First lady Melania Trump denies allegations of deeper ties to Jeffrey Epstein and calls for public hearings for survivors. The move has sparked bipartisan responses and brought renewed scrutiny to the Epstein files amid new document releases and political pressure.

Melania's Denial Resurfaces Epstein Case Amid Focus on Iran War

US First Lady Melania Trump on Thursday (Apr 9) shocked the world with a public statement denying any linkages with sex offender, paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. In a televised address, the FLOTUS denied any meaningful relationship with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein or his associate Ghislaine Maxwell. She insisted that she "never had" any relationship with the sex offenders and said that she had "no knowledge" of Epstein's criminal activity when they met. Soon after, the internet erupted with conspiracy theories about the timing of Melania's address. Internet sleuths claim that the bombshell statement may be the FLOTUS "getting ahead" of a big scandal. Here's all you need to know.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-wow-what-a-hot-piece-of-a-melania-trump-denies-epstein-and-maxwell-ties-but-these-emails-complicate-that-story-fact-check-1775783396467">'Wow, what a hot piece of a**': Melania Trump denies Epstein and Maxwell ties, but THESE emails complicate that story | FACT CHECK</a>&nbsp;Disclaimer: WION is only reporting the names that have been mentioned in the Epstein files and is not accusing anyone of any wrongdoing. Readers are advised to use their discretion on this article.<h2>What did Melania Trump say about Epstein and Maxwell?</h2>The First Lady unequivocally said that "the lies linking me with the disgraceful Jeffrey Epstein need to end today." She noted that "fake images and statements" about her and Epstein had been spreading on social media for years. Melania also denied that Epstein had introduced her to Donald Trump and claimed that she met her husband two years before she ever encountered Epstein. Reports suggest that the two met independently in September 1998 at a New York Fashion Week party at the Kit Kat Club in Manhattan, hosted by Paolo Zampolli.She also stated she had never been on Epstein's plane, never visited his private island, did not know about his abuse of victims, and was never involved "in any capacity." On Maxwell, she said she had no relationship with her either.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">First Lady Melania Trump’s Statement <a href="https://t.co/fSEz24NEyg">pic.twitter.com/fSEz24NEyg</a>&mdash; First Lady Melania Trump (@FLOTUS) <a href="https://twitter.com/FLOTUS/status/2042330778483270008?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 9, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>What are they trying to hide?</h2>While Melania did not specify what prompted the statement or which particular allegations she was responding to, the internet has some theories. Users online speculated that the FLOTUS was trying to "get ahead" of a bigger scandal.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/fact-check-did-macron-post-a-video-of-jeffrey-epstein-kissing-melania-trump-truth-behind-the-viral-clip-1775806317213">FACT CHECK: Did Macron post a video of Jeffrey Epstein kissing Melania Trump? Truth behind the viral clip</a>"I think the reason Melania is getting ahead of it is Amanda Ungaro, model, Epstein survivor, &amp; mother of a child shared w P. Zampoli (who was part of introducing M to Trump at Kit Kat club) is now publicly calling her out. Zampoli also called ICE on Amanda &amp; had her deported," said one user posting screenshots of posts by a X account by the name Amanda Ungaro.&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">I think the reason Melania is getting ahead of it is Amanda Ungaro, model, Epstein survivor, & mother of a child shared w P. Zampoli, (who was part of introducing M to Trump at Kit Kat club) is now publicly calling her out. Zampoli also called ICE on Amanda & had her deported👀👇 <a href="https://t.co/fIjdxUdNub">https://t.co/fIjdxUdNub</a> <a href="https://t.co/5jExnmv5j0">pic.twitter.com/5jExnmv5j0</a>— Susan♀️🇺🇦 (@ifudontlike2bad) <a href="https://twitter.com/ifudontlike2bad/status/2042439341176459299?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 10, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The Brazilian model has previously claimed knowledge of Epstein's murky dealings. Ungaro, who has a son with Italian businessman Paolo Zampolli, the man at whose September 1998, New York Fashion Week party at the Kit Kat Club in Manhattan Melania and Donald Trump reportedly met.Political analyst Ahmed Baba speculated that something big may be "about to drop". On X, he wrote, “This was so random. To my knowledge, there was no notable discourse recently about Melania’s ties to Epstein. All eyes have been on the Iran war. What prompted this? Is something about to drop? Seems to me the First Lady just injected Epstein back into the news cycle unprompted.”

