Donald Trump responds after Epstein-linked files make new allegations
Speaking for the first time after the Justice Department released more than 3 million pages from the Epstein files, Trump on Saturday told reporters that documents "absolve" him from the allegations.
Commuters walk past a bus stop near Nine Elms Station as activists put up a poster showing President Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein near the US Embassy in London, Thursday. (AP Photo)
Speaking for the first time after the Justice Department released more than 3 million pages from the Epstein files, Trump on Saturday told reporters that documents “absolve” him from the allegations made against his name.
The US president, while speaking to the media as he flew to Florida said, “I didn’t see it myself but I was told by some very important people that not only does it absolve me, it’s the opposite of what people were hoping, you know, the radical left.”
According to multiple reports, Trump has been mentioned more than 3,000 times in the latest tranche of documents. However, the Justice Department has defended the US president and said that some documents in the Epstein files contained “untrue” and “sensationalist” claims against Trump.
Denying the allegations against President Trump, the department said, “Some of the documents contain untrue and sensationalist claims against President Trump that were submitted to the FBI right before the 2020 election.”
Story continues below this ad
“To be clear, the claims are unfounded and false, and if they have a shred of credibility, they certainly would have been weaponised against President Trump already,” the Justice Department added.
Allegations against Trump
In the new documents compiled by FBI, allegations were made against President Trump through its National Threat Operations Center hotline, The Guardian reported.
The report added that several allegations made against Trump appeared to be unsubstantiated claims of sexual abuse relating to the US president, Epstein and other public figures.
According to a CNN report, the newly released Epstein files contain a list of unverified assault allegations against President Trump which were compiled by FBI officials last year.
The files posted on the website of Justice Department involved Epstein’s friendship with Mountbatten-Windsor, and Epstein’s email correspondence with former Trump adviser Steve Bannon, New York Giants co-owner Steve Tisch among others. Epstein was a convicted sex offender who died by suicide in a New York City prison in 2019.
The latest documents showed that Epstein drafted and sent emails to himself in 2013 which suggested that billionaire co-founder of Microsoft, Bill Gates, had engaged in extramarital sex.
In one of the emails, Epstein wrote that he helped Gates to secure drugs “in order to deal with consequences of sex with Russian girls.”
The Express Global Desk at The Indian Express delivers authoritative, verified, and context-driven coverage of key international developments shaping global politics, policy, and migration trends. The desk focuses on stories with direct relevance for Indian and global audiences, combining breaking news with in-depth explainers and analysis.
A major focus area of the desk is US immigration and visa policy, including developments related to student visas, work permits, permanent residency pathways, executive actions, and court rulings. The Global Desk also closely tracks Canada’s immigration, visa, and study policies, covering changes to study permits, post-study work options, permanent residence programmes, and regulatory updates affecting migrants and international students.
All reporting from the Global Desk adheres to The Indian Express’ editorial standards, relying on official data, government notifications, court documents, and on-record sources. The desk prioritises clarity, accuracy, and accountability, ensuring readers can navigate complex global systems with confidence.
Core Team
The Express Global Desk is led by a team of experienced journalists and editors with deep expertise in international affairs and migration policy:
Aniruddha Dhar – Senior Assistant Editor with extensive experience in global affairs, international politics, and editorial leadership.
Nischai Vats – Deputy Copy Editor specialising in US politics, US visa and immigration policy, and policy-driven international coverage.
Mashkoora Khan – Sub-editor focusing on global developments, with a strong emphasis on Canada visa, immigration, and study-related policy coverage. ... Read More
Share
Commuters walk past a bus stop near Nine Elms Station as activists put up a poster showing President Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein near the US Embassy in London, Thursday. (AP Photo) 
