Former President Donald Trump may be among the high-profile individuals mentioned in recently unsealed court documents related to pedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
Reports indicate that Trump occasionally used Epstein's private jet, known as the "Lolita Express." The disclosure comes from a settled civil lawsuit between Ghislaine Maxwell, convicted for her role in Epstein's crimes, and accuser Virginia Giuffre.
The documents, expected to name about 200 people linked to Epstein, could include individuals like former President Bill Clinton and Britain's Prince Andrew. However, it is believed that many, including Trump and Clinton, are mentioned not due to direct involvement in Epstein's crimes but rather due to their presence on his private jet.
During Maxwell's trial in 2021, evidence revealed Trump's multiple flights on Epstein's jet during the 1990s, including trips with his then-wife Marla Maples and daughter Tiffany. There is no evidence, however, of Trump visiting Epstein's Little St. James island, the alleged site of Epstein's trafficking and abuse. Trump has not been implicated in any of Epstein's or Maxwell’s offenses.
Trump and Epstein's association dates back to the 1980s and 1990s. In a 2002 interview, Trump described Epstein as a "terrific guy" and a fun companion, comments made years before Epstein's criminal activities were public knowledge. Epstein pleaded guilty to solicitation charges in 2008 and faced renewed charges in 2019, leading to his jailhouse suicide.
Giuffre, who met Maxwell while working at Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort, was reportedly recruited to give Epstein massages, leading to forced sexual encounters with Epstein's associates. There have been no allegations of Trump's involvement with Giuffre or other victims trafficked by Epstein.
Clinton, another associate of Epstein, has denied any knowledge of Epstein's crimes and visiting Little St. James. Trump reportedly banned Epstein from Mar-a-Lago in the early 2000s and has distanced himself from Epstein, claiming a falling-out about 15 years ago.
The unsealing of these documents raises questions about the extent of Epstein's connections but does not necessarily imply wrongdoing by those named.
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