Trump ducks Maxwell pardon question as Democrats seek ‘birthday book’ from Epstein estate: Live – UK Times

The conspiracies began circulating before the proverbial ink was dry. Jeffrey Epstein, the billionaire financier and convicted child sex offender, “dead after ‘apparent suicide’ in New York jail”, ran the headline in The Washington Post on 11 August 2019 (single quote marks theirs). The Boston Globe too described it as an “apparent suicide”. “Epstein’s jail death gets US scrutiny,” said The Philadelphia Inquirer.

When FBI agents arrested Epstein after his private jet landed in New Jersey a month earlier and charged him with sex-trafficking minors in Florida and New York, his victims waited to learn the truth. After his death, the voices clamouring for transparency got louder. As did those claiming conspiracy.

A year on, when his former girlfriend, British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell, was arrested by the FBI at a secluded property in New Hampshire, they didn’t stop. And they didn’t quieten when Maxwell was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for conspiring with Epstein to sexually abuse minors.

Alex Hannaford has the story.

Democrats on the House Oversight Committee sent a letter on Friday to lawyers representing Jeffrey Epstein’s estate to obtain a copy of a 2003 book compiled by Epstein accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell for the late financier’s 50th birthday that allegedly contains a sexually suggestive card from President Donald Trump.

The president has denied writing the card and has sued the Wall Street Journal, which first reported on its alleged existence, for defamation.

Democrats on the Committee asked for a “complete, unredacted copy” by August 10.

“The American people deserve the truth about who was a part of Epstein’s closest circle of friends. Most importantly, the American people deserve to know who was involved in Epstein’s trafficking network and if they are in positions of power in our government,” Ranking Member Robert Garcia, a Democrat from California, said in a statement.

It makes perfect sense that President Trump is hoping for five days away from the Epstein fallout firestorm that has landed him in hot water not just with Democrats but his own MAGA base over the Justice Department’s stonewalling on the release of all the Epstein files, as Trump and AG Pam Bondi had promised.

Well, Scotland may not be far enough for that.

Sure, Trump will meet with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer early next week, but the vast majority of his known itinerary on the trip — which is estimated to cost taxpayers $10 million — consists of visits to his Scottish golf resorts. One, Trump Turnberry and the other Trump International in Aberdeen, where he is set to open a brand new course that will be named for his late mother, Mary Anne McLeod Trump, who was born in Scotland.

And that’s the problem for Trump, thanks to a particular member of the Royal family who happens to be a golf-loving frequenter of his courses, is Scotland’s Earl of Inverness — and who also happens to be tainted by his past close friendship with Jeffrey Epstein … Prince Andrew.

Speaking to Fox News Friday night, Senator Tom Cotton, an Arkansas Republican, amplified claims from the Trump administration that former President Barack Obama and his officials were part of a conspriacy to keep Trump from the White House with the investigation into Russia’s interference in the 2016 election.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has denied that his government interfered with the 2016 election.

Obama, through a spokesperson, called the allegations “bizarre and ridiculous,” adding they were “a weak attempt at distraction.”

These allegations come as the Trump administration is embroiled in controversy surrounding its handling of files related to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Representative Robert Garcia, a California Democrat, called the Trump White House the “most corrupt administration in history,” adding to the backlash the administration has faced over its handling of files related to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

In his comments on MSNBC Friday night, Garcia railed against Trump seemingly for his “big, beautiful bill,” which extended his 2017 tax cuts and increased border security funding while cutting welfare programs such as Medicaid and SNAP.

“At the same time, this is the most corrupt administration in history. And part of that corruption are his lies. And part of that corruption are the Epstein files,” the congressman said.

Jeffrey Epstein’s birthday album included a letter from former President Bill Clinton, according to a new report, in addition to the one earlier reported to have been written by Donald Trump.

Rachel Dobkin has the story.