Latest news with #Trump-allied
Vancouver Sun
5 days ago
- Politics
- Vancouver Sun
Trump mired in Epstein controversy as Wall Street Journal reports on 2003 letter
WASHINGTON (AP) — The controversy over President Donald Trump 's handling of records from the Jeffrey Epstein investigation entered a new dimension Thursday as his administration struggles to make good on its promises to release details on the sex trafficking case involving a one-time friend of the now-president. Trump promised a lawsuit after The Wall Street Journal described a sexually suggestive letter that the newspaper says bore Trump's name and was included in a 2003 album for Epstein's 50th birthday. Trump denied writing the letter, calling it 'false, malicious, and defamatory.' It came after Trump in recent days has berated as 'weaklings' supporters vying for more records from the Epstein probe, after years of courting political support from those who have stoked claims of a coverup in the case to protect wealthy friends of Epstein, who died by suicide in 2019 awaiting trial on federal charges of trafficking of underage girls. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Trump has also shielded his attorney general from being questioned about the case after she walked back claims of the existence of a 'client list' of elites who participated in Epstein's crimes, and has even taken to claiming without evidence that files were doctored by Democrats. In an administration that prides itself on changing the narrative on negative storylines, the Epstein saga has had remarkable staying power, thanks in part to infighting at high levels of government, Trump's blistering criticism of his own base and the head-scratching mystery of why documents his own administration promised to unlock will remain buried — seemingly for good. Thursday's disclosure — coupled with frustration from Trump-allied lawmakers on Capitol Hill — pushed Trump to abruptly reverse course and direct Attorney General Pam Bondi to try to make some of the documents in the case public. Bondi said she would seek court permission Friday to release grand jury information, but it would require a judge's approval, and she and Trump were silent on the additional evidence collected by federal law enforcement in the sprawling investigation that Bondi last week announced she would not release. The letter revealed by The Wall Street Journal was reportedly collected by disgraced British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell as part of a birthday album for Epstein years before the wealthy financier was first arrested in 2006 and subsequently had a falling-out with Trump. The letter bearing Trump's name includes text framed by the outline of what appears to be a hand-drawn naked woman and ends with, 'Happy Birthday — and may every day be another wonderful secret,' according to the newspaper. The outlet described the contents of the letter but did not publish a photo showing it entirely. Maxwell was arrested in 2020 and convicted a year later on charges that she helped Epstein lure girls to be sexually abused. Trump slammed the story in a lengthy social media post Thursday night, saying he spoke to both to the paper's owner, Rupert Murdoch, and its top editor, Emma Tucker, and told them the letter was 'fake.' Trump promised to sue the paper over the story, saying: 'These are not my words, not the way I talk. Also, I don't draw pictures.' Vice President JD Vance said The Wall Street Journal 'should be ashamed' for publishing it. 'Where is this letter? Would you be shocked to learn they never showed it to us before publishing it? Does anyone honestly believe this sounds like Donald Trump?' he wrote on X. Forgive my language but this story is complete and utter bullshit. The WSJ should be ashamed for publishing it. Where is this letter? Would you be shocked to learn they never showed it to us before publishing it? Does anyone honestly believe this sounds like Donald Trump? The Trump administration has been struggling for nearly two weeks to contain the fallout of the Justice Department's announcement that no more Epstein evidence in the government's possession would be released to the public despite promises of transparency from Bondi. The Justice Department's reversal on the Epstein files not only angered Trump supporters but touched off a testy exchange at the White House last week between Bondi and FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino that neither official has publicly addressed. The Justice Department has yet to provide a full accounting of its reversal months after Bondi handed out binders to conservative influencers at the White House that read the 'Epstein Files: Phase 1' and 'the most transparent administration.' Bondi earlier this