Sorting out the Facts on Epstein Claims

The House voted astir unanimously connected Nov. 18 to unit the Department of Justice to merchandise “all unclassified records, documents, communications, and investigative materials” related to the probe and prosecution of Jeffrey Epstein. After resisting the merchandise for months, President Donald Trump threw his precocious enactment to the bill, which helium signed soon aft the Senate besides passed it by unanimous consent.

Epstein, a financier, was arrested connected charges of enactment trafficking of minors successful July 2019 and died successful prison a period later. His decease was ruled a termination by the Department of Justice. Federal prosecutors alleged Epstein had “sexually exploited and abused dozens of underage girls” from 2002 to 2005.

A week earlier the vote, Democrats connected the House Oversight Committee released respective emails that they said called into question Trump’s narration with Epstein and whether helium had cognition of Epstein’s crimes. The aforesaid day, Republicans connected the committee released 20,000 pages of documents from Epstein’s estate.

In the days earlier and aft the measure passed, lawmakers from some parties hurled accusations against governmental opponents related to Epstein and the contents of immoderate of the released documents. Here, we’ll benignant retired what’s down immoderate of those claims.

Stansbury’s Unsupported Claims Involving Trump

Democratic Rep. Melanie Stansbury claimed during a Nov. 17 appearance connected CNN that the precocious released Epstein documents “name aggregate cases involving intersexual battle conversations Epstein had that progressive the president and his clip astatine his house, and the grounds that Donald Trump perfectly knew that Ghislaine Maxwell was recruiting and grooming young women from Mar-a-Lago and bringing them to Epstein’s house.”

Both parts of that assertion overstate what the documents person revealed truthful far. Stansbury’s comments permission the mendacious content that grounds has been released showing that Trump “absolutely knew” astir recruitment and intersexual maltreatment of underage girls. Her bureau referred america to emails that lone amusement Epstein making comments that could beryllium interpreted that mode but don’t amusement grounds of Trump knowing astir transgression acts. Maxwell was convicted and sentenced to 20 years successful jailhouse successful 2022 for helping Epstein to enlistee and groom victims nether 18 years of age. 

When we asked Stansbury’s bureau for the grounds to enactment the claim, a spokeswoman provided four email exchanges from the caller release.

Some of them amusement that Epstein had said that Trump knew astir his recruitment of girls from Mar-a-Lago done Maxwell. The messages don’t specify if Epstein was talking astir underage girls.

Some of them amusement that Epstein had said that Trump had been astatine his location with girls, though they don’t explicitly accidental thing astir intersexual assault.

First, we’ll measure the assertion that “Donald Trump perfectly knew that Ghislaine Maxwell was recruiting and grooming young women from Mar-a-Lago.”

On Nov. 12, Democrats released 3 emails from a full of astir 23,000 documents belonging to Epstein. One of those emails, from Epstein to the writer Michael Wolff, referred to Mar-a-Lago and Trump and said, “of people helium knew astir the girls arsenic helium asked ghislaine to stop.”

When a newsman asked Trump 2 days later, connected Nov. 14, “what did Jeffrey Epstein mean successful his emails erstwhile helium said you knew astir the girls?” Trump responded, “I cognize thing astir that.”

Over the summer, Trump said helium knew that Epstein had been hiring pistillate employees from Mar-a-Lago, but the president’s comments didn’t pertain to immoderate cognition of Epstein abusing girls. The president was receiving questions astatine the clip astir a birthday message to Epstein that featured a drafting of a bare pistillate and appeared to person Trump’s signature — though Trump has denied that helium wrote the message.

“I person a large spa, 1 of the champion spas successful the satellite astatine Mar-a-Lago and radical were taken retired of the spa, hired by him. In different words, gone. And different radical would travel and kick this feline is taking radical from the spa. I didn’t cognize that. And past erstwhile I heard astir it, I told him, I said, listen, we don’t privation you taking our people,” Trump said connected July 29, referring to Epstein. “Whether it was spa oregon not spa, I don’t privation them taking radical and helium was good and past not excessively agelong aft that, helium did it again and I said, ‘out of here.’”

In a follow-up question, a newsman asked if 1 of the workers recruited from Mar-a-Lago was Virginia Giuffre, who was 1 of the women who came guardant to publically impeach Epstein of abusing her portion she was underage. She died by termination successful April. Giuffre has explained that Maxwell archetypal approached her erstwhile she was moving astatine Mar-a-Lago astatine the property of 16.

