President Trump mentions leaked emails related to Epstein
Leaked emails from Jeffrey Epstein claim President Donald Trump spent time with one of his victims, sparking a strong White House reaction.
Wealthy and well-connected, Jeffrey Epstein socialized with powerful people before he committed suicide in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. His federal criminal case has continued to garner intense attention even under President Donald Trump’s administration.
New emails released on November 12 show Epstein discussing Trump. Trump had a longstanding friendship with the disgraced financier, who was later kicked out of his private club. In one of the emails, Epstein wrote that Trump “spent many hours at my house” with one of his victims. In another article, Epstein said Trump “knew about the girls.”
The White House called the release of the emails a “smear,” and President Trump said on social media that Democrats were trying to “distract” from other issues.
Emails and other records linking Mr. Epstein to Mr. Trump, including a sordid birthday letter to Mr. Epstein that Mr. Trump allegedly signed, have heightened national attention to their relationship and Mr. Epstein’s sordid story. They include great wealth, prominent connections, criminal convictions, and further charges that preceded his suicide.
How did Epstein get rich?
Epstein worked as a math and physics teacher in his early 20s before joining former Wall Street firm Bear Stearns. He later founded his own wealth management firm, J. Epstein & Co. The company later changed its name to The Financial Trust Co. and moved its headquarters to the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Mr. Epstein founded Financial Strategy Group, Inc., a company based out of his home in Palm Beach, Florida, in 1993, according to online financial records.
2019 court documents related to Epstein’s sex trafficking case revealed that Epstein listed his total assets at the time as $559 million. The total included $56.5 million in cash, $14.3 million in bonds, $112.7 million in stocks, about $195 million in hedge funds and private equity, as well as his real estate holdings.
Separate court documents say Epstein owned six properties, including a luxury townhouse in New York City, a five-bedroom home in Palm Beach, a large estate in New Mexico and an island in the Caribbean. He also owned 15 vehicles, including a Bentley, a Cadillac Escalade, seven Chevrolet Suburban SUVs, a Chevrolet Express cargo van, a Hummer, two GMCs, and a Land Rover Range Rover.
What was Epstein convicted of?
The police investigation into Epstein began in March 2005 after a woman in the Palm Beach, Florida, area said a wealthy man sexually abused her 14-year-old stepdaughter.
In July 2006, Epstein was indicted by a grand jury on a felony charge of solicitation of prostitution, but the charge did not mention the age of the 14-year-old victim. He was arrested, spent the night in the Palm Beach County Jail, and was released the next day on $3,000 bail.
Epstein was registered as a sex offender in 2008 after pleading guilty to solicitation of prostitution and solicitation of prostitution from a minor.
What was Epstein later charged with?
Epstein was back in court in 2019, facing federal charges of sex trafficking and sex trafficking conspiracy stemming from accusations dating from 2002 to 2005.
The federal indictment alleges that Epstein “sexually exploited and abused dozens of underage girls in his homes” in Manhattan, Palm Beach and other locations. According to the indictment, Epstein paid some of his victims to recruit more underage girls. He could face up to 45 years in prison.
Epstein died by suicide in prison in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.
Who was Epstein dating?
Mr. Epstein was known for throwing lavish parties and inviting people to his private island. He had connections with celebrities, politicians, and billionaires.
On September 26, Democrats on the House Oversight Committee released documents from Epstein’s estate that mention prominent figures including Elon Musk, Peter Thiel, Steve Bannon, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor (formerly known as Prince Andrew), and Microsoft founder Bill Gates. Former President Bill Clinton flew on Epstein’s private plane. Former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers also had ties to Epstein.
The relationship between Trump and Epstein has come under increasing scrutiny. Democrats said the new emails released raise questions about what Mr. Trump knew about Mr. Epstein.
“These two were very close, so the question is what did Mr. Trump know and when did he know it?” Rep. Greg Landsman, an Ohio Democrat, said on CNN.
The Trump administration’s handling of documents related to the Epstein case has caused an uproar, with members of Congress demanding access to the records.
Arizona Democratic Rep. Adelita Grijalva gathered the final signatures needed for lawmakers seeking to force a vote to release the full Epstein records during the House swearing-in on Nov. 12. House Speaker Mike Johnson said the House will vote on the bill next week.
Contributors: John Bacon, Kevin McCoy, Jorge L. Ortiz, Bert Jansen, Gianna Herron, Kinsey Crowley, Holly Baltz, David Jackson
