In a recent statement, Donald Trump elaborated on comments he made the previous day regarding his past relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. Trump revealed that he had banned Epstein from his exclusive Florida club, Mar-a-Lago, two decades ago after Epstein allegedly “stole people that worked for me.” However, at that time, Trump did not specify which employees he was referring to.
During his remarks, Trump expressed frustration over the ongoing discussions surrounding Epstein, particularly six years after the convicted sex offender’s suicide while awaiting trial. This sentiment comes amid a growing outcry regarding the Trump administration’s failure to release more records related to Epstein, raising questions about transparency within the Republican president's political coalition.
While aboard Air Force One on his return from Scotland, Trump conveyed his discontent, stating that Epstein was “taking people who worked for me.” He noted that the women were “taken out of the spa” and subsequently hired by Epstein. Trump remarked, “I said, listen, we don’t want you taking our people,” which led to his decision to prohibit Epstein from entering Mar-a-Lago.
When asked if Virginia Giuffre, a key figure in the Epstein case, was one of the employees taken by Epstein, Trump hesitated but ultimately stated, “he stole her.” Initially, the White House attributed Trump’s ban of Epstein from Mar-a-Lago to Epstein’s behavior, describing him as acting like a “creep.” Tragically, Giuffre, who claimed that Maxwell noticed her working as a spa attendant at Mar-a-Lago in 2000 and subsequently introduced her to Epstein, died by suicide earlier this year.
Giuffre's allegations, which have not led to criminal charges against Epstein, play a pivotal role in the conspiracy theories surrounding the case. She accused Epstein of coercing her into sexual encounters with influential men. Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein's former girlfriend, who is currently serving a 20-year sentence for her involvement in Epstein's crimes, has consistently denied Giuffre's allegations.
Recently, Maxwell was interviewed by the Justice Department’s second-in-command in a Florida courthouse, although the details of that conversation have not been disclosed. Maxwell's attorneys announced that she is willing to answer more questions from Congress if granted immunity from future prosecution in exchange for her testimony.
The House Oversight Committee, which has requested an interview with Maxwell, indicated that it is unlikely to grant her the immunity she seeks. A spokesperson for the committee stated, “The Oversight Committee will respond to Ms. Maxwell’s attorney soon, but it will not consider granting congressional immunity for her testimony.” This decision comes amid a resurgence of interest in the Epstein case, particularly following the Justice Department’s announcement in July that it would not release additional records from the investigation, which has left many conspiracy theorists and Trump supporters disappointed.
Despite the controversy, the Trump administration has emphasized its commitment to transparency. The Justice Department has encouraged courts to unseal grand jury transcripts from the sex-trafficking investigation, and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche recently conducted a two-day interview with Maxwell.
In a letter to the committee, Maxwell's attorneys expressed an initial inclination for her to invoke her Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination. However, they are now open to her cooperating with lawmakers if certain conditions, including immunity, are met. Nonetheless, the Oversight Committee has appeared to dismiss this offer.
Additionally, Maxwell’s legal team has requested that the Supreme Court review her conviction, arguing that she did not receive a fair trial. They also suggested that a potential pardon from Trump could facilitate her willingness to testify “openly and honestly.” Trump has acknowledged that granting such a pardon is within his rights but noted that he has not yet been approached to do so. “She welcomes the opportunity to share the truth and to dispel the many misconceptions and misstatements that have plagued this case from the beginning,” her attorneys stated.