“I deliberation that was 1 of the people. Yeah. He stole her,” Trump said.

Second, we’ll measure the assertion that the documents amusement “multiple cases involving intersexual battle conversations Epstein had that progressive the president and his clip astatine his house.”

The emails highlighted by Stansbury amusement that, successful 2015, Epstein had corresponded with Landon Thomas, who wrote the 2002 New York Magazine story famously quoting Trump saying of Epstein, “He’s a batch of amusive to beryllium with. It is adjacent said that helium likes beauteous women arsenic overmuch arsenic I do, and galore of them are connected the younger side. No uncertainty astir it — Jeffrey enjoys his societal life.”

In 1 email to Thomas, Epstein wrote, “would you similar photso [sic] of donald and girls successful bikinis successful my kitchen,” though it’s unclear whether oregon not helium had specified photos.

Another email speech highlighted by Stansbury was betwixt Epstein and Maxwell successful 2011. There, Epstein wrote, “I privation you to recognize that that canine that hasn’t barked is trump.. [victim’s sanction was redacted] spent hours astatine my location with him.”

In an email that Epstein had sent to himself successful 2019, helium recounted parts of the 2008 plea agreement nether which helium admitted to soliciting minors for prostitution, which was a authorities complaint successful Florida. He wrote successful that email that Trump “came to my location galore times during that period.”

There person been various accounts implicit the years astir erstwhile Trump stopped socializing with Epstein — astir of them enactment the clip framework successful the aboriginal 2000s, earlier Epstein’s archetypal apprehension successful 2006. Recently Trump has characterized the clip helium spent with Epstein arsenic minimal, saying connected Nov. 18, portion helium hosted Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, “I person thing to bash with Jeffrey Epstein. I threw him retired of my nine galore years agone due to the fact that I thought helium was a sick pervert.”

When asked astir the emails astatine a Nov. 12 briefing, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said, “These emails beryllium perfectly thing different than the information that President Trump did thing wrong.”

Epstein’s Communications with House Delegate Plaskett

In the released files, Virgin Islands Delegate to the House of Representatives Stacey Plaskett, a Democrat, was confirmed to person had substance exchanges with Epstein. On Nov. 18, House Republicans introduced a solution to censure Plaskett for “colluding with convicted felony enactment offender Jeffrey Epstein during a legislature hearing.” The censure effort failed, but a fewer days later, Republican Rep. James Comer claimed during a Fox News interrogation that Plaskett was colluding with Epstein to instrumentality Trump “down.” 

“A fewer months aft that connection betwixt Plaskett and Epstein, Jamie Raskin named Stacey Plaskett arsenic an impeachment manager,” Comer said. “So she was an impeachment manager successful Congress, and she was communicating and colluding with Jeffrey Epstein to effort to instrumentality Donald Trump down.”

Colluding is simply a subjective word, but we’ll interruption down the connection betwixt Plaskett and Epstein. (As a delegate, Plaskett tin enactment successful House debates, but she does not get a ballot successful House level sessions.)

The substance messages, which were archetypal reported by the Washington Post, amusement Plaskett and Epstein exchanging respective texts earlier and during a legislature proceeding successful February 2019 involving Trump’s erstwhile idiosyncratic lawyer Michael Cohen — 11 years aft Epstein pleaded guilty to solicitation of prostitution and to solicitation of prostitution with a insignificant nether the property of 18 successful 2008. (A fewer months aft the hearing, successful aboriginal July 2019, Epstein was arrested connected charges of enactment trafficking of minors.)

Cohen was testifying astir Trump’s alleged misconduct successful falsifying concern records successful bid to wage “hush money” to soundlessness a porn prima soon earlier the 2016 election. Trump was found guilty in a New York tribunal successful 2024 of falsifying concern records arsenic portion of an amerciable strategy to power the 2016 election; helium precocious appealed the conviction.

The Washington Post reported that Plaskett exchanged respective texts earlier and during the hearing, with Epstein appearing to person influenced Plaskett’s enactment of questioning with Cohen. 

At 12:25 p.m., Epstein texted Plaskett, “Hes opened the doorway to questions re who are the different hechmen astatine trump org.”

Plaskett responded, “Yup. Very alert and waiting my turn.”

Later successful the hearing, Plaskett asked Cohen astir different associates successful the Trump Organization whom the House “should beryllium gathering with.” 

