What we know about Epstein’s e-mails alleging that Trump knew of his conduct
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A protester holds a sign related to the release of the Jeffrey Epstein case files outside the US Capitol in Washington, DC, on Nov 12.
PHOTO: AFP
Steve Eder and Nicholas Confessore
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WASHINGTON - The trove of e-mails released on Nov 12 by lawmakers include numerous references to President Donald Trump. Among them, House Democrats highlighted three e-mails between Epstein and his associates suggesting that Mr Trump might have been more aware of Epstein’s conduct than he has publicly acknowledged.
House Republicans asserted that the e-mails revealed little information, and Ms Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, called them a “clear distraction”.
Here’s what we know about what was happening at the time the e-mails were sent:
2011: Epstein e-mails Ghislaine Maxwell about a victim he claims Trump met at his house
In spring 2011, Epstein was emerging from legal troubles and trying to stave off further consequences. The tabloids had spotted him out and about, trying to return to his old social circles. Epstein was sensitive to what was being said about him, e-mailing with his employees about negative news coverage. Meanwhile, Mr Trump, now a star on his reality television show, The Apprentice, was talking publicly about running for president.
On Nov 12, Republicans on the House Oversight Committee said on the social media platform X that the victim the e-mail exchange referred to was Ms Virginia Roberts Giuffre, who was 16 when she was recruited by Epstein’s longtime associate Ghislaine Maxwell while she was working as a spa attendant at Mar-a-Lago in 2000.
When Epstein sent the e-mail in April 2011, Ms Giuffre had recently gone public for the first time about her experiences with Epstein, telling a British tabloid that he had abused her and trafficked her to other men and providing the outlet with a now famous photo of herself, Prince Andrew and Maxwell.
In 2016, Ms Giuffre was asked in a civil case if Mr Trump had witnessed the sexual abuse of minors in Epstein’s home, and she said: “I don’t think Donald Trump participated in anything.” A representative for Ms Giuffre’s family declined to comment.
2015: Epstein and Michael Wolff strategise around a Trump media appearance
During the 2016 presidential campaign, Epstein remained mostly in the background, despite curiosity about his ties to not only Mr Trump but also former President Bill Clinton. Epstein was dealing with fallout from his conduct but was far from the infamous figure he is now.
Still, Epstein continued to socialise with notable people. Among them was journalist Michael Wolff, who went on to write a biography of Mr Trump early in his first administration.
During a Dec 15, 2015, presidential debate, Mr Trump did not field any questions about Epstein, according to a transcript. It was unclear if he was asked about the matter separately.
2019: Epstein tells Wolff “of course” Trump “knew about the girls”
By January 2019, Mr Trump was in the White House, and Epstein was back in the news. A series of Miami Herald articles showed that he received light treatment from prosecutors years earlier, including from Alexander Acosta, who was Mr Trump’s labour secretary at the time.
Epstein’s schedules showed he had continued to meet with Mr Wolff, who has said he sat in on some unreleased recorded interviews that Mr Steve Bannon, a former Trump adviser, had conducted with Epstein.
Soon after this e-mail exchange, the Justice Department said it was investigating how Epstein’s plea deal had been handled. NYTIMES