week refused to answer questions from reporters about the Epstein files and her relationship with Bongino. The White House on Thursday closed the door on calls for a further inquiry into the Epstein investigation, saying the president would not be recommending the appointment of a special counsel. Even though his administration for months had hyped the expected release of more documents, Trump slammed his own supporters earlier this week for their furor over the Epstein files saga. Trump called it a 'hoax' and tried to place blame on Democrats, accusing former Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden, as well as former FBI Director James Comey — without evidence — of making up such documents. Earlier Thursday, the controversy over the Epstein files had snarled the House's efforts to pass a bill that claws back $9.4 billion in federal spending, as Democrats used procedural moves to force votes on releasing the documents in tandem with the package. That frustrated House Republicans, who tried to forge a solution that could include a resolution supporting the release of 'credible' files pertaining to Epstein and his activities. Trump himself has faced years of scrutiny over his own private life. Last year, for instance, he was convicted of felony charges in New York in connection with hush money payments meant to silence an adult film star's sex claims ahead of the 2016 presidential election. Trump has denied the relationship. And Trump's ties to Epstein have been well-documented, though the president has not been accused of misconduct in connection with their social relationship. Video footage unearthed by NBC News following Epstein's federal indictment in 2019 showed the two chatting at a party at Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in 1992. The video, recorded at a time when Trump was newly divorced, shows him surrounded by young women, whom NBC identified as cheerleaders for the Buffalo Bills. It also depicts the two men standing and gesturing at the women on the dance floor. 'I knew him like everybody in Palm Beach knew him,' Trump said when the video emerged. 'He was a fixture in Palm Beach. I had a falling-out with him a long time ago. I don't think I've spoken to him for 15 years.' Previously released files included a 2016 deposition in which an accuser recounted spending several hours with Epstein at Trump's Atlantic City casino but didn't say if she actually met Trump and did not accuse him of any wrongdoing.
New Indian Express
6 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Trump mired in Epstein controversy as Wall Street Journal reports on 2003 letter
WASHINGTON: The controversy over President Donald Trump 's handling of records from the Jeffrey Epstein investigation entered a new dimension Thursday as his administration struggles to make good on its promises to release details on the sex trafficking case involving a one-time friend of the now-president. Trump promised a lawsuit after The Wall Street Journal described a sexually suggestive letter that the newspaper says bore Trump's name and was included in a 2003 album for Epstein's 50th birthday. Trump denied writing the letter, calling it 'false, malicious, and defamatory.' It came after Trump in recent days has berated as 'weaklings' supporters vying for more records from the Epstein probe, after years of courting political support from those who have stoked claims of a coverup in the case to protect wealthy friends of Epstein, who died by suicide in 2019 awaiting trial on federal charges of trafficking of underage girls. Trump has also shielded his attorney general from being questioned about the case after she walked back claims of the existence of a 'client list' of elites who participated in Epstein's crimes, and has even taken to claiming without evidence that files were doctored by Democrats. In an administration that prides itself on changing the narrative on negative storylines, the Epstein saga has had remarkable staying power, thanks in part to infighting at high levels of government, Trump's blistering criticism of his own base and the head-scratching mystery of why documents his own administration promised to unlock will remain buried — seemingly for good. Thursday's disclosure — coupled with frustration from Trump-allied lawmakers on Capitol Hill — pushed Trump to abruptly reverse course and direct Attorney General Pam Bondi to try to make some of the documents in the case public. Bondi said she would seek court permission Friday to release grand jury information, but it would require a judge's approval, and she and Trump were silent on the additional evidence collected by federal law enforcement in the sprawling investigation that Bondi last week announced she would not release.
