Labor Secretary Alexander Acosta spoke out about new charges brought against billionaire financier Jeffrey Epstein amid calls for his resignation over a plea deal he negotiated with the registered sex offender more than a decade ago.

Acosta served as U.S. attorney in Florida in 2008, striking a lenient plea deal with Epstein, who was charged with sex crimes. Epstein’s victims were unaware of the deal at the time and it allowed him to leave jail six days a week to go to work.

Acosta called the alleged crimes “horrific” and said the new case “offers an important opportunity to more fully bring him to justice.”

With the evidence available more than a decade ago, federal prosecutors insisted that Epstein go to jail, register as a sex offender and put the world on notice that he was a sexual predator. — Secretary Acosta (@SecretaryAcosta) July 9, 2019

Now that new evidence and additional testimony is available, the NY prosecution offers an important opportunity to more fully bring him to justice. — Secretary Acosta (@SecretaryAcosta) July 9, 2019

A number of lawmakers have called for Acosta to step down in wake of Epstein, 66, being charged with sex trafficking and conspiracy on Monday. Prosecutors allege he “sexually exploited and abused dozens of minor girls at his homes in Manhattan, New York and Palm Beach, Florida, among other locations” between 2002 and 2005 and possibly later. Epstein denies the charges.