The New York Times has acknowledged in a recent report that there is no evidence linking President Donald Trump to the crimes of convicted sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein, despite the paper devoting extensive effort to revisiting decades-old photos, quotes, and social connections. The admission appeared deep within an article that otherwise attempted to frame Trump as having had a meaningful relationship with Epstein, relying largely on material from the 1990s.
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The article, authored by Times reporters Nicholas Confessore and Julie Tate, was based on interviews with more than 30 former Epstein employees, victims of his abuse, and individuals who encountered both Epstein and Trump. While the piece highlighted Epstein’s history of cultivating powerful acquaintances, it ultimately conceded that a review of the record uncovered no evidence implicating Trump in Epstein’s abuse or trafficking of minors.
Despite this acknowledgment, Democrats have continued efforts to associate Trump with Epstein, reviving old claims and selectively promoting emails and documents to suggest a close personal connection. That campaign intensified recently when party leaders circulated mostly old correspondence, along with a handful of newly released emails, in an attempt to portray Trump as a longtime friend of the disgraced financier.
Among the materials promoted was a 2017 email from Epstein to former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers in which Epstein harshly criticized Trump. Democratic officials highlighted the message on social media, presenting Epstein’s personal animosity toward Trump as evidence of wrongdoing. Critics quickly noted the contradiction, arguing that Epstein’s expressed disdain undermined claims of a close friendship rather than supporting them.
Democrats also faced backlash for referencing an Epstein accuser while redacting her name to imply Trump’s involvement, despite sworn testimony to the contrary. The accuser, the late Virginia Giuffre, stated under oath that Trump had no role in Epstein’s crimes and later voiced support for Trump’s efforts to hold Epstein accountable. Her testimony, along with the Times’ own findings, continues to challenge attempts to link Trump to Epstein’s criminal conduct.[/read]