Trump admits Epstein “stole” young girls from his Mar-a-Lago resort

Deskripsi:

U.S. President Donald Trump has claimed that Jeffrey Epstein "stole" young women from his Mar-a-Lago resort, including Virginia Giuffre, the late sex‑trafficking victim who accused Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell, and Prince Andrew of abuse. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump expanded on earlier comments about expelling Epstein from Mar‑a‑Lago, saying the disgraced financier had hired away spa workers without permission—a reason he now cites for their falling out in the 2000s. "In the spa, yep, people that worked in the spa," Trump said. "I think [Giuffre] was one of the people. He stole her." Pressed about Giuffre specifically, the president responded that she worked at the spa and had no complaints. Giuffre, who died by suicide in Western Australia, had said in lawsuits that Epstein’s partner Ghislaine Maxwell recruited her from Mar‑a‑Lago when she was 16 and that she was sexually abused and trafficked by Epstein and Maxwell to powerful men, including Britain’s Prince Andrew, who later settled with her out of court. Trump’s remarks complicate his timeline, as Giuffre was allegedly recruited in 2000 while he praised Epstein in a 2002 interview as a "terrific guy." Records show Epstein remained a Mar‑a‑Lago member until 2007, long after Trump now claims he was expelled. The president’s comments come amid mounting scrutiny over his past ties to Epstein and a $10 billion defamation lawsuit he has filed against The Wall Street Journal over a 2003 birthday greeting linked to him in Epstein’s book. Meanwhile, Maxwell, currently serving a 20‑year sentence, is seeking immunity in exchange for testifying before Congress, a request lawmakers have rejected. Trump said settlement talks with The Wall Street Journal are underway but added, "We’ll see what happens."