Boston Globe
6 days ago
- Politics
- Boston Globe
Trump mired in Epstein controversy as Wall Street Journal reports on 2003 letter
Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Trump has also shielded his attorney general from being questioned about the case after she walked back claims of the existence of a 'client list' of elites who participated in Epstein's crimes, and has even taken to claiming without evidence that files were doctored by Democrats. Advertisement In an administration that prides itself on changing the narrative on negative storylines, the Epstein saga has had remarkable staying power, thanks in part to infighting at high levels of government, Trump's blistering criticism of his own base and the head-scratching mystery of why documents his own administration promised to unlock will remain buried — seemingly for good. Thursday's disclosure — coupled with frustration from Trump-allied lawmakers on Capitol Hill — pushed Trump to abruptly reverse course and direct Attorney General Pam Bondi to try to make some of the documents in the case public. Advertisement Bondi said she would seek court permission Friday to release grand jury information, but it would require a judge's approval, and she and Trump were silent on the additional evidence collected by federal law enforcement in the sprawling investigation that Bondi last week announced she would not release. A newly revealed letter to Epstein The letter revealed by The Wall Street Journal was reportedly collected by disgraced British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell as part of a birthday album for Epstein years before the wealthy financier was first arrested in 2006 and subsequently had a falling-out with Trump. The letter bearing Trump's name includes text framed by the outline of what appears to be a hand-drawn naked woman and ends with, 'Happy Birthday — and may every day be another wonderful secret,' according to the newspaper. The outlet described the contents of the letter but did not publish a photo showing it entirely. Maxwell was arrested in 2020 and convicted a year later on charges that she helped Epstein lure girls to be sexually abused. Trump slammed the story in a lengthy social media post Thursday night, saying he spoke to both to the paper's owner, Rupert Murdoch, and its top editor, Emma Tucker, and told them the letter was 'fake.' Trump promised to sue the paper over the story, saying: 'These are not my words, not the way I talk. Also, I don't draw pictures.' Vice President JD Vance said The Wall Street Journal 'should be ashamed' for publishing it. 'Where is this letter? Would you be shocked to learn they never showed it to us before publishing it? Does anyone honestly believe this sounds like Donald Trump?' he wrote on X. Advertisement Trump tries to move on The Trump administration has been struggling for nearly two weeks to contain the fallout of the Justice Department's announcement that no more Epstein evidence in the government's possession would be released to the public despite promises of transparency from Bondi. The Justice Department's reversal on the Epstein files not only angered Trump supporters but touched off a testy exchange at the White House last week between Bondi and FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino that neither official has publicly addressed. The Justice Department has yet to provide a full accounting of its reversal months after Bondi handed out binders to conservative influencers at the White House that read the 'Epstein Files: Phase 1' and 'the most transparent administration.' Bondi earlier this week refused to answer questions from reporters about the Epstein files and her relationship with Bongino. The White House on Thursday closed the door on calls for a further inquiry into the Epstein investigation, saying the president would not be recommending the appointment of a special counsel. Even though his administration for months had hyped the expected release of more documents, Trump slammed his own supporters earlier this week for their furor over the Epstein files saga. Trump called it a 'hoax' and tried to place blame on Democrats, accusing former Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden, as well as former FBI Director James Comey — without evidence — of making up such documents. Earlier Thursday, the controversy over the Epstein files had snarled the House's efforts to pass a bill that claws back $9.4 billion in federal spending, as Democrats used procedural moves to force votes on releasing the documents in tandem with the package. Advertisement That frustrated House Republicans, who tried to forge a solution that could include a resolution supporting the release of 'credible' files pertaining to Epstein and his activities. Trump is no stranger to scrutiny Trump himself has faced years of scrutiny over his own private life. Last year, for instance, he was convicted of felony charges in New York in connection with hush money payments meant to silence an adult film star's sex claims ahead of the 2016 presidential election. Trump has denied the relationship. And Trump's ties to Epstein have been well-documented, though the president has not been accused of misconduct in connection with their social relationship. Video footage unearthed by NBC News following Epstein's federal indictment in 2019 showed the two chatting at a party at Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in 1992. The video, recorded at a time when Trump was newly divorced, shows him surrounded by young women, whom NBC identified as cheerleaders for the Buffalo Bills. It also depicts the two men standing and gesturing at the women on the dance floor. 'I knew him like everybody in Palm Beach knew him,' Trump said when the video emerged. 'He was a fixture in Palm Beach. I had a falling-out with him a long time ago. I don't think I've spoken to him for 15 years.' Previously released files included a 2016 deposition in which an accuser recounted spending several hours with Epstein at Trump's Atlantic City casino but didn't say if she actually met Trump and did not accuse him of any wrongdoing. Associated Press reporters Seung Min Kim and Lisa Mascaro in Washington contributed to this report. Advertisement
