U.S. President Donald Trump has made new remarks regarding his long-questioned relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, claiming he cut ties with Epstein after the disgraced financier “stole” young women who worked at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago beach club spa.
“He took people, I say ‘don’t do it anymore’… beyond that, he took some others,” Trump said aboard Air Force One. Asked if those people were young women, he confirmed, “The answer is yes,” and noted that they were hired “out of the spa.”
Trump specifically named Virginia Giuffre, who began working at Mar-a-Lago at age 16 and later accused Epstein and British royal Prince Andrew of sexual abuse — allegations both men denied. Giuffre died by suicide earlier this year in Australia.
These comments follow growing public pressure for the release of files related to Epstein’s activities and associates. Trump, who once promised to release such documents during his campaign, is now under renewed scrutiny after Attorney General Pam Bondi reportedly briefed him that his name appears in Department of Justice files related to Epstein. The DOJ and FBI have since claimed there is no “incriminating” client list.
Ghislaine Maxwell Subpoenaed, Seeks Legal Protections
Meanwhile, Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s convicted co-conspirator now serving a 20-year prison sentence, has been subpoenaed to testify before the U.S. House Oversight Committee on August 11. Her legal team has stated she will only testify if granted congressional immunity, or clemency, and provided with questions in advance.
In a letter obtained by CBS, Maxwell’s attorneys indicated she would testify “openly and honestly” if offered protections. However, Oversight Chairman Rep. James Comer (R-KY) said Congress will not grant immunity, adding, “There are not many Republicans that want to give immunity to someone that may have been sex trafficking children.”
Trump said that while clemency is within his presidential powers, he had “not thought” about granting it to Maxwell.
Further Allegations and Past Ties
The president’s relationship with Epstein, once publicly friendly, reportedly soured in 2004 over a real estate dispute. Despite claims that he expelled Epstein from Mar-a-Lago for inappropriate behavior, Trump was photographed with Epstein at multiple events in the 1990s and early 2000s.
Two women have publicly accused Trump of sexual misconduct at events linked to Epstein:
- Jill Harth, who filed (and later dropped) a 1997 lawsuit accusing Trump of assault at Mar-a-Lago.
- Stacey Williams, a model who said Trump groped her at Trump Tower after Epstein introduced them.
Trump denies all allegations.
The Wall Street Journal also reported last week that Trump once sent Epstein a “bawdy” birthday letter in 2003, writing, “A pal is a wonderful thing. Happy Birthday – and may every day be another wonderful secret.” Trump has called the report “fake” and is suing the newspaper for defamation.
Epstein Background
Jeffrey Epstein was convicted in 2008 for soliciting a minor for prostitution and arrested again in 2019 on federal sex trafficking charges. He died by suicide in a New York jail before trial. Maxwell was convicted in 2021 for aiding his crimes.
