Washington, July 18 (AP) The controversy surrounding President Donald Trump's handling of records related to the Jeffrey Epstein investigation reached new heights on Thursday, as the administration struggled to fulfill its promises to release information on the sex trafficking case connected to Trump's former associate.
Trump threatened legal action after The Wall Street Journal reported on a sexually suggestive letter, allegedly signed by Trump, included in a 2003 birthday album for Epstein. Trump denied authoring the letter, labeling it as “false, malicious, and defamatory.”
Recently, Trump has derided some of his supporters as “weaklings” for demanding more transparency on the Epstein case, despite previously courting political backing from those suggesting a cover-up to protect Epstein’s wealthy friends. Epstein died by suicide in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal charges of trafficking underage girls.
In addition to defending his attorney general from questions, Trump has claimed, without evidence, that some files might have been altered by Democrats. This case has proven persistent as infighting within the administration, Trump’s criticism of his base, and the administration’s failure to release promised documents have kept it in the spotlight.
In a twist on Thursday, Trump reversed his stance and instructed Attorney General Pam Bondi to seek court approval to release some documents. Bondi announced her plan to request the release of grand jury information, requiring judicial consent, while remaining silent about other collected evidence.
A Newly Revealed Letter The Wall Street Journal reported on a letter, purportedly collected by Ghislaine Maxwell for Epstein’s birthday album before his 2006 arrest and subsequent fallout with Trump. The letter, framed by a drawing of what appeared to be a naked woman, ended with wishes for “another wonderful secret.” The letter’s full content was not published.
Maxwell was arrested in 2020 and later convicted of aiding Epstein's abuses. Trump criticized the newspaper, claiming the letter was “fake” and vowing to sue, asserting the style did not match his own. Vice President JD Vance condemned the Journal for publishing the story.
Efforts to Move On For weeks, the Trump administration has grappled with the aftermath of the Justice Department’s decision to halt public release of Epstein-related evidence. This backtrack has frustrated Trump supporters and led to tensions at the White House, notably between Bondi and FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino, who have remained silent on the matter.
The Justice Department has not fully explained its reversal despite initial public displays of forthcoming transparency. Calls for further investigation into the Epstein matter have been shut down by the White House, with no special counsel appointment pursued.
Despite previous administration efforts hinting at further document releases, Trump criticized his supporters for their dissatisfaction, labeling the Epstein file issue a “hoax” and redirecting blame towards Democrats and past presidents without evidence.
Earlier, the debate over the Epstein files complicated the House's efforts to retract $9.4 billion in federal spending, with Democrats pushing to attach document release votes to the package. This move frustrated House Republicans, who sought a resolution for releasing "credible" Epstein-related files.
Trump’s Scrutiny History Trump has faced ongoing scrutiny regarding his personal life. Last year, he was convicted of felonies in New York over payments aimed at silencing an adult film star’s claims during the 2016 election. Trump has denied any wrongdoing.
Though Trump has known ties to Epstein, he has not faced accusations of misconduct related to their past social interactions. Footage from NBC News in 2019 showed Trump and Epstein socializing at a 1992 Mar-a-Lago event with young women, identified as Buffalo Bills cheerleaders. Trump, after the video's release, indicated his contact with Epstein ended over 15 years ago. Past records, including a 2016 deposition, detail a witness's time with Epstein at Trump's casino but make no allegations against Trump. (AP)
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