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Fox News
an hour ago
- Politics
- Fox News
Trump drops Epstein-linked names that media ‘ought to be speaking about' amid files firestorm
President Donald Trump said that those asking about the late financier Jeffrey Epstein's sex trafficking case should direct their attention to former President Bill Clinton and former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers. Trump's remarks come a day after U.S. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche met with Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell in Florida, amid heightened scrutiny about the case after the Trump administration announced it would not unseal investigation materials concerning Epstein. "You ought to be speaking about Larry Summers. You ought to be speaking about some of his friends that are hedge fund guys," Trump told reporters Friday while departing for Scotland. "They're all over the place. You ought to be speaking about Bill Clinton." Trump then accused Clinton of visiting Epstein's private island the financier used as a home base for his sex-trafficking operations. Trump said he'd never visited the island before. Meanwhile, Clinton has also said he'd never visited the island either. In his new memoir "Citizen," released in 2024, Clinton said he'd never gone to the island and that he wished he'd never even met Epstein in the first place. Spokespeople for Summers and Clinton did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital. Summers previously served as treasury secretary for Clinton, as well as the director of the National Economic Council for President Barack Obama. Trump's comments come amid outrage from some conservatives after the Department of Justice and the FBI announced in July the agencies will not release new documents from the Epstein sex trafficking case, and that their review into Epstein is closed. Additionally, the agencies said that they did not detect a list of sexual predators with ties to Epstein, and concluded there were no new people who could face charges. Trump has sought to quash curiosity into the Epstein case, and said that no credible information is left to share with the public. "He's dead for a long time. He was never a big factor in terms of life. I don't understand what the interest or what the fascination is. I really don't, and the credible information's been given," Trump said July 14.
Fox News
an hour ago
- Politics
- Fox News
Trump tells reporters to look at Clinton, former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers when asked about Epstein
President Donald Trump told reporters that they should be asking questions about former President Bill Clinton and his Treasury Secretary Larry Summers and their ties to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein.
The Independent
2 hours ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Trump and Clinton named. Here's who else is allegedly in the Jeffrey Epstein birthday letters book
President Donald Trump and former President Bill Clinton both reportedly contributed to a birthday book of letters for Jeffrey Epstein's 50th birthday, along with a host of other notable names. The leather-bound book was compiled in 2003 by the late sex offender's accomplice, Ghislaine Maxwell, who is being questioned by Justice Department officials this week to see if she has additional information about the controversial case. The list of Epstein's acquaintances in the book has been reviewed by the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times. Trump and his team have tried to change the subject while Republican leadership ushered in the summer recess early in a bid to buy more time to deal with the scandal. But the firestorm surrounding the Epstein files shows no signs of abating. Clinton is the latest high-profile figure who reportedly wrote a note in the birthday book to Epstein, according to the Journal, and he joins a number of other well-known personalities. Messages were reportedly grouped into categories that included: 'Friends,' 'Business,' 'Brooklyn,' and 'Family.' Names include Wall Street billionaire Leon Black, fashion designer Vera Wang, media owner Mort Zuckerman, former Microsoft executive Nathan Myhrvold and U.K. ambassador to the U.S. Peter Mandelson. In Wang's letter to Epstein, the fashion mogul suggested the pair go on a shopping trip and joked about the disgraced financier going on The Bachelor, according to the Journal. Wang told the outlet in 2023 that she regretted ever associating with Epstein and did not respond to a request for comment. Private equity investor Black, who met Epstein around 1996, wrote Epstein a handwritten poem, according to the Journal. Two lines of the poem, signed with 'Love and kisses, Leon,' reportedly read: Blonde, Red or Brunette, spread out geographically With this net of fish, Jeff's now 'The Old Man and The Sea' Black previously said he 'deeply regrets' having had any involvement with the convicted pedophile. A spokesman for the billionaire declined to comment on the note. The note from British politician Mandelson referred to Epstein as 'my best pal,' and included pictures of a tropical island and whiskey, according to the Journal. The politician told the outlet in 2023 that he 'very much regrets ever having been introduced to Epstein.' A spokesperson for Mandelson declined to comment when approached by the outlet. Former Microsoft executive and billionaire Nathan Myhrvold reportedly wrote in the book that he was sending Epstein photos from a recent trip to Africa. Photos that followed included lions and zebras mating, where a zebra's penis was reportedly visible. 