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To the editor:
One of my recent letters (“List? What list,” Letters, The Chief, July 25) dealt with a serious and troubling problem — sex trafficking of minors. Jeffrey Epstein and his partner Ghislaine Maxwell exploited over 1,000 girls, some as young as 11-years old, to both satisfy the couple’s perverse sexual appetites as well as to curry favor from rich, powerful individuals.
Donald Trump maintained a close personal relationship with Epstein and Maxwell that stretched from the late 1980s until 2003, just two years before law enforcement first began investigating Epstein.
Epstein attended Trump’s wedding to Marla Maples, Epstein and Maxwell were acquainted with Melania Trump and flight logs confirm that Trump flew at least seven times on Epstein’s private jet. Numerous photos and videos confirm this relationship. Trump has even admitted that some of the girls Epstein exploited were “stolen” from Mar-A-Lago.
In the summer of 2019, during Trump’s first term, Epstein died in federal custody. For the remainder of that term, Trump neither spoke about Epstein nor were case files released. Trump’s only comment was “I just wish her well” when Maxwell was arrested for sex trafficking roughly a year after Epstein’s death. However, Trump spoke a lot about Epstein on the 2024 campaign trail, vowing to resolve the mystery of Epstein’s death and release a list of Epstein’s “clients.”
We now know Trump’s AG, Pam Bondi, closed the case, essentially saying there’s no there there. As I wrote in my letter, it was predictable that Trump would attempt to distract public attention away from his connections to Epstein and Maxwell.
For a Chief contributor to respond to my letter with one of his own (“Bats, Sticks and Stones,” Letters, Aug. 1) completely ignoring the Epstein case, instead focusing entirely on the distraction is just plain sad.
Joseph Cannisi
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Word Man
Findings on Epstein’s Client List
No Evidence of a Client List
The U.S. Department of Justice and the FBI have concluded that Jeffrey Epstein did not maintain a “client list” that could implicate high-profile individuals in his *** trafficking activities. Investigators found no credible evidence that Epstein blackmailed influential figures or kept a record of clients involved in illegal acts.
Victims’ Perspectives
Lawyers representing Epstein’s victims have also stated they have never seen a client list. They emphasize that Epstein primarily exploited young women for his desires, rather than facilitating a network of clients.
In summary, no client list has been confirmed or made available in the Epstein case, and the investigations have found no evidence supporting the existence of such a document.
Tuesday, August 5 Report this
reenjoe
I must add a postscript pertaining to the second paragraph of above letter. When I wrote it, I foolishly accepted Trump's timeline of events, particularly his saying he broke ties with Epstein in 2003 when Trump claims he "threw Epstein out of my club".
Subsequent reporting has determined that Trump expelled Epstein from Mar-a-Lago in October 2007, one year AFTER law enforcement began its investigation into Epstein and underaged girls. Epstein received a "sweetheart" plea deal to serve 13 months in jail in that case.
Who cut this deal? U.S. Attorney for South Florida, Alexander Acosta. When was the deal cut? You guessed it, October 2007, over a breakfast meeting between Acosta and Epstein's lawyer Jay Lefkowitz at the West Palm Beach Marriot.
Acosta was "rewarded" for this miscarriage of justice by serving in Trump's first term cabinet as U.S. Secretary of Labor. Trump is up to his neck in the Epstein case.
Wednesday, August 6 Report this
reenjoe
Quad Zero quote from below: "Epstein primarily exploited young women for his desires, rather than facilitating a network of clients".
Is Quad Zero actually saying that only Epstein (and Maxwell, I presume) took part in the abuse of over 1,000 underaged girls? If so, I'll go out on a limb and say Quad Zero is alone in that belief.
For the record, the existence of an "Epstein Client List" was promulgated by Trump and his acolytes - AG Bondi, FBI Director Patel and FBI Deputy Director Bongino. "The List" was even featured in Don Jr.'s convention speech.
Quad Zero should ask himself, if Trump (and those around him) lied about "The List" maybe everything Trump says is also false. In a court of law, a witness' entire testimony is suspect once that witness perjures themselves. The witness is considered "impeached", a term Trump should be very familiar with.
Wednesday, August 6 Report this
krell1349
Why won't the government release the files? Because Trump is in there numerous times. Another broken promise from Trump
Thursday, August 7 Report this
Word Man
“Let the Chips Fall Where They May”
The House Oversight Committee issued a subpoena on Tuesday to the Justice Department for its files related to Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, his longtime associate.
The committee also sent subpoenas to 10 former Democratic and Republican government officials it said it was seeking to depose in relation to Mr. Epstein and Ms. Maxwell, who is serving a 20-year sentence for *** trafficking and other crimes.
Representative James R. Comer of Kentucky, the committee’s Republican chairman, requested that the documents be delivered by August 19.
They included former President Bill Clinton, who was acquainted with Mr. Epstein, and Hillary Clinton, the former secretary of state who ran for president against Mr. Trump in 2016.
The Oversight Committee also issued subpoenas to Robert S. Mueller III, the special counsel who investigated Russian interference in the 2016 election, James B. Comey, the former F.B.I. director, and to former attorneys general who were overseeing the Justice Department when it was grappling with legal matters related to Mr. Epstein, Merrick B. Garland, who was President Joseph R. Biden Jr.’s attorney general; William P. Barr and Jeff Sessions, who were both appointed by Mr. Trump during his first term; Loretta Lynch and Eric H. Holder Jr., who were appointed by President Barack Obama; and Alberto R. Gonzales, who served under President George W. Bush.
Thursday, August 7 Report this
Word Man
America’s Paradise Lost
Manners, morals, and freedoms have fled,
return to Earth from Heaven afar.
For untold centuries, America has bled,
from fleeting virtues, the moral scar.
Come seventh order of the celestial hierarchy,
soaring from Heaven, the celestial star.
Thursday, August 7 Report this
krell1349
And now their treating Maxwell, a convicted perjurer and *** offender with kid gloves. She will lie for Trump to get out of prison. How dare she gets pardoned!! They better not.
Monday, August 11 Report this
reenjoe
The "chips" may have already fallen - in complete silence.
After several attempts to distract attention away from his lies and involvement with Epstein and Maxwell, Trump finally stumbled upon an effective course of action - ordering a military takeover of a peaceful American city - Washington D.C.
Trump knows just how to manipulate his MAGA crowd. The hard part is finding the right shiny object.
Thursday, August 14 Report this