Trump Claims Epstein "Stole" Young Women From Mar-a-Lago Spa

Trump's Latest Comments on Epstein and the Ongoing Controversy

President Donald Trump has made new remarks about his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, offering a more detailed account of how their connection ended years ago. On Tuesday, he claimed that Epstein "stole" young women who worked at the spa of Mar-a-Lago, his private club in Florida. This statement marks an evolution of his previous comments on the matter, adding more clarity to his earlier assertion that he banned Epstein from the club two decades ago because he was "taking people that worked for me."

One of the women Trump referred to is Virginia Giuffre, a prominent accuser of Epstein who alleged she was a victim of sex trafficking. While Trump did not explicitly name her during his initial comments, he later confirmed that she was among those taken by Epstein.

This latest round of statements comes amid growing scrutiny of Trump’s administration for its refusal to release more records related to Epstein, despite promises of transparency. The issue has become a rare point of tension within Trump’s political base, as some of his allies have fueled conspiracy theories surrounding the case.

Trump has expressed frustration over the continued attention on the Epstein case, even though it has been six years since Epstein died by suicide while awaiting trial. He has attempted to downplay the controversy, often dismissing questions about it as unnecessary.

Ghislaine Maxwell and the Justice Department

Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s former girlfriend, recently underwent an interview with the Justice Department’s No. 2 official inside a Florida courthouse. However, officials have not disclosed the details of what was discussed during the meeting. Maxwell’s legal team stated that she is willing to answer more questions from Congress if granted immunity from future prosecution for her testimony.

During a flight aboard Air Force One, Trump shared his frustration over Epstein taking "people who worked for me." He described how the women were "taken out of the spa, hired by him — in other words, gone." According to Trump, he told Epstein, "we don't want you taking our people," and when the behavior continued, he banned Epstein from Mar-a-Lago.

When asked if Giuffre was one of the employees taken by Epstein, Trump initially hesitated but eventually said, "he stole her."

Background on Giuffre and Maxwell

Giuffre, who died by suicide earlier this year, claimed that Maxwell first noticed her working as a spa attendant at Mar-a-Lago in 2000 when she was a teenager. She alleged that Maxwell then hired her as a masseuse for Epstein, which led to sexual abuse. Although Giuffre’s claims were not part of the criminal prosecutions against Epstein, they remain central to many conspiracy theories surrounding the case.

Maxwell, who has denied Giuffre’s allegations, is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence for conspiring with Epstein to sexually abuse underage girls. A spokesperson for the House Oversight Committee, which requested the interview with Maxwell, stated that the panel will not consider granting her immunity.

Renewed Interest in the Epstein Case

The renewed interest in the Epstein saga followed the Justice Department’s July announcement that it would not release additional records from the investigation. This decision surprised online investigators, conspiracy theorists, and parts of Trump’s political base who had hoped for evidence of a government coverup.

In response, the Trump administration has emphasized its commitment to transparency. The Justice Department has urged courts to unseal grand jury transcripts from the sex-trafficking investigation. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche also interviewed Maxwell over two days at a Florida courthouse last week.

Maxwell’s legal team has stated that while their initial instinct was for her to invoke her Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination, they are open to cooperation if lawmakers meet their request for immunity and other conditions. However, the Oversight Committee has rejected the offer outright.

Legal Challenges and Potential Pardons

Separately, Maxwell’s attorneys have asked the Supreme Court to review her conviction, arguing that she did not receive a fair trial. They also suggested that one way she could testify openly and honestly is if Trump grants her a pardon, a move he has indicated is within his rights but one he has not been asked to make.

Maxwell’s legal team emphasized that she is eager to share the truth and clear up misconceptions about the case. They believe that a pardon would allow her to speak freely in public.