'They seemed more appropriate than anything I could put in words,' the letter said, according to the Journal. Myhrvold said he doesn't recall the writing the note and as a wildlife photographer, he 'regularly shares photos of and writes about animal behavior,' a spokesperson told the outlet. The spokesperson added that the billionaire only knew Epstein through a TED conference. Billionaire Mort Zuckerman, who owned the New York Daily News at the time, wrote in his letter that 'he had searched the newspaper for information about Epstein and joked he was born in Liechtenstein and had a wife and three children,' the Journal reports. Zuckerman did not respond to the outlet's request for comment. Other associates of Epstein's who feature in the book reportedly include Victoria's Secret owner Leslie Wexner, who previously condemned Epstein's crimes as 'abhorrent,' the late Wall Street titan Alan Greenberg, and the late businessman James Cayne, who both worked with Epstein at the Bear Stearns investment bank in the 1970s. Trump, who has vehemently denied ever writing a note to Epstein, tried to deflect attention onto Clinton when speaking to reporters Friday. Clinton's handwritten note reportedly read: 'It's reassuring isn't it, to have lasted as long, across all the years of learning and knowing, adventures and [illegible word], and also to have your childlike curiosity, the drive to make a difference and the solace of friends.' A Clinton spokesman declined to comment to the Journal and instead referred to a previous statement saying the former president's association with Epstein ended more than a decade before he was arrested in 2019 on federal sex trafficking charges. The statement also said Clinton didn't know about Epstein's crimes, the Journal reports. The Journal previously reported Trump's birthday letter to Epstein included a drawing of a naked woman and a note that read: 'Happy Birthday — and may every day be another wonderful secret.' Trump has denied authoring any such letter and is suing the Journal, its parent company and owner Rupert Murdoch for $10 billion. 'The Wall Street Journal is writing yet another defamatory story about the President of the United States about an alleged letter they don't even have because the President never wrote it,' said Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, in response to the outlet's latest bombshell report. Trump socialized with Epstein in the 1990s and early 2000s, but reportedly cut ties before Epstein pleaded guilty to state charges of soliciting prostitution from someone under the age of 18. While Trump has not been accused of any formal wrongdoing or charged with any crime, his proximity to Epstein, someone he once called a friend, has heightened conspiracy theories that the government is withholding documents that could reveal embarrassing information about high-profile individuals.
Forbes
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Forbes
Trump Promises ‘List' Of ‘Hedge Fund Guys' Who ‘Lived With Jeffrey Epstein'
Topline President Donald Trump told reporters Friday they should focus on some of his political enemies he claims have stronger ties to Jeffrey Epstein than he does as new revelations about his own history with the convicted sex offender continue to emerge. President Donald Trump speaks to members of the media before departing the White House en route to ... More Turnberry, Scotland, on July 25, 2025, in Washington, DC. (Photo by Yasin Ozturk/Anadolu via Getty Images) Anadolu via Getty Images Key Facts Trump told reporters to focus on other people with connections to Epstein, naming two of his political enemies—former President Bill Clinton and former Harvard President Larry Summers—when asked by reporters about the persistent Epstein drama. It's widely known that Bill Clinton and Larry Summers are among Epstein's circle of high-powered friends: both appeared on Epstein's flight logs, according to previous reports citing court documents, while Clinton and Epstein were photographed together on multiple occasions and Summers solicited donations from Epstein during his Harvard tenure from 2001-2006 then continued to meet with him after Epstein's first conviction in 2008, the Wall Street Journal reported (a spokesperson for Clinton told media outlets previously he cut ties with Epstein before his 2019 arrest). Trump, speaking to reporters as he departed Washington for Scotland, also said he would give them a 'list' of 'hedge fund guys' who 'lived with Jeffrey Epstein,' adding 'I sure as hell didn't [live with Epstein].' Trump made the comments as Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell spoke to the Justice Department for a second day in a row—what's