Time Magazine
6 days ago
- Business
- Time Magazine
Why Donald Trump Jr. Took the 'Amazon of Guns' to Market
Two years ago, Donald Trump, Jr. and Omeed Malik rang the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange as renegades. They had just turned PublicSquare, a Yelp-like directory of conservative businesses, into a publicly traded company, marking the emergence of a movement rebelling against 'woke-ism' with their wallets. When the pair returned on July 16, the environment on Wall Street had changed dramatically. With Donald Trump back in power and waging war on corporate diversity initiatives, some of the nation's largest companies have eliminated so-called DEI programs, from McDonald's and Walmart to Boeing and Victoria's Secret. But as Trump, Jr. and Malik launch the IPO of a PublicSquare partner—the online gun retailer GrabAGun—the two suspect corporate America may be adjusting to the political climate out of fear and expedience. In contrast, they aim to build a lasting infrastructure for the MAGA economy. 'I think what separates us from them is: Where are they going to be in two years if the winds change?' Trump, Jr. tells TIME. GrabAGun is the latest in a succession of Trump-allied companies to go public through merging with a special purpose acquisition company, known as a SPAC. First, there was Rumble, a right-wing alternative to YouTube backed by billionaire Peter Thiel. Then there was PublicSquare. Following in his son's footsteps, the President used the same strategy last year with his social media platform Truth Social, taking its parent company public under the ticker 'DJT.' Most recently, Trump Jr. and Malik, a Republican mega-donor, have elevated the firearms seller some call the 'Amazon of guns.' It will trade under the ticker 'PEW'—as in the sound of someone imitating a gunshot. In their eyes, the pattern reflects the maturation of a so-called parallel economy. When PublicSquare went opened on the NYSE in July 2023, the firm had generated less than $1 million in total revenue. While the company is not yet profitable, it is growing. In the first quarter of 2025, it took in $6.7 million in revenue, compared with $3.5 million during the same period a year before, according to an SEC filing. Similarly, GrabAGun, which sells firearms and ammunition on its website, raised $179 million in gross proceeds from the merger, according to a statement from the company. Still, there are signs the parallel economy hasn't fully caught on. The traditional retailers they accuse of engaging in woke capitalism remain dominant in sector after sector. PublicSquare's stock is valued at only $2.37 a share. And after GrabAGun's IPO on Wednesday, the stock tanked by more than 20%. But the parallel economy's evangelists are betting that over the long haul, right-leaning countercultural businesses will be an enduring fixture of the American economy. 'I think it's still super nascent,' says Malik. 'This is less than two years old.' GrabAGun is just one part of the Trump family's expanding business portfolio, which includes multiple cryptocurrency ventures and real estate deals at home and abroad. The White House maintains that none of the family's private pursuits create a conflict of interest for the President, with his children now managing his assets. Critics say they create openings for Trump to advance policies that could help his family's bottom line. For Trump Jr., who joins the GrabAGun Board of Directors, and Malik, one of its financiers, companies like GrabAGun present opportunities to not only support alternative businesses but to push the culture in a rightward direction. As a grand project, they've been thinking about it for a while. After the election, when Trump Jr. was no longer tethered to the campaign trail, he signed on as a partner at Malik's investment firm 1789 Capital. 'Once that was done, it was always going to happen,' Trump, Jr. says. 'We've been talking about these ideas and this thesis for five years.' Despite Elon Musk's public feud with President Trump, 1789 continues to invest in several of the billionaire's companies, such as SpaceX and Neuralink, along with other private companies like Substack, Anduril, and Plaid. Trump Jr. and Malik became aware of the gun-seller through PublicSquare, as GrabAGun enlists their payment processing system, PSQ Payments. Malik then took the company public through a merger with his SPAC, Colombier Acquisition Corp. II. 'It's all part of the ecosystem,' Malik adds. 'You end up meeting these companies because of PublicSquare. GrabAGun ends up being a client and you start building all this.' Sitting in a boardroom above the New York Stock Exchange, moments after ringing the opening bell, Trump Jr. and Malik tell TIME they plan to expand their reach. Soon, they will pick another conservative company to connect to capital markets. 'We will do another SPAC, where we'll go public again with another shell vehicle soon and be back in the market for another high-profile, meaningful company to take public again,' says Malik. By then, Washington's makeup might be different, and they are banking on an 'all-weather strategy' to sustain their business model. In the meantime, the verdict is still out on whether the recent wave of avowedly ideological businesses is transitory or permanent, and whether a parallel economy inspired by the Trump movement can outlast Trump himself. For now, they see their welcome on Wall Street as a sign that times are changing. 'I think it's a vindication of our thesis,' says Trump, Jr. 'The floor of the New York Stock Exchange is probably a little bit of a higher testosterone environment than perhaps the rest of New York City, so I imagine that makes it more right leaning. But you see all the support. You didn't see anything negative.'
