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A Wall Street Journal report, published Thursday evening, has added attention to former President Donald Trump's relationship with the late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
According to the Journal, Epstein's associate, Ghislaine Maxwell, had asked Trump and many others to send letters for an album on the occasion of Epstein's 50th birthday in 2003.
A letter bearing Trump's name contained a vulgar drawing of a naked woman and an imaginary conversation between Trump and Epstein, according to the Journal. In the conversation, the two men reflect on having some kind of secret knowledge that "there's more to life than having it all."
"Happy Birthday, and may all your days be a wonderful secret," Trump concludes in this fictional conversation, according to the Journal.
Trump has denied writing the letter, and on Friday he sued the Wall Street Journal publisher and the journalists who wrote the article for defamation.
What do we know so far about the Trump-Epstein relationship? Here are five key questions:
1. How close were they?
There are mixed signals. Trump's efforts to downplay the connection have raised many questions. After Epstein's arrest in 2019, Trump distanced himself, saying, "I knew him like everybody in Palm Beach knew him... but I wasn't a fan." He claims he hasn't spoken to him in 15 years. Reports confirm that Trump and Epstein had a property dispute in 2004, before Epstein ran into major legal trouble. But their relationship stretches back to the 1980s: Trump has flown on Epstein's planes, been seen at parties together, and has previously called Epstein "a great guy who likes beautiful women, many of them young."
2. What does Trump say about the Wall Street Journal reporting?
It is unclear what impact the report will have going forward, but it has drawn strong reactions from hard-line supporters. The letter in question dates from a time when Trump and Epstein were still on good terms (2003), and the vulgar content is consistent with Trump's public behavior at the time. However, Trump has vehemently denied it, and supporters such as Laura Loomer have pointed out that Trump does not write letters on a computer, but with a thick pen. However, Trump's drawings have previously been auctioned, which makes the denial less convincing. There is also talk of Ghislaine Maxwell being called to testify before Congress about the letter.
3. Is Trump's name in the Epstein files?
Trump's efforts to silence discussions about Epstein have raised suspicions that he may be part of the files that have not yet been released. His name appears in flight logs and in a personal diary of Epstein, which contains 14 phone numbers associated with Trump and his family. A 2005 search of Epstein's home found phone messages from Trump. Elon Musk even claimed that Trump was in those files, but he did not provide evidence and deleted the statement.
4. What did Trump know about Epstein's behavior?
A 2002 statement by Trump that Epstein “likes young women” has been used as evidence that he may have known more. He does not mention underage girls, but the suspicions are strong. Mar-a-Lago, Trump’s resort, has been the site of some of Epstein’s questionable activities. Former Trump adviser Sam Nunberg said Trump kicked Epstein out of Mar-a-Lago because he recruited a girl who worked there to give him massages. Victim Virginia Giuffre says she was recruited at Mar-a-Lago in 2000. Another businessman, George Houraney, had warned Trump about Epstein’s behavior as early as 1992. A lawyer representing the victims said Trump was cooperative and gave no indication that he was personally involved.
5. What were Trump's strange statements about Maxwell in 2020?
In 2019, Trump distanced himself from Epstein. But in 2020, after Maxwell was arrested, Trump said, “I wish him all the best.” That statement was widely criticized, but Trump repeated it several times, saying, “I wish everybody well, I don’t feel sorry for anybody.” For a president who often makes unconventional statements, this was among the strangest. /CNN
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