widely viewed as an effort by the Trump administration to pacify critics of his administration's handling of the Epstein drama. The president said 'it's something I haven't thought about' when asked if he was considering pardoning Maxwell—who is serving a 20-year sentence for her role in Epstein's sex trafficking scheme—adding 'I'm allowed to do it,' as speculation has swirled that Maxwell could strategically give the Justice Department information favorable to Trump in exchange for a reduced sentence. Tangent Trump is dealing with a steady drip of revelations about his own links to Epstein amid criticism of the Justice Department's decision not to release additional files in its investigation into the convicted sex offender. On Thursday, The New York Times reported that Trump and Epstein once appeared in a photo with singer James Brown and that Trump gave Epstein a signed copy of his book in 1997 with the note 'Jeff—You are the greatest!' The Times findings follow a Wall Street Journal report a week ago that Trump gave Epstein a sexually suggestive card for his 50th birthday in 2003. Key Background Trump's administration and his Republican allies have made a series of moves to detract from his handling of the Epstein probe amid backlash from some in his base over the agency's announcement earlier this month it wouldn't release any additional files in its investigation into Epstein. In addition to the Justice Department's Maxwell interview, Trump directed the agency to release grand jury testimony in its Epstein investigation. The Justice Department also released additional findings this week related to its investigations into former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's email server and Martin Luther King Jr.'s death. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard also claimed last week that Russian interference in the 2016 election was manufactured by Democrats, including former President Barack Obama, disputing years-old bipartisan findings that Russia did attempt to help Trump get elected. Further Reading Here's Every Known Link Between Trump And Epstein: 'Jeff — You Are The Greatest!' Trump Reportedly Signed Book (Forbes) Everything Trump Has Done That Critics Say Is Meant To Distract From Epstein Scandal (Forbes) Trump Says He's 'Allowed' To Pardon Ghislaine Maxwell Amid Epstein Files Controversy (Forbes)
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Peter Mandelson ‘called Jeffrey Epstein my best pal in birthday book message'
The UK's ambassador to Washington, Peter Mandelson, reportedly called Jeffrey Epstein 'my best pal' in a book of messages collated for the notorious paedophile's birthday. The Labour party grandee was reportedly included in a section titled 'friends', alongside current US President Donald Trump and former president Bill Clinton. A letter from Lord Mandelson included photographs of whisky and a tropical island, and called Epstein 'my best pal', according to the Wall Street Journal (WSJ). The leather-bound album was put together in 2003, before Epstein was first arrested in 2006. A spokesman for Mandelson declined to comment to the paper. Two years ago, Lord Mandelson said he 'very much regrets ever having been introduced to Epstein'. Earlier this year, he reacted with a foul-mouthed rant when pressed about his friendship with the disgraced financier. He also accused others of having an 'obsession' with his relationship with the convicted sex trafficker who died six years ago. He said: 'I regret ever meeting him or being introduced to him by his partner, Ghislaine Maxwell. I regret even more the hurt he caused to many young women.' He went on to add: 'I'm not going to go into this. It's an… obsession and frankly you can all f*** off. OK?' Maxwell is serving a 20-year jail sentence for recruiting and trafficking underage girls for Epstein. Mr Epstein was found dead in his prison cell in 2019, but the circumstances surrounding his death and his activities continue to make headlines. President Trump has faced anger from some of his Make America Great Again (MAGA) supporters over his campaign promise to release the FBI files on the Epstein case. Conspiracy theorists have long demanded the release of a so-called 'client list' of celebrities, politicians, and other prominent associates, that some claim Epstein blackmailed over their alleged involvement in his trafficking ring. Earlier this week, the WSJ reported that Trump had sent a 50th birthday greeting in 2003, which was described as including a sexually suggestive drawing and a reference to 'secrets' both men shared. Trump has denied penning the letter or drawing and has never been accused of wrongdoing in connection with the Epstein case. He is suing the WSJ, its parent company and owner Rupert Murdoch for $10 billion. The messages were put together into a professionally bound birthday book. According to the WSJ, Clinton handwrote a single paragraph in the album, which read: 'It's reassuring isn't it, to have lasted as long, across all the years of learning and knowing, adventures and [illegible word], and also to have your childlike curiosity, the drive to make a difference and the solace of friends.'