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">This was so random. To my knowledge, there was no notable discourse recently about Melania's ties to Epstein. All eyes have been on the Iran War. What prompted this? Is something about to drop? Seems to me the First Lady just injected Epstein back into the news cycle unprompted. <a href="https://t.co/MBcUhW84yK">https://t.co/MBcUhW84yK</a>— Ahmed Baba (@AhmedBaba_) <a href="https://twitter.com/AhmedBaba_/status/2042313752616329625?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 9, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Gabe Fleshier, the journalist behind Wake Up To Politics, echoed the confusion, saying “Who at the White House thought it was a good idea to resurrect the Epstein story right now? Or did FLOTUS just want to say this, and no one could overrule her?”

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">I’m so confused by this. Who at the White House thought it was a good idea to resurrect the Epstein story right now? Or did FLOTUS just want to say this, and no one could overrule her? Was anybody talking about Epstein and Melania in the last few days before this? Is this an… <a href="https://t.co/Z1gaSxbW9X">https://t.co/Z1gaSxbW9X</a>— Gabe Fleisher (@WakeUp2Politics) <a href="https://twitter.com/WakeUp2Politics/status/2042314932595704009?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 9, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Why did Melania Trump break her silence on Epstein now? After the FLOTUS firmly denied any links to Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, online speculation exploded over the timing.

Is this damage control or coincidence? Scroll down to read more.

US First Lady Melania Trump on Thursday (Apr 9) shocked the world with a public statement denying any linkages with sex offender, paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. In a televised address, the FLOTUS denied any meaningful relationship with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein or his associate Ghislaine Maxwell. She insisted that she "never had" any relationship with the sex offenders and said that she had "no knowledge" of Epstein's criminal activity when they met. Soon after, the internet erupted with conspiracy theories about the timing of Melania's address. Internet sleuths claim that the bombshell statement may be the FLOTUS "getting ahead" of a big scandal. Here's all you need to know. Also read | 'Wow, what a hot piece of a**': Melania Trump denies Epstein and Maxwell ties, but THESE emails complicate that story | FACT CHECK Disclaimer: WION is only reporting the names that have been mentioned in the Epstein files and is not accusing anyone of any wrongdoing. Readers are advised to use their discretion on this article. What did Melania Trump say about Epstein and Maxwell? The First Lady unequivocally said that "the lies linking me with the disgraceful Jeffrey Epstein need to end today." She noted that "fake images and statements" about her and Epstein had been spreading on social media for years. Melania also denied that Epstein had introduced her to Donald Trump and claimed that she met her husband two years before she ever encountered Epstein. Reports suggest that the two met independently in September 1998 at a New York Fashion Week party at the Kit Kat Club in Manhattan, hosted by Paolo Zampolli. She also stated she had never been on Epstein's plane, never visited his private island, did not know about his abuse of victims, and was never involved "in any capacity." On Maxwell, she said she had no relationship with her either.

Why did Melania Trump break her silence on Epstein now? After the FLOTUS firmly denied any links to Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, online speculation exploded over the timing.Is this damage control or coincidence? Scroll down to read more.

White House trying to get ahead of a big scandal? Internet erupts with conspiracy theories as Melania Trump denies ties with Epstein, Maxwell

Did French President Emmanuel Macron post a video of sex offender, paedophile Jeffrey Epstein kissing US First Lady Melania Trump? Posts on X claim exactly that. The video, purportedly posted by the French President, shows Epstein grabbing and kissing a woman who looks like Melania. The post, which has been circulating online for quite some time, is now going viral as Melania Trump, on Thursday, denied any meaningful relationship with the paedophile Jeffrey Epstein or his associate Ghislaine Maxwell. She insisted that she "never had" any relationship with the sex offenders and said that she had "no knowledge" of Epstein's criminal activity when they met. As the post continues to be shared widely, let's see how real or fake it is.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-wow-what-a-hot-piece-of-a-melania-trump-denies-epstein-and-maxwell-ties-but-these-emails-complicate-that-story-fact-check-1775783396467">'Wow, what a hot piece of a**': Melania Trump denies Epstein and Maxwell ties, but THESE emails complicate that story | FACT CHECK</a><h2>What the post claimed</h2>Posts on X claim that the French President posted a 15-second clip of the sex offender kissing the US first lady as she sits on his lap. The video in question actually consists of a single still image purportedly showing Epstein and Melania Trump in an intimate moment.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Macron posted this today. That’s Melania’s first pump, Jeff Epstein. <a href="https://t.co/TKfBDFN3Nm">pic.twitter.com/TKfBDFN3Nm</a>&mdash; Dean Blundell🇨🇦 (@ItsDeanBlundell) <a href="https://twitter.com/ItsDeanBlundell/status/2041909970065621260?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 8, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>Did Macron post it?</h2>A manual review of Macron's X and Instagram accounts for April 8, 2026, found nothing resembling the alleged post. It doesn't exist on either platform.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/artemis-ii-astronauts-stuck-pooping-in-special-bags-after-23-million-toilet-gets-clogged-1775713143337">Artemis II: Astronauts stuck using 'special bags' as $23 million toilet gets clogged</a><h2>So, where did the image actually come from?</h2>The earliest traceable version of the image dates to February 5, 2026, posted on Facebook by an account that explicitly identifies itself as a satire and meme page. That's more than two months before the Macron claim surfaced. The Facebook post specifies that the picture is, in fact, ‘Digitally altered’ and a ‘parody’.&nbsp;

