Latest news with #JackODonnell
Yahoo
19-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
‘It was his best friend': Ex-Trump Casino boss reveals president brought Epstein and teen girl to gaming floor
A former executive at Trump's Atlantic City casino claimed that the president once brought Jeffrey Epstein and a 19-year-old girl to the gaming floor. Jack O'Donnell, who was president of the Atlantic City Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino for four years from 1987, told CNN that president 'frequently' visited the New Jersey resort with Epstein to attend 'special events.' 'In my mind, it [Epstein] was his best friend, you know, from really the time I was there for four years,' O'Donnell, a frequent Trump critic, told the network Wednesday. The revelation comes as uproar over the Trump administration's handling of the Epstein files refuses to die down. Anger from MAGA over the recent Department of Justice memo declaring the case closed has not subsided, while Trump has reportedly raged that his supporters won't 'shut the f*** up' about the saga. During one visit to the Atlantic City resort in the late 80s, O'Donnell claimed inspectors of the state casino commission, which regulates gambling and ensures casinos comply with the law, were waiting for him in his office, after the president and disgraced financier had turned up to the venue with a group of three women. Jack O'Donnell, who was president of the Atlantic City Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino for four years from 1987, told CNN that President Donald Trump 'frequently' visited the New Jersey resort with Jeffrey Epstein. (CNN/YouTube) 'Donald and Jeffrey had come into the casino in the wee hours of Sunday morning, 1:00, 1:30 in the morning,' O'Donnell told CNN's Erin Burnett. 'You know, two buddies, they had three women with them, and the commission was waiting for me because they had determined that the women that they brought down were underage to be in the casino.' The former casino boss said that he asked the inspectors how they knew the young woman's age. 'One of them was the number three-ranked tennis player in the world,' O'Donnell explained. 'And this guy happened to be a tennis fan and he said, 'Jack, I know she's 19 years old.'' He added: 'To get on a helicopter with a friend and three other people and fly down to Atlantic City, I mean, you can connect those dots. They were pretty good buddies.' It is illegal for anyone under 21 to gamble on the casino floor in New Jersey, a law enforced with strict penalties. O'Donnell said the commission gave Trump 'a break' on this occasion but claimed the commission made him ring the president to reprimand him. Trump and Epstein were reprimanded by O'Donnell for taking a 19-year-old woman onto the casino floor, according to O'Donnell. They were not fined, but given a warning, the former casino boss said. (NBC News) 'They made me call him and I had to, believe it or not, read him the Riot Act about this action because they gave him a break,' O'Donnell said. 'I had to call them and say, 'they're giving you a break this time, but if this happens again, the fine is going to be substantial and it's going to be on your head.'' O'Donnell added that he told Trump that turning up with Epstein and the young women was 'not gonna look good.' 'I did tell him in that conversation, 'I don't think you should be hanging out with this guy, just so you know, and you certainly shouldn't be doing that in Atlantic City,'' O'Donnell said he told Trump at the end of the phone call. The president has attempted to distance himself from the disgraced financier, who died by suicide in a New York jail in August 2019. The two were photographed and filmed together on several occasions and in 2002, Trump described Epstein as a 'terrific guy' whom he had known for 15 years in an interview with New York Magazine. He added: 'It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side.' Solve the daily Crossword
The Independent
17-07-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
‘It was his best friend': Ex-Trump Casino boss reveals president brought Epstein and teen girl to gaming floor
