On Tuesday, former President Donald Trump provided further insights regarding the workers he claims were poached from his Mar-a-Lago estate by the infamous financier Jeffrey Epstein. This revelation comes as Trump's historical ties to Epstein, who died while facing serious charges related to sex trafficking, have begun to pose a challenge to his political standing, particularly amid increasing calls for transparency surrounding the case.
Trump has consistently maintained that he distanced himself from Epstein prior to the latter's legal troubles. While he has not faced any allegations of wrongdoing linked to Epstein's activities, the former president's comments have drawn attention. On Monday, Trump was vocal about how their relationship deteriorated when Epstein allegedly hired staff from Mar-a-Lago. He recounted, “Ya, he took people. I said, 'Don't do it anymore, they work for me.' Once he did that, that was the end of him. When they steal people, I don't like that.”
During a conversation aboard Air Force One on Tuesday, Trump confirmed that the workers in question were employed at the spa within his club. When pressed about whether these workers included young women, Trump was evasive, stating, “I don't want to say, but everyone knows the people that were taken.” He reiterated, “People were taken out of the spa, hired by him.”
Trump was queried specifically about Virginia Giuffre, a key figure in the Epstein scandal, who alleged that Ghislaine Maxwell recruited her from Mar-a-Lago when she was a teenager. Trump responded, “I don't know. I think she worked at the spa. I think so. I think that was one of the people, ya. He stole her.” Giuffre's accusations against Maxwell and Epstein have been widely documented, including claims that Epstein facilitated abuse by notable individuals such as Prince Andrew.
Ghislaine Maxwell, currently appealing her conviction related to the sex trafficking of minors, has faced significant legal challenges as her case continues to unfold. Giuffre's claims against Prince Andrew led to a settlement in 2022, although he has consistently denied any wrongdoing. Tragically, Giuffre passed away by suicide earlier this year, adding another layer of complexity to the ongoing discussion surrounding Epstein and his associates.
Reports dating back to 2019 suggest that Trump's fallout with Epstein stemmed from a property dispute in Palm Beach, where Trump outbid Epstein for a foreclosed property in 2004. Last week, White House spokesperson Steven Cheung emphasized, “The fact is that the President kicked him out of his club for being a creep,” reinforcing Trump's distancing from Epstein.
In recent weeks, Trump has faced intense scrutiny regarding his administration's connections to Epstein. He has publicly challenged various reports about his associations with the financier, asserting that he never visited Epstein’s private island, a claim he emphasized he turned down. Additionally, Trump is currently suing the Wall Street Journal and its owner Rupert Murdoch for publishing a report about an inappropriate birthday letter addressed to Epstein that allegedly bore Trump's name. He also denied claims that Attorney General Pam Bondi had briefed him about his name appearing in Epstein’s records.
As this situation continues to evolve, further developments may shed light on Trump's past ties to Epstein and the implications for his political future.
Editor’s note: This article has been updated with additional context.
For more updates on this story and related topics, stay tuned.
