In recent developments, President Donald Trump has been named in allegations that revive his historical association with the late Jeffrey Epstein. A former Sports Illustrated swimsuit model, Stacey Williams, accused President Trump of inappropriate behavior dating back to 1993, a claim which the White House has vehemently denied.
The allegations come as the Department of Justice (DOJ) is on the cusp of a congressional deadline to disclose a substantial number of files concerning Epstein’s clients, victims, and associates. These files are anticipated due to the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which seeks to shed light on the extent of Epstein's criminal network and activities.
Williams told The New York Times that she observed President Trump and Epstein gossiping about women in a manner she described as “trophy hunting.” She also alleged that Trump groped her while Epstein was present, an accusation that has not been substantiated by criminal charges or corroborating evidence. The President and First Lady Melania Trump were known to have been photographed at public events with Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell in the late 1990s and early 2000s. However, none of the women introduced to Trump by Epstein and Maxwell, including one who was a minor at the time, have accused the President of misconduct.
The White House, via Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, has dismissed the allegations, labeling the story as "fake news" and declaring the assertions as a rehashing of old, unfounded claims against President Trump. Leavitt emphasized that President Trump had previously expelled Epstein from his Mar-a-Lago estate for inappropriate behavior.
The renewed scrutiny of President Trump’s connections with Epstein has been intensified by the House Oversight Committee's release of additional photos from Epstein’s estate, which included disturbing images of the financier with multiple women. Some photos reportedly featured quotes from Vladimir Nabokov's "Lolita" written on the bodies of women, with the book in the backdrop.
Rep. Robert Garcia (D-CA) has voiced the need for transparency and the end to what he terms a "White House cover-up." With the approaching deadline for the release of the Epstein files, the congressman has urged the DOJ to act promptly.
The Daily Mail reported on these allegations, and the story gained traction on social media platforms with a tweet from the outlet highlighting the swimsuit model’s claims.
The context of Epstein’s remarks to journalist Michael Wolff in 2019, indicating that President Trump was aware of “the girls” and had requested Maxwell to halt her activities, remains unclear. As the public and media await the DOJ’s release of the Epstein files, the truth of the matter is expected to become more apparent.
