President Donald Trump said on Monday, July 28, that he declined an invitation to Jeffrey Epstein’s private island in the U.S. Virgin Islands – distancing himself further from renewed scrutiny over his past ties to the convicted sex offender.
“I never had the privilege of going to his island, and I did turn it down,” Trump told reporters in Scotland.
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He added that many people in Palm Beach were invited, but he considered rejecting the invitation one of his “very good moments.”
Trump also reiterated that he had ended his relationship with Epstein after Epstein attempted to recruit his staff.
How is Trump responding to renewed scrutiny?
Trump dismissed the renewed attention on Epstein as “a hoax,” accusing Democrats of exaggerating the issue for political gain. He said if damaging information existed in the Epstein files, it would have surfaced during the 2024 election.
The Wall Street Journal recently reported that Attorney General Pam Bondi informed Trump in May that his name appeared multiple times in federal investigation files. Meanwhile, the Justice Department has concluded that there is no “client list” or evidence warranting further investigation into Epstein’s death.
What did Trump say about pardoning Ghislaine Maxwell?
Trump acknowledged he has the authority to pardon Epstein’s former associate, Ghislaine Maxwell, who is serving a 20-year prison sentence for sex trafficking. But he added that “no one asked” him to consider it.
“Right now, it would be inappropriate to talk about it,” Trump said.
Maxwell’s lawyer, David Oscar Markus, released a statement calling her a scapegoat and urging both the Supreme Court and the president to reconsider her case.
Meanwhile, reaction from lawmakers was split.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., strongly opposed the idea of a pardon, while Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., suggested a deal could be justified if Maxwell provided truthful testimony.
“If you’re asking my opinion, I think 20 years was a pittance,” Johnson said on NBC’s Meet the Press Sunday, July 27. “I think she should have a life sentence at least. I mean, think of all these unspeakable crimes, and as you noted earlier, probably 1,000 victims.”
Is Congress taking on Epstein?
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., is set to announce plans to ask the FBI for a counterintelligence threat assessment regarding Trump’s past relationship with Epstein, according to Politico. He is requesting an investigation into whether foreign governments may have tried to access Epstein-related materials to gain leverage over Trump.
Schumer intends to tie this concern to recent cyber intrusions, including Chinese hacks of Microsoft systems.
What do past records show about Trump and Epstein?
Flight logs show Trump flew on Epstein’s plane at least six times between 1991 and 2005, though not to the island. While Trump has not been accused of criminal wrongdoing, his name appeared in Epstein’s files.
The president has repeatedly stated that he cut ties with Epstein long before the financier’s arrest, and continues to deny any deeper involvement.
