Trump's Epstein Problem: Explosive Emails Released as Battle Over Files Intensifies

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	Trump's Epstein Problem: Explosive Emails Released as Battle Over Files Intensifies Li Haung - National-Politics Tell Us USA News Network WASHINGTON - Newly released emails from convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein have ignited a political firestorm, directly contradicting President Donald Trump's repeated claims that he had minimal knowledge of Epstein's criminal activities. The documents, released just this week by House Democrats and House Republicans, contain stark statements suggesting Trump had knowledge of Epstein's sexual abuse of young women. Most significantly, in an email dated January 2019, Epstein wrote: "Trump said he asked me to resign (from Mar-a-Lago), never a member ever. Of course he knew about the girls as he asked ghislaine to stop." This statement appears to reference Trump's earlier public claim that he banned Epstein from his Mar-a-Lago resort because of inappropriate behavior toward young female employees. A separate April 2011 email from Epstein to his co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell contains an even more provocative suggestion. In that message, Epstein noted that Trump was "the dog that hasn't barked" and stated that an individual (named redacted in the public release) "spent hours" at his house with Trump. The House Oversight Committee released over 20,000 pages of documents obtained from Epstein's estate. Beyond the Trump-related messages, the emails reveal deeply unflattering assessments of the president written by Epstein himself, with the financier describing Trump as "dirty," "demented," "borderline insane," and "f--king crazy." In other correspondence, Epstein suggested Trump had "early dementia." Email exchanges between Epstein and author Michael Wolff also surfaced, showing discussions about how Trump should respond to press inquiries about his relationship with Epstein. In one 2015 message, Wolff advised: "I think you should let him hang himself. If he says he hasn't been on the plane or to the house, then that gives you a valuable PR and political currency." House Republicans subsequently released their own set of 20,000 pages of documents, claiming Democrats had selectively presented information to generate controversy. Republicans argued the fuller tranche shows no incriminating evidence against Trump and charged that Democrats are "carelessly cherry-picking documents to generate click-bait." The unfolding scandal has been particularly damaging because it directly contradicts Trump's campaign promises. During the 2024 presidential race, Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and others pledged to release the Justice Department's investigative files on Epstein—promises that energized supporters who viewed the documents as a vehicle to expose alleged crimes by powerful elites. However, six months into his presidency, Trump abruptly reversed course. In July 2025, the Justice Department announced it would not release additional Epstein records, citing privacy concerns for victims and stating that investigators had found no evidence that Epstein maintained a "client list" or blackmailed prominent individuals. The timing raises questions among critics. Trump insiders suggest the president blocked the release himself. One Trump ally told reporters: "He told Pam [Attorney General Bondi] not to release the files. We don't exactly know why." White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has dismissed the newly released emails as proving nothing, stating they demonstrate "absolutely nothing other than the fact that President Trump did nothing wrong." The administration claimed it has been more transparent about the Epstein files than any previous administration. The email releases have triggered mounting pressure from both Democrats and Republicans to compel full disclosure. A bipartisan coalition has gathered support for the "Epstein Files Transparency Act," which would force the Justice Department to release all unclassified records related to Epstein. A breakthrough came this week when Arizona Representative Adelita Grijalva was sworn in, providing the 218th signature needed to force a House floor vote through a discharge petition. House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Trump ally, had previously delayed such votes—most recently by refusing to swear in Grijalva for seven weeks, effectively preventing the petition from reaching its threshold. In response to Grijalva's swearing-in and the likely House vote, Trump took to Truth Social on Wednesday to denounce what he called the "Jeffrey Epstein Hoax," accusing Democrats of using the scandal to distract from their failures, particularly the recently ended government shutdown. Epstein survivor Annie Farmer responded to the releases by calling for complete transparency. "The estimated 1,000 women and girls who were harmed by Epstein and his associates deserve full transparency, as do the American people," Farmer said. Republican Senator Tim Burchett of Tennessee, breaking with party leadership, told reporters: "I'm tired of messing around with this issue. Let's just take it to the floor. Let's vote on it. Let's get on with it." The House is expected to vote on the Epstein Files Transparency Act in early December, after returning from Thanksgiving recess. Should the measure pass the House, it would face an uncertain path through the Republican-controlled Senate and would require Trump's signature to become law—a prospect many view as unlikely given the president's demonstrated opposition. Political analyst Costas Panagopoulos told reporters that "by all accounts, Trump and his Republican allies have dreaded this moment, but it was inevitable unless some Republicans who support the release backtrack." The crisis represents an unusual rupture in Trump's otherwise rock-solid political base, with some MAGA supporters expressing frustration that promised transparency has not materialized and questioning the president's true relationship with Epstein.