Labor Secretary Alex Acosta on Very Shaky Ground

The White House refused to voice "full confidence" in embattled Secretary of Labor Alex Acosta on Monday.

In fact, the lukewarm response by press secretary Sarah Sanders to Newsmax's question about Acosta's status in the president's Cabinet fueled ongoing speculation the secretary of labor was on the way out.

The president's top spokeswoman did not specifically mention widespread reports of then-U.S. Attorney Acosta's involvement in a 2007 plea deal for Florida billionaire Jeffrey Epstein on sex trafficking and alleged sex offenses.

Sanders did say, however, "[t]hose things [a reference to Acosta's work for Epstein] are currently under review. When we have an update, we'll let you know."

As for Acosta's present status in the Cabinet, Sanders simply said "I'm not aware of any personnel changes."

Late last year, the Miami Herald reported that as a top federal prosecutor, Acosta permitted Epstein to plead guilty to two felony prostitution charges and serve 13 months in the county jail (a sentence which permitted him to spend up to twelve hours a day in his Palm Beach office) and a year of probation.

Democrats in Congress, along with The New York Times and the Miami Herald, have called on Acosta to resign as labor secretary.

John Gizzi is chief political columnist and White House correspondent for Newsmax. For more of his reports, Go Here Now.