that bitch to be cool. Say: 'Bitch be cool.' I love those lines.” -- <em>TrumpNation: The Art of Being The Donald</em>, 2005
“My favorite part [of 'Pulp Fiction'] is when Sam has his gun out in the diner and he tells the guy to tell his girlfriend to shut up. Tell that bitch to be cool. Say: 'Bitch be cool.' I love those lines.” -- TrumpNation: The Art of Being The Donald, 2005

That a journalist who offended him had an ugly face.

New York Times columnist <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/02/opinion/02collins.html?_r=0" target="_blank">Gail Collins recalled</a>: "During one down period, I referred to him in print as a 'financially embattled thousandaire' and he sent me a copy of the column with my picture circled and 'The Face of a Dog!' written over it."

That women fawn all over him because he is rich and powerful.

"Love him or hate him, Donald Trump is a man who is certain about what he wants and sets out to get it, no holds barred," <a href="http://boingboing.net/2014/09/09/trump.html" target="_blank">Trump said about himself</a> one time. "Women find his power almost as much of a turn-on as his money."

That the ladies on 'The Apprentice' are all super in to him.

"All of the women on 'The Apprentice' flirted with me -- consciously or unconsciously. That's to be expected." -- <em>How To Get Rich</em>, 2004
"All of the women on 'The Apprentice' flirted with me -- consciously or unconsciously. That's to be expected." -- How To Get Rich, 2004

This article originally appeared on HuffPost.