Miami Herald
11-07-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
Bondi promised Epstein's client list. Then it fell apart and now MAGA is turning on her
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi is facing intense criticism for failing to stand up her promises on convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein's alleged client list, and it could be her downfall. Much of this is Bondi's own fault. Earlier this year, Bondi vowed to release the list, telling Fox News on Feb. 21, 'It's sitting on my desk right now to review' — a reference to the long-awaited and much-speculated-about list of powerful figures connected to the late disgraced financier. But after months of investigation, the Department of Justice and the FBI said there is no such list. A memo released earlier this week bearing the logos of both agencies stated that a 'systematic review revealed no incriminating 'client list.'' Nor did they find credible evidence that Epstein blackmailed people or any evidence that he was murdered in jail, rather than killing himself — claims that have been feeding the controversy around the Epstein case. Bondi, a former Florida attorney general, has now found herself the focus of MAGA outrage over the Epstein case. That's quite a turnaround considering the case — much of which was based in Florida — helped elevate her profile as the face of Trump's DOJ. Now it's become a political albatross around her neck. For months, Bondi has publicly promoted the idea that she would release the Epstein files and the list to the public. In February, she distributed white binders labeled 'Epstein Files: Phase 1' to a group of Trump-allied influencers, a move that seemed to signal the start of a long-promised reckoning. But it quickly became clear that the binders contained little new information. It was a far cry from the bombshell people were hoping for. Instead of backing away from the narrative, Bondi went further, falsely blaming the FBI for withholding information. In a letter to FBI Director Kash Patel, Bondi wrote, 'I repeatedly questioned whether this was the full set of documents.' Days later, Bondi went on Fox News' Hannity and said that she had received a 'truckload' of Epstein files. She also pointed fingers at the Biden administration, accusing it of sitting on Epstein information and vowing that things would be different under her direction and President Donald Trump. 'And it's a new day. It's a new administration, and everything's going to come out to the public. The public has the right to know, Americans have a right to know,' Bondi told Sean Hannity on Fox News in March. Bondi has positioned herself — and others — as transparency advocates who would finally deliver justice where others had failed. But the DOJ and FBI's own review has undermined that narrative. Her fall has been rough. MAGA influencers who once cheered her on are now calling for her to resign or be fired. MAGA influencer Laura Loomer wrote on X, 'Please join me in calling for Blondi to RESIGN!' The irony is glaring. Bondi claimed the Biden administration was hiding Epstein secrets. Now, she's being accused of misleading the public by over-promising and under-delivering. What began for Bondi as potential signature achievement has become a career-threatening misstep. By putting narrative over truth — a hallmark of Trump-era politics — Bondi fanned the flames of conspiracy theories for political gain. When the facts failed to support her claims, she found herself held hostage by the truth. Click here to send the letter.
