WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump declined to debate the letter to convicted intercourse offender Jeffrey Epstein that Home Democrats launched on Monday, calling it a “lifeless challenge.”
“I don’t touch upon one thing that’s a lifeless challenge,” Trump advised NBC Information in a quick cellphone name Tuesday morning. “I gave all feedback to the workers. It’s a lifeless challenge.”
He declined to debate the difficulty additional.
Democrats on the Home Oversight Committee posted on X a picture of a lewd notice Trump allegedly despatched Epstein for his fiftieth birthday. The letter was a part of a slew of paperwork launched Monday, which stemmed from a subpoena the GOP-led committee despatched to Epstein’s property
The president has denied that he wrote the letter. White Home officers on Monday dismissed it, arguing that the signature didn’t match the president’s present signature. Earlier situations of the president’s signature, although, seem much like the signature on the letter.
The letter, which was allegedly despatched in 2003, was first reported by The Wall Avenue Journal. The president in July sued the Journal’s father or mother firm, writer and two reporters for defamation. The newspaper has stated it stands by its reporting.
The letter depicts the define of a unadorned lady with Trump’s first identify signed within the pubic space. The notice lays out a dialog between Trump and Epstein, with Trump saying, “We’ve sure issues in widespread, Jeffrey.”
The letter concludes with an outline of Trump saying, “A pal is a superb factor. Glad birthday — and will each day be one other fantastic secret.”
The Epstein challenge has rocked Washington for months, carving a divide amongst Republicans who’re usually in lockstep behind the White Home’s messaging. Trump has repeatedly tried to downplay the story, whilst a few of his MAGA allies proceed to push for transparency.
Democratic lawmakers and a handful of their Republican counterparts are working to gather signatures that might in the end drive a vote over whether or not the Justice Division has to launch extra Epstein information.
Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., is co-leading the trouble with Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif. Among the many signatories are three Republicans who’re usually allied with Trump’s messaging: Reps. Nancy Mace of South Carolina, Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia and Lauren Boebert of Colorado.
Kyle Stewart, Julie Tsirkin, Dareh Gregorian and Tom Winter contributed.
