What we have learned regarding the new Epstein emails that reference Trump

On Wednesday morning, Democrats on the House Oversight Committee unveiled three email exchanges, encompassing communication between Epstein, who passed away in prison in 2019, and his long-time associate Ghislaine Maxwell, currently serving a 20-year sentence for sex trafficking.

They also shared emails exchanged between Epstein and author Michael Wolff, known for writing multiple books about Trump.

Shortly thereafter, House Republicans countered with a vast set of documents to refute what they described as a Democratic strategy to “cherry-pick” information. They claimed it was an attempt to “manufacture a false narrative to malign President Trump”.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that the emails were “selectively leaked” by House Democrats to “liberal media to fabricate a false narrative to attack President Trump”.

“The truth is that President Trump expelled Jeffrey Epstein from his club many years ago for being inappropriate towards his female staff, including Giuffre,” she remarked.

Trump maintained a friendship with Epstein for years but claimed they distanced themselves in the early 2000s, two years prior to Epstein’s first arrest. Trump has consistently denied any misconduct linked to Epstein.

The inaugural email disclosed by the Democrats dates back to 2011 and is exchanged between Epstein and Maxwell.

In the exchange, Epstein informs Maxwell: “I want you to understand that the dog that has remained silent is Trump… [VICTIM] spent significant time at my residence with him”.

Epstein further states that Trump “has never been brought up”, not even by a “chief of police”.

Maxwell replies: “I’ve been contemplating that…”

The victim’s name was redacted in the email the Democrats made public, though the unredacted version appears in the documents released by the committee, revealing the name “virignia”.

The White House indicated it refers to the late Virginia Giuffre, a notable accuser of Epstein who tragically took her own life earlier this year. The White House stated Giuffre “consistently affirmed President Trump was not involved in any misconduct whatsoever and had ‘always been quite friendly’ during their limited interactions”.

Giuffre remarked in a 2016 deposition that she never witnessed Trump engaging in any abusive actions. Additionally, in a memoir published this year, she did not implicate the president in any wrongdoing.

When inquired why the name was initially redacted, Representative Robert Garcia – the leading Democrat on the US House Oversight Committee – stated the party would never unveil victims’ names in accordance with the families’ preferences.

In conversations with Wolff, Epstein mentions his link to Trump, who was vying for the presidency in advance of his initial term.

In a second email exchange released by Democrats, Wolff reaches out to Epstein in 2015 to inform him that CNN intends to question Trump about their association, “either on-air or in the scrum afterwards”.

Epstein replies: “Should we formulate a response for him, what do you believe it ought to be?”

Wolff suggests: “I think you should allow him to dig his own grave. If he asserts he hasn’t flown on the plane or visited the residence, then that grants you valuable PR and political leverage. You can use that to your advantage, or, if it appears he has a real shot at winning, you can rescue him, creating an obligation.”

He adds, “naturally, it’s conceivable that, when prompted, he’ll say Jeffrey is a fantastic guy and has suffered from political correctness, which would be condemned under a Trump administration.”

In another email from October 2016, just days prior to the US presidential election, Wolff presents Epstein with an opportunity to give an interview that could “end” Trump.

“There’s a chance to come forward this week and speak about Trump in such a manner that could earn you considerable sympathy and effectively finish him off. Are you interested?” Wolff writes to Epstein.

The third email shared by Democrats is from January 2019, during Trump’s first term.

In this email, Epstein informs Wolff: “Trump mentioned he asked me to step down” seemingly about his association with the president’s Mar-a-Lago club, adding he was “never a member at all”.

Epstein notes that “naturally he was aware of the girls as he requested Ghislaine to cease”.

Responding to the emails’ release in a video on Instagram, Wolff remarked: “Some of those emails involve discussions between Epstein and myself about his connection with Donald Trump.”

“I’ve been trying to address this story for quite some time,” he added.

Alongside Trump, a document released also references Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, previously known as Prince Andrew.

He replied to an email forwarded by Ghislaine Maxwell through Jeffrey Epstein in March 2011 concerning alleged sexual incidents with a masseuse employed by Epstein.

Andrew’s response states: “Hi! What’s this all about? I am unaware of this! Please confirm. This has NOTHING to do with me. I can’t take any more of this.”

Maxwell had sent a “right of reply” email from the Mail on Sunday on March 4, containing various allegations against Maxwell, Epstein, and the then-Prince Andrew.

The right of reply email mentions that a woman, whose name is redacted in the document, was introduced to Andrew by the disgraced financier in 2001, at Maxwell’s house in London where she had an encounter with Andrew.

On March 6, 2011, the Mail on Sunday published an article featuring a photo of Prince Andrew and Virginia Giuffre.

Andrew has consistently denied any wrongdoing and has not faced legal action.

Lord Peter Mandelson, who was dismissed as the UK’s ambassador to the US in September due to his ties with Epstein, is also noted in the new documents.

They indicate he maintained contact with Epstein as recently as 2016, according to the documents.

The last reported interaction between them was in March 2010, when the then-business secretary consulted Epstein on a banking transaction, mere months after the American financier’s release from incarceration for child sex offenses, as detailed by the Daily Telegraph.

An email from Epstein to Lord Mandelson dated November 6, 2015, shortly after the peer’s birthday, stated: “63 years old. You made it”.

Lord Mandelson replied in under 90 minutes saying: “Just. I’ve resolved to prolong my life by spending more time in the US”.

Epstein then followed up with “in the Donald White House”, referencing the upcoming US presidential election later that week.

Epstein further added, “you were right to avoid Andrew. I was correct in your staying with Rinaldo [sic]”, alluding to Lord Mandelson’s husband Reinaldo Avilda da Silva.

Lord Mandelson has repeatedly expressed regret regarding his association with Epstein. He opted not to comment on the emails when approached by the BBC.