In different exchange, the Washington Post reported that Epstein texted Plaskett that “Cohen brought up RONA – keeper of the secrets.” 

Plaskett responded: “RONA?? Quick I’m up adjacent is that an acronym?”

Epstein was referring to Rhona Graff, a erstwhile idiosyncratic adjunct to Trump and elder vice president of the Trump Organization. Following this exchange, Plaskett asked astir Graff aboriginal successful her questioning of Cohen.  

Epstein and Plaskett besides exchanged idiosyncratic messages, according to the Post. Earlier successful the hearing, Epstein texted Plaskett: “Great outfit” and “You look great” to which Plaskett responded, “Thanks!”

Plaskett has since denied immoderate wrongdoing. After the Washington Post nonfiction was published connected Nov. 14, Plaskett’s bureau released a connection distancing the congresswoman from Epstein. 

“During the hearing, Congresswoman Plaskett received texts from staff, constituents and the nationalist astatine ample offering advice, enactment and successful immoderate cases partisan vitriol, including from Epstein,” her bureau wrote. “As a erstwhile authoritative she welcomes accusation that helps her get astatine the information and took connected the GOP that was trying to hide the truth. The congresswoman has antecedently made wide her agelong grounds combating intersexual battle and quality trafficking, her disgust implicit Epstein’s deviant behaviour and her enactment for his victims.”

Five days aboriginal during a Nov. 19 CNN interview, successful effect to a question asking astir her narration with Epstein, Plaskett responded, “Jeffrey Epstein was a constituent.” (Epstein owned a brace of islands successful the Virgin Islands.)

In effect to different question asking wherefore she was successful interaction with Epstein contempt his known presumption arsenic a enactment offender, Plaskett responded, “I’ve been a authoritative for galore years. And determination are a batch of radical who person accusation that are not your friends that you usage to get accusation for to get astatine the truth.” She aboriginal went connected to say, “As a prosecutor, you get accusation from radical wherever you can. I’ve interviewed confidential informants. I’ve interviewed narcotics, cause traffickers and others, and that doesn’t mean that I’m their friend. … It means that they person accusation that I need. And that I’m trying to get astatine the truth, and that’s what I did.”

Plaskett has antecedently been progressive successful different controversies surrounding governmental donations from Epstein. An ABC News study recovered that successful the 2016 and 2018 predetermination cycles, Plaskett received $8,100 from Epstein, which she aboriginal pledged to donate to organizations moving with women and children. 

Crockett Misses Mark with Accusations About Epstein Donations

Defending Plaskett from the House level connected Nov. 18, Rep. Jasmine Crockett said Republicans could spare her “with your motivation precocious grounds.”

“Folks who besides took wealth from idiosyncratic named Jeffrey Epstein, arsenic I had my squad excavation successful precise quickly: Mitt Romney, the NRCC, Lee Zeldin, George Bush, Win Red, McCain-Palin, Rick Lazio,” Crockett said. “I conscionable privation to beryllium clear, if this is the modular we are going to make, conscionable know, we’re going to exposure it all. And conscionable know, that the FEC filings, they are determination for everybody to review.”

But arsenic Zeldin, present the EPA administrator, aboriginal pointed retired connected X, the Jeffrey Epstein who contributed to his House reelection run is not THE Jeffrey Epstein. As the Federal Election Commission records note, the Jeffrey Epstein who contributed a full of $1,000 to Zeldin successful 2020 is simply a Long Island, New York, physician. Another Jeffrey Epstein from New Jersey who contributed $500 to Zeldin successful February 2020 is the proprietor of a beverage company, FEC records indicate.

Moreover, each of the contributions were made successful 2020, and Epstein, the convicted enactment offender, died successful August 2019.

“Yes Crockett, a doc named Dr. Jeffrey Epstein (who is simply a wholly antithetic idiosyncratic than the different Jeffrey Epstein) donated to a anterior run of mine,” Zeldin posted connected X. “NO FREAKIN RELATION YOU GENIUS!!!”

Three $250 contributions to Romney’s statesmanlike run successful 2012 were besides made by a Jeffrey Epstein who is listed arsenic a doc surviving successful Long Island, the aforesaid doc who donated $500 successful 2008 to the McCain-Palin campaign.

In an interrogation connected Nov. 19, CNN anchor Kaitlin Collins asked Crockett if she wanted to acceptable the grounds straight.

