‘I know the facts': Former lawyer of Jeffery Epstein defends Donald Trump and issues fresh details surrounding list
Mr Dershowitz's article was published amid escalating pressure on the Trump administration after the US Department of Justice and the FBI released a joint two-page memo which said a joint investigation "revealed no incriminating 'client list'".
It also said FBI investigators concluded that Epstein committed suicide in his prison cell in New York City.
On Tuesday, Mr Dershowitz - who was also part of President Trump's defence team in his first impeachment trial in 2020 - claimed in his article that Epstein 'never had a 'client list''.
'I was Jeffrey Epstein's lawyer. I know the facts,' he wrote.
'I have seen nothing that would suggest anything improper or even questionable by Trump.'
'Open records show an acquaintance between Epstein and Donald Trump many years ago. That relationship ended when Trump reportedly banned Epstein from Mar-a-Lago, long before becoming President.'
Mr Dershowitz also claimed the names of several 'clients', who were redacted from files by the courts, did not include 'any current officeholders'.
He insisted the names should be released and the media "should petition' for the courts to do so, in order so the public can 'draw its own conclusions'.
Mr Dershowitz also said it was 'clear' Epstein killed himself.
'What isn't clear is whether he was assisted by jail personnel. That seems likely to me, based on the evidence of allegedly broken cameras, transfer of his cellmate and the absence of guards during relevant time periods,' he wrote.
Mr Dershowitz said he had 'absolutely no doubt' Epstein did not ever work for any intelligence agency, despite rumours, and that his sources in Israel also confirmed he did not work for Israeli intelligence either.
'That false story – recently peddled by Tucker Carlson – probably emanated from credible allegations that Robert Maxwell (1923-91), father of Epstein's former girlfriend, Ghislaine Maxwell, worked with the Mossad,' he said.
'Conspiracy stories attract readers, viewers and listeners. They are also fodder for political attacks.'
During a press conference on Tuesday, local time, the President said he didn't "understand" the fascination with Epstein and the 'files'.
'And I don't understand why it keeps going. I think really only pretty bad people, including fake news, want to keep something like that going,' he said.
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The Advertiser
4 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Trump's name on 2003 birthday letter to Epstein: report
Donald Trump's name appeared on a risque 2003 personal note to Jeffrey Epstein, the Wall Street Journal reports, but the US president says the letter is fake. The Journal reported the letter was one of several included in a leather-bound album meant to celebrate Epstein's 50th birthday, about three years before sex-abuse allegations emerged against the financier. Reuters could not immediately confirm the authenticity of the letter. Trump quickly responded to the story on his Truth Social platform, saying he would sue the newspaper and Rupert Murdoch, who controls its publisher, News Corp. "The Wall Street Journal, and Rupert Murdoch, personally, were warned directly by President Donald J. Trump that the supposed letter they printed by President Trump to Epstein was a FAKE and, if they print it, they will be sued," Trump wrote. "President Trump will be suing The Wall Street Journal, NewsCorp, and Mr. Murdoch, shortly." A spokesperson for the Wall Street Journal and its parent company, Dow Jones & Co, declined to comment on its story or Trump's threat to sue. Representatives for News Corp and Murdoch could not immediately be reached for comment. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Reuters. The Journal said the letter, bearing Trump's name, contains several lines of typewritten text framed by the outline of a naked woman, which appeared to be hand-drawn with a heavy marker. The newspaper said the letter concludes "Happy Birthday - and may every day be another wonderful secret", and featured the signature "Donald". Vice President JD Vance responded to the story on social media platform X, saying, "Forgive my language but this story is complete and utter bullshit. The WSJ should be ashamed for publishing it." The White House has been roiled by questions about disgraced financier and convicted sex offender Epstein, after the Justice Department concluded there was no evidence to support a number of long-held conspiracy theories about his clients and 2019 death in prison. Attorney General Pam Bondi had pledged months earlier to reveal major revelations about Epstein, including "a lot of names" and "a lot of flight logs". Some Trump supporters have demanded the release of more information on Epstein, causing a rare fracture within his base of support. Trump posted shortly after foreshadowing legal action that he had asked Attorney General Pam Bondi to produce all pertinent grand jury testimony in the Epstein case, subject to court approval. "Based on the ridiculous amount of publicity given to Jeffrey Epstein, I have asked Attorney General Pam Bondi to produce any and all pertinent Grand Jury testimony, subject to Court approval. This SCAM, perpetuated by the Democrats, should end, right now!" Trump wrote on Truth Social. Soon after, Bondi said on X that the Justice Department was ready to move the court on Friday, US time, to unseal the grand jury transcripts. "President Trump - we are ready to move the court tomorrow to unseal the grand jury transcripts," Bondi wrote. Allegations that Epstein had been sexually abusing girls became public in 2006 - after the birthday book was compiled - and he was arrested that year before accepting a plea deal. Epstein died in 2019 in jail after he was arrested a second time and charged with sex-trafficking conspiracy. Donald Trump's name appeared on a risque 2003 personal note to Jeffrey Epstein, the Wall Street Journal reports, but the US president says the letter is fake. The Journal reported the letter was one of several included in a leather-bound album meant to celebrate Epstein's 50th birthday, about three years before sex-abuse allegations emerged against the financier. Reuters could not immediately confirm the authenticity of the letter. Trump quickly responded to the story on his Truth Social platform, saying he would sue the newspaper and Rupert Murdoch, who controls its publisher, News Corp. "The Wall Street Journal, and Rupert Murdoch, personally, were warned directly by President Donald J. Trump that the supposed letter they printed by President Trump to Epstein was a FAKE and, if they print it, they will be sued," Trump wrote. "President Trump will be suing The Wall Street Journal, NewsCorp, and Mr. Murdoch, shortly." A spokesperson for the Wall Street Journal and its parent company, Dow Jones & Co, declined to comment on its story or Trump's threat to sue. Representatives for News Corp and Murdoch could not immediately be reached for comment. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Reuters. The Journal said the letter, bearing Trump's name, contains several lines of typewritten text framed by the outline of a naked woman, which appeared to be hand-drawn with a heavy marker. The newspaper said the letter concludes "Happy Birthday - and may every day be another wonderful secret", and featured the signature "Donald". Vice President JD Vance responded to the story on social media platform X, saying, "Forgive my language but this story is complete and utter bullshit. The WSJ should be ashamed for publishing it." The White House has been roiled by questions about disgraced financier and convicted sex offender Epstein, after the Justice Department concluded there was no evidence to support a number of long-held conspiracy theories about his clients and 2019 death in prison. Attorney General Pam Bondi had pledged months earlier to reveal major revelations about Epstein, including "a lot of names" and "a lot of flight logs". Some Trump supporters have demanded the release of more information on Epstein, causing a rare fracture within his base of support. Trump posted shortly after foreshadowing legal action that he had asked Attorney General Pam Bondi to produce all pertinent grand jury testimony in the Epstein case, subject to court approval. "Based on the ridiculous amount of publicity given to Jeffrey Epstein, I have asked Attorney General Pam Bondi to produce any and all pertinent Grand Jury testimony, subject to Court approval. This SCAM, perpetuated by the Democrats, should end, right now!" Trump wrote on Truth Social. Soon after, Bondi said on X that the Justice Department was ready to move the court on Friday, US time, to unseal the grand jury transcripts. "President Trump - we are ready to move the court tomorrow to unseal the grand jury transcripts," Bondi wrote. Allegations that Epstein had been sexually abusing girls became public in 2006 - after the birthday book was compiled - and he was arrested that year before accepting a plea deal. Epstein died in 2019 in jail after he was arrested a second time and charged with sex-trafficking conspiracy. Donald Trump's name appeared on a risque 2003 personal note to Jeffrey Epstein, the Wall Street Journal reports, but the US president says the letter is fake. The Journal reported the letter was one of several included in a leather-bound album meant to celebrate Epstein's 50th birthday, about three years before sex-abuse allegations emerged against the financier. Reuters could not immediately confirm the authenticity of the letter. Trump quickly responded to the story on his Truth Social platform, saying he would sue the newspaper and Rupert Murdoch, who controls its publisher, News Corp. "The Wall Street Journal, and Rupert Murdoch, personally, were warned directly by President Donald J. Trump that the supposed letter they printed by President Trump to Epstein was a FAKE and, if they print it, they will be sued," Trump wrote. "President Trump will be suing The Wall Street Journal, NewsCorp, and Mr. Murdoch, shortly." A spokesperson for the Wall Street Journal and its parent company, Dow Jones & Co, declined to comment on its story or Trump's threat to sue. Representatives for News Corp and Murdoch could not immediately be reached for comment. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Reuters. The Journal said the letter, bearing Trump's name, contains several lines of typewritten text framed by the outline of a naked woman, which appeared to be hand-drawn with a heavy marker. The newspaper said the letter concludes "Happy Birthday - and may every day be another wonderful secret", and featured the signature "Donald". Vice President JD Vance responded to the story on social media platform X, saying, "Forgive my language but this story is complete and utter bullshit. The WSJ should be ashamed for publishing it." The White House has been roiled by questions about disgraced financier and convicted sex offender Epstein, after the Justice Department concluded there was no evidence to support a number of long-held conspiracy theories about his clients and 2019 death in prison. Attorney General Pam Bondi had pledged months earlier to reveal major revelations about Epstein, including "a lot of names" and "a lot of flight logs". Some Trump supporters have demanded the release of more information on Epstein, causing a rare fracture within his base of support. Trump posted shortly after foreshadowing legal action that he had asked Attorney General Pam Bondi to produce all pertinent grand jury testimony in the Epstein case, subject to court approval. "Based on the ridiculous amount of publicity given to Jeffrey Epstein, I have asked Attorney General Pam Bondi to produce any and all pertinent Grand Jury testimony, subject to Court approval. This SCAM, perpetuated by the Democrats, should end, right now!" Trump wrote on Truth Social. Soon after, Bondi said on X that the Justice Department was ready to move the court on Friday, US time, to unseal the grand jury transcripts. "President Trump - we are ready to move the court tomorrow to unseal the grand jury transcripts," Bondi wrote. Allegations that Epstein had been sexually abusing girls became public in 2006 - after the birthday book was compiled - and he was arrested that year before accepting a plea deal. Epstein died in 2019 in jail after he was arrested a second time and charged with sex-trafficking conspiracy. Donald Trump's name appeared on a risque 2003 personal note to Jeffrey Epstein, the Wall Street Journal reports, but the US president says the letter is fake. The Journal reported the letter was one of several included in a leather-bound album meant to celebrate Epstein's 50th birthday, about three years before sex-abuse allegations emerged against the financier. Reuters could not immediately confirm the authenticity of the letter. Trump quickly responded to the story on his Truth Social platform, saying he would sue the newspaper and Rupert Murdoch, who controls its publisher, News Corp. "The Wall Street Journal, and Rupert Murdoch, personally, were warned directly by President Donald J. Trump that the supposed letter they printed by President Trump to Epstein was a FAKE and, if they print it, they will be sued," Trump wrote. "President Trump will be suing The Wall Street Journal, NewsCorp, and Mr. Murdoch, shortly." A spokesperson for the Wall Street Journal and its parent company, Dow Jones & Co, declined to comment on its story or Trump's threat to sue. Representatives for News Corp and Murdoch could not immediately be reached for comment. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Reuters. The Journal said the letter, bearing Trump's name, contains several lines of typewritten text framed by the outline of a naked woman, which appeared to be hand-drawn with a heavy marker. The newspaper said the letter concludes "Happy Birthday - and may every day be another wonderful secret", and featured the signature "Donald". Vice President JD Vance responded to the story on social media platform X, saying, "Forgive my language but this story is complete and utter bullshit. The WSJ should be ashamed for publishing it." The White House has been roiled by questions about disgraced financier and convicted sex offender Epstein, after the Justice Department concluded there was no evidence to support a number of long-held conspiracy theories about his clients and 2019 death in prison. Attorney General Pam Bondi had pledged months earlier to reveal major revelations about Epstein, including "a lot of names" and "a lot of flight logs". Some Trump supporters have demanded the release of more information on Epstein, causing a rare fracture within his base of support. Trump posted shortly after foreshadowing legal action that he had asked Attorney General Pam Bondi to produce all pertinent grand jury testimony in the Epstein case, subject to court approval. "Based on the ridiculous amount of publicity given to Jeffrey Epstein, I have asked Attorney General Pam Bondi to produce any and all pertinent Grand Jury testimony, subject to Court approval. This SCAM, perpetuated by the Democrats, should end, right now!" Trump wrote on Truth Social. Soon after, Bondi said on X that the Justice Department was ready to move the court on Friday, US time, to unseal the grand jury transcripts. "President Trump - we are ready to move the court tomorrow to unseal the grand jury transcripts," Bondi wrote. Allegations that Epstein had been sexually abusing girls became public in 2006 - after the birthday book was compiled - and he was arrested that year before accepting a plea deal. Epstein died in 2019 in jail after he was arrested a second time and charged with sex-trafficking conspiracy.
Sky News AU
4 hours ago
- Sky News AU
‘They created this expectation': Trump built up idea of ‘transparency' before Epstein chaos
Former White House press secretary Sean Spicer has addressed the MAGA divide regarding US President Donald Trump's handling of the Epstein files. 'It's a proxy for transparency and accountability for those people in this country that have been able to get away with things with the connections that they have,' Mr Spicer told Sky News host James Morrow. 'They created this expectation of more information to come. 'It's like a trailer to a movie, and then there's no movie.'
7NEWS
7 hours ago
- 7NEWS
Deadly Israeli strike on Gaza's Catholic Holy Family Church condemned
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