The image carries a serial number formatted to resemble those used to index materials in the Department of Justice's Epstein document library. However, a quick search of the Epstein files database returned no matches. However, the images do resemble a set of pictures that are part of the DoJ's Epstein files dump.<figure class="image"><img src="https://cdn1.wionews.com/prod/wion/images/2026/20260410/image-1775808002502.png"></figure>Notably, the images in question do not show the face of the woman in the image. Her face has been redacted to protect her identity. Moreover, the position of Epstein's hands in the pictures is different from the one being shared online. Additionally, none of them shows Epstein wearing a ring. A close look at his hands also shows what appeared to be a deformed hand, with two of Epstein's fingers seemingly merged together.<h2>AI detectors flag the image as doctored</h2>WION ran multiple detection tests, with two different AI detection tools flagging the image as fake with 97 and 100% probability, respectively.&nbsp; &nbsp;<figure class="image"><img src="https://cdn1.wionews.com/prod/wion/images/2026/20260410/image-1775806341290.png"></figure><figure class="image"><img src="https://cdn1.wionews.com/prod/wion/images/2026/20260410/image-1775806487353.png"></figure>&nbsp;Disclaimer: WION is only reporting the names that have been mentioned in the Epstein files and is not accusing anyone of any wrongdoing. Readers are advised to use their discretion on this article.

Did Emmanuel Macron really post a video of Jeffrey Epstein kissing Melania Trump? A viral claim is spreading fast online. WION fact-checked the clip. What’s real and what’s fake here? scroll down to read.

Did French President Emmanuel Macron post a video of sex offender, paedophile Jeffrey Epstein kissing US First Lady Melania Trump? Posts on X claim exactly that. The video, purportedly posted by the French President, shows Epstein grabbing and kissing a woman who looks like Melania. The post, which has been circulating online for quite some time, is now going viral as Melania Trump, on Thursday, denied any meaningful relationship with the paedophile Jeffrey Epstein or his associate Ghislaine Maxwell. She insisted that she "never had" any relationship with the sex offenders and said that she had "no knowledge" of Epstein's criminal activity when they met. As the post continues to be shared widely, let's see how real or fake it is. Also read | 'Wow, what a hot piece of a**': Melania Trump denies Epstein and Maxwell ties, but THESE emails complicate that story | FACT CHECK What the post claimed Posts on X claim that the French President posted a 15-second clip of the sex offender kissing the US first lady as she sits on his lap. The video in question actually consists of a single still image purportedly showing Epstein and Melania Trump in an intimate moment.

Did Emmanuel Macron really post a video of Jeffrey Epstein kissing Melania Trump? A viral claim is spreading fast online. WION fact-checked the clip. What’s real and what’s fake here? scroll down to read.

FACT CHECK: Did Macron post a video of Jeffrey Epstein kissing Melania Trump? Truth behind the viral clip

Melania Trump denies any link to Jeffrey Epstein, addresses Maxwell email exchange, social connections, and political fallout surrounding Epstein case

Melania Trump denies Epstein ties, addresses Maxwell email, says contact was casual as controversy resurfaces in US political debate

Melania Trump denies Epstein links: Emails, Maxwell connection and what we know so far