A former executive at Trump's Atlantic City casino claimed that the president once brought Jeffrey Epstein and a 19-year-old girl to the gaming floor. Jack O'Donnell, who was president of the Atlantic City Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino for four years from 1987, told CNN that president 'frequently' visited the New Jersey resort with Epstein to attend 'special events.' On one occasion in the late 80s, Trump and Epstein turned up at the casino with a group of three women, O'Donnell claimed. 'In my mind, it [Epstein] was his best friend, you know, from really the time I was there for four years,' O'Donnell, a frequent Trump critic, told the network Wednesday. The revelation comes as uproar over the Trump administration's handling of the Epstein files refuses to die down. Anger from MAGA over the recent Department of Justice memo declaring the case closed has not subsided, while Trump has reportedly raged that his supporters won't 'shut the f*** up' about the saga. During one visit to the Atlantic City resort, O'Donnell claimed inspectors of the state casino commission, which regulates gambling and ensures casinos comply with the law, were waiting for him in his office. 'Donald and Jeffrey had come into the casino in the wee hours of Sunday morning, 1:00, 1:30 in the morning,' O'Donnell told CNN's Erin Burnett. 'You know, two buddies, they had three women with them, and the commission was waiting for me because they had determined that the women that they brought down were underage to be in the casino.' The former casino boss said that he asked the inspectors how they knew the young woman's age. 'One of them was the number three-ranked tennis player in the world,' O'Donnell explained. 'And this guy happened to be a tennis fan and he said, 'Jack, I know she's 19 years old.'' He added: 'To get on a helicopter with a friend and three other people and fly down to Atlantic City, I mean, you can connect those dots. They were pretty good buddies.' It is illegal for anyone under 21 to gamble on the casino floor in New Jersey and doing so comes with strict penalties. O'Donnell said the commission gave Trump 'a break' on this occasion but claimed the commission made him ring the president to reprimand him. 'They made me call him and I had to, believe it or not, read him the Riot Act about this action because they gave him a break,' O'Donnell said. 'I had to call them and say, 'they're giving you a break this time, but if this happens again, the fine is going to be substantial and it's going to be on your head.'' O'Donnell added that he told Trump that turning up with Epstein and the young women was 'not gonna look good.' 'I did tell him in that conversation, 'I don't think you should be hanging out with this guy, just so you know, and you certainly shouldn't be doing that in Atlantic City,'' O'Donnell said he told Trump at the end of the phone call. The president has attempted to distance himself from the disgraced financier, who died by suicide in a New York jail in August 2019. The two were photographed and filmed together on several occasions and in 2002, Trump described Epstein as a 'terrific guy' whom he had known for 15 years in an interview with New York Magazine. He added: 'It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side.'
CNN
17-07-2025
- Entertainment
- CNN
Ex-Trump business associate on Trump's friendship with Epstein
Ex-Trump business associate on Trump's friendship with Epstein CNN's Erin Burnett speaks with former Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino COO Jack O'Donnell about one of President Trump's previous interactions with Jeffrey Epstein. 02:27 - Source: CNN Automated CNN Shorts 10 videos Ex-Trump business associate on Trump's friendship with Epstein CNN's Erin Burnett speaks with former Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino COO Jack O'Donnell about one of President Trump's previous interactions with Jeffrey Epstein. 02:27 - Source: CNN 'Love Island USA' star Amaya on standing up for herself "Love Island USA" season 7 winner Amaya Espinal, or "Amaya Papaya", joined Alex Cooper's "Call Her Daddy" podcast after returning from Fiji to discuss her rise in popularity for being a "sensitive gangster" and her relationship with her fellow islanders. 01:25 - Source: CNN Lightning bolt strikes near delivery man Video shows a lightning strike nearly hitting a delivery man in Wayne, New Jersey, as storms took place across the Mid-Atlantic. 00:36 - Source: CNN Trump ramping up pressure on Fed chair The White House pressure campaign for the Chair of the Federal Reserve, Jay Powell, to lower interest rates escalated sharply Wednesday morning. CNN's Phil Mattingly breaks down Trump's strategy and how markets are responding. 02:54 - Source: CNN Joaquin Phoenix apologizes for awkward Letterman appearance On Tuesday's episode of 'The Late Show With Stephen Colbert,' actor Joaquin Phoenix talked about his awkward interview with David Letterman in 2009, in which he appeared in-character as himself from his mockumentary, 'I'm Still Here.' 01:08 - Source: CNN Hikers confront man allegedly setting a tree on fire in LA Video shows a tense moment where hikers confronted a man for allegedly starting a fire near Runyon Canyon Park in Los Angeles on Sunday and prevented him from leaving the scene. Andrew Ocalliham was arrested and charged with one count of arson of forest land, court records show. 01:23 - Source: CNN Massive fire destroys Tomorrowland's main stage Tomorrowland's main stage went up in flames just days ahead of the festival's opening in Boom, Belgium. 