Video: Sec. Acosta steps aside

Early Friday US Labor Secretary Alexander Acosta resigned from President Trump's cabinet to prevent the media and Democrats from connecting his handling of a 12-year-old case to the Administration.

Acosta who was US Attorney in Florida when accused pedophile Jeffrey Epstein was prosecuted for soliciting underaged prostitutes.

In a statement on Friday, Acosta flanked by Trump said,

”I do not think that is right and fair for this Administration’s Labor Department to have Epstein as the focus...”

Trump maintained his support and praise for Acosta saying,

“This was him, not me, because I’m with him,” Trump said in a lengthy exchange with the press before departing the White House en route to events in Wisconsin and Ohio. “I said, ‘You don’t have to do this.’”

Acosta added that fighting through this would be selfish on his behalf, so he decided to immediately step aside. Deputy Labor Secretary Patrick Pizella will replace Acosta effective immediately.

Read he full CNBC report here.