The controversy over U.S. President Donald Trump’s dealing with of information from the Jeffrey Epstein investigation entered a brand new dimension on Thursday, as his administration struggles to make good on its guarantees to launch particulars on the sex-trafficking case involving a one-time good friend 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.”
CBC Information has not verified the Wall Road Journal report independently.
It got here after Trump in latest days has berated as “weaklings” supporters vying for extra information 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 buddies 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 “consumer checklist” of elites who participated in Epstein’s crimes, and he has even taken to claiming with out proof that information had been doctored by Democrats.
Transcripts to be launched
In an administration that prides itself on altering the narrative on detrimental 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 the Republican president to abruptly reverse course and direct U.S. Lawyer Basic Pam Bondi to attempt to make among the paperwork within the case public.
Bondi mentioned she would search court docket permission on Friday to launch grand jury data, however it could require a choose’s approval, and he or she and Trump had been silent on the extra proof collected by federal regulation enforcement within the sprawling investigation that Bondi final week introduced she wouldn’t launch.
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, three years earlier than the rich financier was first arrested in 2006 and subsequently had a falling-out with Trump.
Maxwell was arrested in 2020 and convicted a 12 months in a while fees that she helped Epstein lure ladies to be sexually abused.
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, “Completely happy Birthday — and should day-after-day be one other fantastic secret,” based on the newspaper. The outlet described the contents of the letter however didn’t publish a photograph exhibiting it completely.
‘I do not draw footage’: Trump
Trump slammed the story in a prolonged social media submit on 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 “pretend.” Trump promised to sue the paper over the story, saying: “These should not my phrases, not the best way I discuss. Additionally, I do not draw footage.”
U.S. Vice-President JD Vance mentioned the newspaper “ought 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 truthfully consider this appears like Donald Trump?” he wrote on social media platform X.
The Trump administration has been struggling for almost two weeks to comprise the fallout of the U.S. 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 alternate on the White Home final week between Bondi and FBI deputy director Dan Bongino that neither official has publicly addressed.
The division has but to supply a full accounting of its reversal months after Bondi handed out binders to conservative influencers on the White Home that learn “Epstein Information: Section 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.