00:38 - Source: CNN The Obamas address divorce rumors on Michelle's podcast Former President Barack Obama joined his wife, former first lady Michelle Obama, on her latest podcast episode with her brother Craig Robinson to address divorce rumors. In recent months, speculation about their marriage has run rampant after several public appearances where Michelle Obama did not join her husband, including at President Donald Trump's inauguration in January. 01:52 - Source: CNN Emma Watson banned from driving in the UK for six months 'Harry Potter' star Emma Watson has been banned from driving in the UK for six months after being caught speeding. The 35-year-old British actress and activist was clocked driving her blue Audi at 38 miles per hour in a 30-mph zone in Oxford, England, on the evening of July 31 last year. 00:42 - Source: CNN
CNN
17-07-2025
- Entertainment
- CNN
Ex-Trump business associate on Trump's friendship with Epstein
Ex-Trump business associate on Trump's friendship with Epstein CNN's Erin Burnett speaks with former Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino COO Jack O'Donnell about one of President Trump's previous interactions with Jeffrey Epstein. 02:27 - Source: CNN Automated CNN Shorts 11 videos Ex-Trump business associate on Trump's friendship with Epstein CNN's Erin Burnett speaks with former Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino COO Jack O'Donnell about one of President Trump's previous interactions with Jeffrey Epstein. 02:27 - Source: CNN 'Love Island USA' star Amaya on standing up for herself "Love Island USA" season 7 winner Amaya Espinal, or "Amaya Papaya", joined Alex Cooper's "Call Her Daddy" podcast after returning from Fiji to discuss her rise in popularity for being a "sensitive gangster" and her relationship with her fellow islanders. 01:25 - Source: CNN Lightning bolt strikes near delivery man Video shows a lightning strike nearly hitting a delivery man in Wayne, New Jersey, as storms took place across the Mid-Atlantic. 00:36 - Source: CNN Trump ramping up pressure on Fed chair The White House pressure campaign for the Chair of the Federal Reserve, Jay Powell, to lower interest rates escalated sharply Wednesday morning. CNN's Phil Mattingly breaks down Trump's strategy and how markets are responding. 02:54 - Source: CNN Joaquin Phoenix apologizes for awkward Letterman appearance On Tuesday's episode of 'The Late Show With Stephen Colbert,' actor Joaquin Phoenix talked about his awkward interview with David Letterman in 2009, in which he appeared in-character as himself from his mockumentary, 'I'm Still Here.' 01:08 - Source: CNN Hikers confront man allegedly setting a tree on fire in LA Video shows a tense moment where hikers confronted a man for allegedly starting a fire near Runyon Canyon Park in Los Angeles on Sunday and prevented him from leaving the scene. Andrew Ocalliham was arrested and charged with one count of arson of forest land, court records show. 01:23 - Source: CNN Massive fire destroys Tomorrowland's main stage Tomorrowland's main stage went up in flames just days ahead of the festival's opening in Boom, Belgium. 00:38 - Source: CNN The Obamas address divorce rumors on Michelle's podcast Former President Barack Obama joined his wife, former first lady Michelle Obama, on her latest podcast episode with her brother Craig Robinson to address divorce rumors. In recent months, speculation about their marriage has run rampant after several public appearances where Michelle Obama did not join her husband, including at President Donald Trump's inauguration in January. 01:52 - Source: CNN Emma Watson banned from driving in the UK for six months 'Harry Potter' star Emma Watson has been banned from driving in the UK for six months after being caught speeding. The 35-year-old British actress and activist was clocked driving her blue Audi at 38 miles per hour in a 30-mph zone in Oxford, England, on the evening of July 31 last year. 00:42 - Source: CNN Who are the armed groups clashing in Syria? Dozens were killed in Syria this week after clashes between government loyalists and Druze militias in the southern city of Suwayda, prompting Syrian forces to intervene. That, in turn, triggered renewed Israeli airstrikes. 01:57 - Source: CNN
