Schumer and Pelosi are part of a growing chorus of voices calling for Acosta to resign over the 2008 deal.

Acosta is facing intense scrutiny, including calls for him to resign , after federal prosecutors in New York unsealed new sex trafficking charges against Epstein on Monday, including alleged abuse of dozens of female minors.

The charges are being contrasted to a 2008 plea deal that Acosta, then a U.S. attorney, approved for Epstein that enabled him to serve 13 months in “custody with work release."

Acosta was confirmed in a 60-38 vote for the Labor Department post, including winning the support of nine Democratic senators. He's defended the 2008 plea deal, which took place when he was the U.S. attorney for the southern district of Florida, arguing that it ensured Epstein served jail time, register as a sex offender and pay damages to victims.