“Listen, I ne'er said that it was that Jeffrey Epstein,” Crockett said. “Just truthful that radical understand, erstwhile you marque a donation, your representation is not there. And due to the fact that they decided to outpouring this connected us, successful real-time, I wanted the Republicans to deliberation astir what could perchance happen, due to the fact that I knew that they didn’t adjacent effort to spell done the FEC. So my team, what they did is they Googled, and that is specifically wherefore I said a Jeffrey Epstein. Unlike Republicans, I astatine slightest don’t spell retired and conscionable archer lies. Because it was not the aforesaid one? That’s fine. But erstwhile Lee Zeldin had thing to say, each helium had to accidental was, it was a antithetic Jeffrey Epstein. He admitted that helium did person donations from a Jeffrey Epstein. So, astatine slightest I wasn’t trying to mislead people.”

Zeldin posted a video of Crockett’s comments and responded, via X: “When you find yourself successful a hole, it’s champion to halt digging.”

In different X post, Zeldin wrote, “It’s specified a foolish stake to treble down connected stupid. I’ll ever beryllium acceptable to propulsion backmost with receipts. … [T]he close determination for Crockett would person been to conscionable confess her mistake, and ditch the rotation job.”

Business Insider, citing the Center for Responsive Politics, reported that Epstein, the convicted enactment abuser, made a azygous $1,000 donation to George H.W. Bush’s unsuccessful 1992 reelection campaign. Former Rep. Rick Lazio, a Republican who represented New York’s 2nd district, got $2,000 worthy of donations from Epstein successful 1996.

But arsenic the Center for Responsive Politics reported successful 2018, portion Epstein donated to assorted Republican candidates and groups implicit the years, the immense bulk of his donations were to Democratic candidates and groups, including erstwhile President Bill Clinton and Sens. John Kerry and Chris Dodd.

Communications from Jeffries’ Campaign

Comer, who chairs the House Oversight Committee, besides linked run fundraising efforts connected behalf of House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries to Epstein, citing a solicitation email sent to Epstein successful 2013 seeking his support. Jeffries denied immoderate cognition of the email and called Comer “a chromatic acold liar.”

Speaking connected the House level connected Nov. 18, Comer said the email “shows Democrat fundraisers invited Epstein to an lawsuit oregon to conscionable privately with Hakeem Jeffries arsenic portion of their 2013 effort to triumph a majority. Hakeem Jeffries’ run solicited wealth from Jeffrey Epstein. That is what we recovered successful the past papers batch.”

Documents released by Republicans connected the Oversight Committee see a May 7, 2013, campaign solicitation to Epstein distributed by the fundraising steadfast Dynamic SRG, seeking information successful a Democratic fundraising meal and offering “an accidental to get to cognize Hakeem better.”

Comer shared the email from Dynamic SRG successful a station connected X. The email reads, successful part: “Dear Jeffrey — We are thrilled to denote that we are moving with Congressman Hakeem Jeffries, 1 of the rising stars successful the New York Congressional delegation. Sometimes referred to arsenic ‘Brooklyn’s Barack’, helium is simply a staunch protagonist of President Obama and a progressive dependable for the radical of New York City. … Hakeem is committed to electing a Democratic bulk successful 2014 and is encouraging his friends to enactment successful the DCCC/DSCC fundraising meal with President Obama this coming Monday night. Shoot america an email oregon springiness america a telephone … if you would similar to get progressive with the dinner, oregon would similar to get an accidental to get to cognize Hakeem better.”

Jeffries responded to Comer astatine a property briefing connected Nov. 20, saying, “I person nary thought what James Comer is talking astir successful presumption of thing that immoderate anterior advisor whitethorn person sent. I had nary thought astir that either, but James Comer seemingly made the practice connected the level of the House that I sat down with Jeffrey Epstein, had meal with Jeffrey Epstein, person contributions from Jeffrey Epstein. He’s a chromatic acold liar, and James Comer knows it.”

Jeffries besides told CNN, “I person nary recollection of the email” referred to by Comer. “I’ve ne'er had a speech with [Epstein], ne'er met him, cognize thing astir him different than the utmost things that he’s been convicted of doing,” Jeffries said, and added that helium had ne'er received a governmental donation from Epstein.

Comer responded to Jeffries’ “liar” remark by posting the email, which Comer’s bureau has said “speaks for itself.”

We reached retired to Dynamic SRG for remark connected Jeffries’ cognition of the email solicitation and to whom it was sent, but we did not person a response.

We could find nary grounds of governmental donations from Epstein to Jeffries.

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