Controversy surrounding Donald Trump's handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files has deepened, after the publication of a story about an alleged letter the US President wrote to the disgraced financier.
The Wall Street Journal late on Thursday published a bombshell article on the letter Mr Trump allegedly wrote to Epstein – who died in jail awaiting trial for sex trafficking charges – featuring a sketch of a nude woman and other sexually suggestive content.
The letter was part of an album of letters from friends the WSJ said had been collected for Epstein's 50th birthday in 2003.
The album was reportedly created by Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein's long-time girlfriend who was jailed for sex trafficking in 2022.
The WSJ said the letter bore Mr Trump’s signature and ends with: “Happy Birthday – and may every day be another wonderful secret.”
The outlet did not publish a photo of the letter.
Mr Trump swiftly took to Truth Social and promised to sue the WSJ, calling the story “false, malicious, and defamatory”.
He also said he would take legal action against WSJ owner Rupert Murdoch and publisher News Corp.
“It’s a made up story. Not my words, not my form of speaking. Also, I don’t draw pictures,” he said.
He also suggested that the WSJ was “warned directly” by him that the letter was “fake” but published it anyway.
The alleged letter is the latest chapter of a scandal that has been increasingly difficult for the Trump administration to move past.
Epstein was arrested in 2019 on charges of solicitation of prostitution and solicitation of a child for prostitution. Witnesses and victims had previously revealed a pattern of abuse of minors – partially enabled by Maxwell – and said that powerful men had been involved in the abuse.
The disgraced financier died in prison awaiting trial in 2019. Officials ruled his death as a suicide, but it fuelled conspiracy theories, particularly in the Make America Great Again movement, that Epstein was murdered to conceal his wealthy and powerful friends implicated in his crimes.
Attorney General Pam Bondi had months ago pledged to release the now infamous Epstein “client list” and “a lot of flight logs”.
But last week, a Justice Department memo concluded that after an “exhaustive review” of materials related to Epstein, there was no secret client list and his death was indeed a suicide.
Mr Trump – whose administration includes officials who, as private citizens, helped to spread these conspiracy theories – lashed out at his own base, calling them “weaklings” and “stupid people” for continuing to question the narrative on Epstein.
In a rare rupture, his Maga supporters have turned on him, demanding the release of all the files.
The President directed Ms Bondi on Friday to unseal Epstein's grand jury transcripts.
Elon Musk, the billionaire former ally of Mr Trump, questioned the authenticity of the letter, saying it “didn’t really sound like something Trump would say tbh.”
But he also called for the full release of the Epstein material and joined some Maga loyalists in portraying the Trump administration as conspiring in a cover-up.
“Wow I can’t believe Epstein killed himself before realising it was all a hoax,” Mr Musk, who had a public rift with Mr Trump after he left the administration in May and soon after accused the President of being named in the files, said on X.
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Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
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Price: From Dh149,900
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Donate towards food and a flight by transferring money to this registered charity's account.
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The National's picks
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SPECS
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Titanium Escrow profile
Started: December 2016
Founder: Ibrahim Kamalmaz
Based: UAE
Sector: Finance / legal
Size: 3 employees, pre-revenue
Stage: Early stage
Investors: Founder's friends and Family
BORDERLANDS
Starring: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart, Jamie Lee Curtis
Director: Eli Roth
Rating: 0/5
Villains
Queens of the Stone Age
Matador
Electric scooters: some rules to remember
- Riders must be 14-years-old or over
- Wear a protective helmet
- Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
- Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
- Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
- Do not drive outside designated lanes
EA Sports FC 26
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X/S
Rating: 3/5
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What is a Ponzi scheme?
A fraudulent investment operation where the scammer provides fake reports and generates returns for old investors through money paid by new investors, rather than through ligitimate business activities.
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Final round
25 under - Antoine Rozner (FRA)
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20 - Ross Fisher (ENG)
19 - Steven Brown (ENG), Joakim Lagergren (SWE), Niklas Lemke (SWE), Marc Warren (SCO), Bernd Wiesberger (AUT)
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Akeed
Based: Muscat
Launch year: 2018
Number of employees: 40
Sector: Online food delivery
Funding: Raised $3.2m since inception
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Keep it fun and engaging
Stuart Ritchie, director of wealth advice at AES International, says children cannot learn something overnight, so it helps to have a fun routine that keeps them engaged and interested.
“I explain to my daughter that the money I draw from an ATM or the money on my bank card doesn’t just magically appear – it’s money I have earned from my job. I show her how this works by giving her little chores around the house so she can earn pocket money,” says Mr Ritchie.
His daughter is allowed to spend half of her pocket money, while the other half goes into a bank account. When this money hits a certain milestone, Mr Ritchie rewards his daughter with a small lump sum.
He also recommends books that teach the importance of money management for children, such as The Squirrel Manifesto by Ric Edelman and Jean Edelman.
Explainer: Tanween Design Programme
Non-profit arts studio Tashkeel launched this annual initiative with the intention of supporting budding designers in the UAE. This year, three talents were chosen from hundreds of applicants to be a part of the sixth creative development programme. These are architect Abdulla Al Mulla, interior designer Lana El Samman and graphic designer Yara Habib.
The trio have been guided by experts from the industry over the course of nine months, as they developed their own products that merge their unique styles with traditional elements of Emirati design. This includes laboratory sessions, experimental and collaborative practice, investigation of new business models and evaluation.
It is led by British contemporary design project specialist Helen Voce and mentor Kevin Badni, and offers participants access to experts from across the world, including the likes of UK designer Gareth Neal and multidisciplinary designer and entrepreneur, Sheikh Salem Al Qassimi.
The final pieces are being revealed in a worldwide limited-edition release on the first day of Downtown Designs at Dubai Design Week 2019. Tashkeel will be at stand E31 at the exhibition.
Lisa Ball-Lechgar, deputy director of Tashkeel, said: “The diversity and calibre of the applicants this year … is reflective of the dynamic change that the UAE art and design industry is witnessing, with young creators resolute in making their bold design ideas a reality.”
RESULT
Valencia 3
Kevin Gameiro 21', 51'
Ferran Torres 67'
Atlanta 4
Josip Llicic 3' (P), 43' (P), 71', 82'
