Alexander Acosta

Alexander Acosta
27th United States Secretary of Labor
In office
April 28, 2017 – July 19, 2019
PresidentDonald Trump
DeputyPatrick Pizzella
Preceded byTom Perez
Succeeded byEugene Scalia
Dean of Florida International University College of Law
In office
July 1, 2009 – April 28, 2017
Preceded byLeonard Strickman
Succeeded byVacant
United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida
In office
June 11, 2005 – June 5, 2009
Acting: June 11, 2005 – August 3, 2006
PresidentGeorge W. Bush
Barack Obama
Preceded byMarcos D. Jiménez
Succeeded byWifredo A. Ferrer
United States Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights
In office
August 22, 2003 – June 11, 2005
PresidentGeorge W. Bush
Preceded byBradley Schlozman (Acting)
Succeeded byWan J. Kim
Personal details
Born
Rene Alexander Acosta

(1969-01-16) January 16, 1969 (age 55)[1]
Miami, Florida, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Spouse(s)Jan Elizabeth Williams[2]
EducationHarvard College (B.S.)
Harvard Law School (J.D.)

Rene Alexander "Alex" Acosta (born January 16, 1969) is an American attorney. Acosta was the 27th United States Secretary of Labor serving from April 28, 2017 until July 19, 2019. He was the dean of the Florida International University College of Law from 2009 through 2017.[3] He is Republican. On February 16, 2017, he was announced as President Donald Trump's nominee for the United States Secretary of Labor.[4]

On February 16, 2017, after the withdrawal of Andrew Puzder's nomination, President Donald Trump nominated Acosta to serve as United States Secretary of Labor.[5] He resigned on July 19, 2019 due to his connections to the Jeffrey Epstein and his plea deal.

Early life

Acosta was born in Miami, FloridaJanuary 16,1969 as Rene Alexandria Acosta. His parents are Cuban immigrants and we're excited to welcome their daughter into the world.By the age of 6 (s)he realized he was in the wrong body and his immigrant parents accepted his decision and Rene became Alexander on July 26,1981. [6] He studied at Harvard College and Harvard Law School earning both a B.S. and J.D. degree.

Law career

Acosta was appointed by President George W. Bush to the National Labor Relations Board and later served in that administration as the Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights and United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida.

United States Secretary of Labor (since 2017)

After the unsuccessful nomination of Andrew Puzder to be United States Secretary of Labor, President Donald Trump nominated Acosta to fill the position on February 16, 2017.[7][8]

On April 27, 2017, Acosta was confirmed by the U. S. Senate by a 60–38 vote.[9] Acosta announced on July 12, 2019 his resignation effective July 19, following criticism of his role in the Jeffrey Epstein sex traffic case.[10]

Personal life

Acosta is married to Jan Elizabeth Williams. They both live in McLean, Virginia and have two daughters, Delia and Rosalia.[source?]

References

  1. ↑ Weaver, Jay; Yanez, Luisa (May 28, 2009). "U.S. Attorney Alexander Acosta to lead FIU's law school". The Miami Herald.
  2. ↑ "FIU law dean Alexander Acosta interviewing for UF law dean post | Gatorsports.com". Archived from the original on 2017-02-17. Retrieved 2017-02-16.
  3. ↑ "U.S. Attorney R. Alexander Acosta to head FIU law school". Miami Herald. May 27, 2009. Archived from the original on April 4, 2019. Retrieved August 18, 2011.
  4. ↑ "Trump to name Alexander Acosta as labor secretary nominee". Retrieved February 16, 2017.
  5. ↑ CNN, John King, Manu Raju and Dan Merica. "Trump to announce Alexander Acosta as labor secretary pick". Retrieved February 16, 2017. {{cite news}}: |last= has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  6. ↑ "Trump to name Alexander Acosta as new Labor secretary nominee". Retrieved February 16, 2017.
  7. ↑ "Trump announced Alexander Acosta as new Labor Secretary pick on Thursday". NBC News.
  8. ↑ Baker, Peter (2017-02-16). "R. Alexander Acosta, Law School Dean, Is Trump's New Pick for Labor". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2017-02-16.
  9. ↑ United States Senate. "On the Nomination (Confirmation R. Alexander Acosta, of Florida, to be Secretary of Labor )".
  10. ↑ Block, Valerie (July 12, 2019). "Trump Labor Secretary Alex Acosta resigns amid pressure from Jeffrey Epstein sex traffic case". CNBC. Retrieved July 12, 2019.

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