During Mr. Trump's first term, his labor secretary, Alexander Acosta, resigned following criticism of his handling of Epstein's 2008 plea deal when he was a federal prosecutor in Florida. Epstein served 13 months in a jail work-release program after he was originally accused of sexually abusing dozens of girls and young women.

Pressure has mounted since then for the administration to reconsider, including from members of President Donald Trump's own base who were bitterly disappointed by the announcement. The administration continues to stick by its stance on the files,