Trump feared Maxwell would embroil him in Epstein scandal after her arrest
Washington DC: Donald Trump feared that Ghislaine Maxwell could embroil him in the Jeffrey Epstein scandal, the author Michael Wolff has claimed in a new book on the presidency due out at the end of July.
The former US president sought to play down his long association with the disgraced financier, who was found dead in his prison cell in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.
The arrest of Maxwell, who faces charges stemming from her relationship with Epstein, worried Trump, Wolff has written in his latest book detailing the final days of the administration and the aftermath.
In a 2002 profile of Jeffrey Epstein, Donald Trump, pictured here with Melania, Epstein and Ghislaine maxwell in 2000, said: “No doubt about it – Jeffrey enjoys his social life.”Credit:Getty Images
“Has she said anything about me? Is she going to talk? Will she roll on anybody?” Trump is alleged to have said.
Maxwell has pleaded not guilty to sex trafficking of children and all other charges.
Trump’s friendship with Epstein goes back to the days when he was better known as a property developer than a politician.
In a 2002 profile of Epstein in New York magazine, Trump is quoted as saying: “I’ve known Jeff for 15 years. Terrific guy. He’s a lot of fun to be with. It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side. No doubt about it – Jeffrey enjoys his social life.”
Trump later severed links, saying he “was not a fan”.
Wolff’s book, Landslide: The Final Days of the Trump Presidency, also suggests Trump was rumoured to be considering running for the House of Representatives, so he could lead an attempt to impeach his successor, Joe Biden.
in an excerpt published in New York magazine, Trump tells his chief of staff, Mark Meadows, that he “didn’t mean it literally”when he told his supporters they should march to the Capitol on January 6.
The Telegraph, London
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