The controversy over President Donald Trump’s dealing with of data from the Jeffrey Epstein investigation entered a brand new dimension Thursday as his administration struggles to make good on its guarantees to launch particulars on the intercourse trafficking case involving a one-time pal of the now-president.
Trump promised a lawsuit after The Wall Road Journal described a sexually suggestive letter that the newspaper says bore Trump’s title and was included in a 2003 album for Epstein’s fiftieth birthday. Trump denied writing the letter, calling it “false, malicious, and defamatory.”
It got here after Trump in current days has berated as “weaklings” supporters vying for extra data from the Epstein probe, after years of courting political help from those that have stoked claims of a coverup within the case to guard rich mates of Epstein, who died by suicide in 2019 awaiting trial on federal fees of trafficking of underage ladies.
Trump has additionally shielded his lawyer normal from being questioned in regards to the case after she walked again claims of the existence of a “shopper checklist” of elites who participated in Epstein’s crimes, and has even taken to claiming with out proof that information have been doctored by Democrats.
In an administration that prides itself on altering the narrative on unfavorable storylines, the Epstein saga has had exceptional endurance, thanks partially to infighting at excessive ranges of presidency, Trump’s blistering criticism of his personal base and the head-scratching thriller of why paperwork his personal administration promised to unlock will stay buried — seemingly for good.
Thursday’s disclosure — coupled with frustration from Trump-allied lawmakers on Capitol Hill — pushed Trump to abruptly reverse course and direct Legal professional Basic Pam Bondi to attempt to make a few of the paperwork within the case public.
Bondi mentioned she would search courtroom permission Friday to launch grand jury data, however it might require a choose’s approval, and he or she and Trump have been silent on the extra proof collected by federal regulation enforcement within the sprawling investigation that Bondi final week introduced she wouldn’t launch.
A newly revealed letter to Epstein
The letter revealed by The Wall Road Journal was reportedly collected by disgraced British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell as a part of a birthday album for Epstein years earlier than the rich financier was first arrested in 2006 and subsequently had a falling-out with Trump. The letter bearing Trump’s title contains textual content framed by the define of what seems to be a hand-drawn bare girl and ends with, “Pleased Birthday — and should each day be one other fantastic secret,” in line with the newspaper. The outlet described the contents of the letter however didn’t publish a photograph exhibiting it solely.
Maxwell was arrested in 2020 and convicted a 12 months in a while fees that she helped Epstein lure ladies to be sexually abused.
Trump slammed the story in a prolonged social media put up Thursday night time, saying he spoke to each the paper’s proprietor, Rupert Murdoch, and its high editor, Emma Tucker, and advised them the letter was “faux.” Trump promised to sue the paper over the story, saying: “These aren’t my phrases, not the best way I speak. Additionally, I don’t draw photos.”
Vice President JD Vance mentioned The Wall Road Journal “needs to be ashamed” for publishing it.
“The place is that this letter? Would you be shocked to be taught they by no means confirmed it to us earlier than publishing it? Does anybody actually imagine this appears like Donald Trump?” he wrote on X.
Trump tries to maneuver on
The Trump administration has been struggling for practically two weeks to comprise the fallout of the Justice Division’s announcement that no extra Epstein proof within the authorities’s possession can be launched to the general public regardless of guarantees of transparency from Bondi. The Justice Division’s reversal on the Epstein information not solely angered Trump supporters however touched off a testy trade on the White Home final week between Bondi and FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino that neither official has publicly addressed.
The Justice Division has but to offer a full accounting of its reversal months after Bondi handed out binders to conservative influencers on the White Home that learn the “Epstein Information: Part 1” and “probably the most clear administration.” Bondi earlier this week refused to reply questions from reporters in regards to the Epstein information and her relationship with Bongino.
The White Home on Thursday closed the door on requires an extra inquiry into the Epstein investigation, saying the president wouldn’t be recommending the appointment of a particular counsel.
Though his administration for months had hyped the anticipated launch of extra paperwork, Trump slammed his personal supporters earlier this week for his or her furor over the Epstein information saga. Trump referred to as it a “hoax” and tried to put blame on Democrats, accusing former Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden, in addition to former FBI Director James Comey — with out proof — of constructing up such paperwork.
Earlier Thursday, the controversy over the Epstein information had snarled the Home’s efforts to move a invoice that claws again $9.4 billion in federal spending, as Democrats used procedural strikes to drive votes on releasing the paperwork in tandem with the bundle.
That pissed off Home Republicans, who tried to forge an answer that would embody a decision supporting the discharge of “credible” information pertaining to Epstein and his actions.
Trump isn’t any stranger to scrutiny
Trump himself has confronted years of scrutiny over his personal personal life. Final 12 months, as an example, he was convicted of felony fees in New York in reference to hush cash funds meant to silence an grownup movie star’s intercourse claims forward of the 2016 presidential election. Trump has denied the connection.
And Trump’s ties to Epstein have been well-documented, although the president has not been accused of misconduct in reference to their social relationship.
Video footage unearthed by NBC Information following Epstein’s federal indictment in 2019 confirmed the 2 chatting at a celebration at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago property in 1992. The video, recorded at a time when Trump was newly divorced, reveals him surrounded by younger ladies, whom NBC recognized as cheerleaders for the Buffalo Payments.
It additionally depicts the 2 males standing and gesturing on the ladies on the dance flooring.
“I knew him like all people in Palm Seashore knew him,” Trump mentioned when the video emerged. “He was a fixture in Palm Seashore. I had a falling-out with him a very long time in the past. I don’t suppose I’ve spoken to him for 15 years.”
Beforehand launched information included a 2016 deposition wherein an accuser recounted spending a number of hours with Epstein at Trump’s Atlantic Metropolis on line casino however didn’t say if she really met Trump and didn’t accuse him of any wrongdoing.
