Trump’s Past Remarks on Epstein and Maxwell Emerge in Declassified Documents
Newly unsealed Department of Justice documents shed light on former President Donald Trump’s early and emphatic condemnation of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell. Records indicate that Trump, two decades ago, contacted then-Palm Beach Police Chief Michael Reiter, expressing strong disapproval of Epstein and labeling Maxwell as “evil.” These revelations resurface amidst Maxwell’s ongoing legal battles and appeals for clemency.
A Call to the Chief: “Epstein Was Disgusting”
According to an FBI 302 document detailing an October 2019 interview with former Palm Beach Police Chief Michael Reiter, Trump initiated a call to Reiter in 2006. This was shortly after the police department’s investigation into Epstein became public knowledge. Reiter recounted that Trump called “to tell him ‘thank goodness you’ [are] stopping [Epstein], everyone has known he’s been doing this.” Trump further asserted that “people in New York knew Epstein was disgusting.”
The FBI summary also highlights Trump’s specific focus on Ghislaine Maxwell. “Trump said Maxwell was Epstein’s operative, ‘she is evil and to focus on her,’ ” the document states. These comments underscore a long-standing awareness of Epstein’s illicit activities and Maxwell’s alleged central role.
Mar-a-Lago and Distancing Claims
The declassified records also touch upon Trump’s personal interactions with Epstein. Reiter told the FBI that Trump claimed to have expelled Epstein from his Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach. Furthermore, Trump reportedly told Reiter that he was “around Epstein once when teenagers were present and Trump got the hell out of there.” These statements align with previous White House assertions that Trump “kicked Jeffrey Epstein out of his club decades ago for being a creep to his female employees.”
Context and Contradictions
The timing of these documents’ release is particularly salient, coming just hours after Ghislaine Maxwell’s lawyer publicly urged Trump to grant her executive clemency. Maxwell, currently serving a 20-year prison sentence for her role in procuring underage girls for Epstein, recently refused to testify before a House committee investigating the Epstein case, citing her Fifth Amendment rights.
While the documents present Trump’s strong denunciations, the Department of Justice has stated, “We are not aware of any corroborating evidence that the President contacted law enforcement 20 years ago.” This statement adds a layer of complexity to the narrative, suggesting a lack of official verification for the contact described by Reiter.
Adding another dimension to the complex web of associations, an April 2019 email purportedly from Epstein to author Michael Wolff, released by House Democrats last year, claimed Trump “knew about the girls.” The precise meaning of this phrase remains ambiguous, and it’s crucial to note that Trump has never been accused of wrongdoing in connection with Epstein’s crimes.
The Enduring Shadow of the Epstein Scandal
The resurfacing of these decades-old comments from a prominent public figure like Donald Trump underscores the enduring and far-reaching impact of the Jeffrey Epstein scandal. As investigations continue and new details emerge, the full scope of Epstein’s network and the knowledge held by those in his orbit continue to be subjects of intense public and legal scrutiny. These documents, while offering a glimpse into one perspective, contribute to the ongoing effort to piece together the full, disturbing picture.
For more details, visit our website.
Source: Link
Leave a comment