Latest news with #conspiracy theory
Malay Mail
19-07-2025
- Politics
- Malay Mail
The Epstein saga: Key moments from sex trafficking charges to Trump's legal battle
NEW YORK, July 20 — Jeffrey Epstein, the abuser at the centre of a conspiracy theory creating political headwinds for President Donald Trump, was facing federal charges of sex trafficking underage girls when he was found dead in his New York prison cell. Six years later, the death of the wealthy and well-connected financier continues to reverberate, leaving major questions unanswered. Here is a breakdown of the legal cases and recent developments surrounding Epstein: Florida case Epstein's first serious trouble with the law came in 2006 after the parents of a 14-year-old told police he had molested their daughter at his Florida estate. Epstein avoided federal charges — which could have seen him face life in prison — through a controversial plea deal with prosecutors. In June 2008, he pleaded guilty to state felony charges of procuring a person under the age of 18 for prostitution and solicitation of prostitution. He was jailed for just under 13 months and required to register as a sex offender. New York sex trafficking A federal grand jury in New York charged Epstein on July 2, 2019 with two felony counts: conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of minor girls and sex trafficking of minor girls. He was arrested four days later but was found dead in his prison cell on August 10, before the case came to trial. His death was ruled a suicide. The grand jury indictment accused Epstein of having 'sexually exploited and abused dozens of minor girls,' some as young as 14, at his Manhattan mansion and Palm Beach estate. Epstein and employees and associates recruited girls 'to engage in sex acts with him, after which he would give the victims hundreds of dollars in cash,' it said. Epstein also paid his victims to provide him with other girls, the indictment said, creating a 'vast network of underage victims for him to sexually exploit.' The indictment did not name the employees or associates who recruited girls for Epstein. But British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein's one-time girlfriend and assistant, was convicted in 2021 in New York with sex trafficking of minors on his behalf. Maxwell is serving a 20-year prison sentence. The memo Trump's conspiracy-minded supporters have been obsessed with the Epstein case for years and Trump, during his latest presidential campaign, said he would 'probably' release what have come to be known as the 'Epstein files.' They were outraged when the Justice Department and FBI announced on July 7 that Epstein had indeed committed suicide, did not blackmail any prominent figures and did not keep a 'client list.' The 'exhaustive review' also did not reveal any illegal wrongdoing by 'third-parties,' the joint memo said, adding that there would be no further disclosure of information about the case. The memo sparked a fierce backlash from Trump's 'Make America Great Again' movement — which has long held as an article of faith that 'deep state' elites were protecting powerful associates in the Democratic Party and Hollywood. Right-wing supporters typically did not include former Epstein friend Trump in their conspiracy theories. Trump and Epstein The 79-year-old Trump, who was friends with Epstein in the 1990s and early 2000s, has been seeking — unsuccessfully so far — to tamp down the uproar caused by the FBI memo putting a lid on the case. No evidence has emerged of any wrongdoing by Trump, but The Wall Street Journal published details yesterday of a raunchy letter he purportedly sent Epstein in 2003 to mark his 50th birthday. The president yesterday sued Dow Jones, News Corp, two Wall Street Journal reporters and the newspaper's owner Rupert Murdoch, for libel and slander in relation to the article. He is seeking at least US$10 billion in damages in a defamation lawsuit filed in federal court in Miami. Trump also ordered Attorney General Pam Bondi to seek the release of the grand jury testimony in Epstein's New York case. In a filing in New York, Bondi cited 'extensive public interest' for the unusual request to release what is typically secret testimony. — AFP
NHK
18-07-2025
- Politics
- NHK
Trump slams supporters over report on conspiracy theory
US President Donald Trump has lashed out at some of his supporters, who are dissatisfied with a Justice Department report on a man who was acquainted with him and was charged with sex trafficking of girls. The man reportedly died by suicide in 2019 while in detention. But there is persistent speculation that a client list including famous people exists and he was actually killed to silence him. The Justice Department issued a report this month that concludes that he died by suicide and there is no client list. But some MAGA -- passionate Trump supporters -- are unconvinced by the report and are demanding the disclosure of more information. During the presidential election campaign last year, Trump called for looking into the conspiracy theory. But on Wednesday he denounced such people as "stupid." He said on social media that his past supporters accept the falsehoods and that he does not want their support anymore. A Reuters/Ipsos poll showed that 69 percent of respondents thought the government was hiding details about alleged clients. Reuters also reported that 17 percent approve Trump's handling of the case.