US First Lady Melania Trump, in a public statement on Thursday (Apr 9), denied any meaningful relationship with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein or his associate Ghislaine Maxwell. She insisted that she "never had" any relationship with the sex offenders and said that she had "no knowledge" of Epstein's criminal activity when they met. However, within hours of her surprise statement, a 2002 email released in the Justice Department's final tranche of Epstein documents was circulating widely online, raising questions about at least one of those claims. Here's a fact check.&nbsp;Disclaimer: WION is only reporting the names that have been mentioned in the Epstein files and is not accusing anyone of any wrongdoing. Readers are advised to use their discretion on this article.<h3>What Melania Trump said</h3>The First Lady was unequivocal. "The lies linking me with the disgraceful Jeffrey Epstein need to end today," she said, adding that "fake images and statements" about her and Epstein had been spreading on social media for years. She denied that Epstein had introduced her to Donald Trump and claimed that she met her husband two years before she ever encountered Epstein. Reports suggest that the two met independently in September 1998 at a New York Fashion Week party at the Kit Kat Club in Manhattan, hosted by Paolo Zampolli.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/artemis-ii-astronauts-stuck-pooping-in-special-bags-after-23-million-toilet-gets-clogged-1775713143337">Artemis II: Astronauts stuck using 'special bags' as $23 million toilet gets clogged</a>She also stated she had never been on Epstein's plane, never visited his private island, did not know about his abuse of victims, and was never involved "in any capacity." On Maxwell, she said she had no relationship with her either.Melania did not specify what prompted the statement or which particular allegations she was responding to, though photographs of Donald and Melania Trump alongside Epstein and Maxwell at Mar-a-Lago have circulated for years. She also called on Congress to hold public hearings allowing Epstein's survivors to testify under oath.<h2>Internet fact check's Melania's 'never had' a relationship with Epstein or Maxwell claim</h2>Almost immediately after the statement went public, users online pointed to a document from the Justice Department's Epstein file release: a 2002 email addressed to "Dear G", widely interpreted as Ghislaine Maxwell, with the sender's identity redacted.The email reads: "Dear G! How are you? Nice story about JE in NY mag. You look great on the picture. I know you are very busy flying all over the world. How was Palm Beach? I cannot wait to go down. Give me a call when you are back in NY. Have a great time! Love, Melania."The tone, "dear G," a request to call, and the sign-off "love" struck many as inconsistent with Melania's claim of having no relationship with Maxwell.<figure class="image"><img src="https://cdn1.wionews.com/prod/wion/images/2026/20260410/image-1775783790660.png"></figure>It must be noted that the sender's ID in the email is blacked out. It has not been independently verified that the email was sent by Melania Trump rather than some other Melania. No official attribution has been confirmed.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pam-bondi-subpoenaed-house-oversight-committee-forces-trump-s-ag-to-testify-on-doj-s-alleged-epstein-files-cover-up-bipartisan-vote-1772688470568">Pam Bondi subpoenaed: House oversight committee forces Trump's AG to testify on DOJ's alleged Epstein files 'cover-up'</a><h2>A damning second email emerges</h2>A separate email is also making the rounds on X. The email is addressed to Jeffrey Epstein's Gmail account and is dated November 9, 2016, coincidentally the day after Trump's first presidential election victory.&nbsp;&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img src="https://cdn1.wionews.com/prod/wion/images/2026/20260410/image-1775783828341.png"></figure>The sender, also redacted, writes about being surprised by the result and then adds: "I remember flying back with Donald on his plane the first weekend I went to visit you in Florida was the weekend he met Melania, and he kept on coming out of the bedroom saying 'wow what a hot piece of ass.'"The email, if authentic, could potentially contradict the account of how Trump and Melania met, though again, the sender's identity is unverified.<h2>So, did Epstein introduce the POTUS and FLOTUS?</h2>If rumours are to be believed, yes. However, for now, Melania insists, "Epstein did not introduce me to Donald Trump".&nbsp;&nbsp;

Did Melania Trump really have “no relationship” with Epstein or Maxwell? After the FLOTUS denied any links to Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, resurfaced emails have sparked fresh questions online. Coincidence, misidentification, or contradiction?

Scroll down for the fact check.

US First Lady Melania Trump, in a public statement on Thursday (Apr 9), denied any meaningful relationship with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein or his associate Ghislaine Maxwell. She insisted that she "never had" any relationship with the sex offenders and said that she had "no knowledge" of Epstein's criminal activity when they met. However, within hours of her surprise statement, a 2002 email released in the Justice Department's final tranche of Epstein documents was circulating widely online, raising questions about at least one of those claims. Here's a fact check. Disclaimer: WION is only reporting the names that have been mentioned in the Epstein files and is not accusing anyone of any wrongdoing. Readers are advised to use their discretion on this article. What Melania Trump said The First Lady was unequivocal. "The lies linking me with the disgraceful Jeffrey Epstein need to end today," she said, adding that "fake images and statements" about her and Epstein had been spreading on social media for years. She denied that Epstein had introduced her to Donald Trump and claimed that she met her husband two years before she ever encountered Epstein. Reports suggest that the two met independently in September 1998 at a New York Fashion Week party at the Kit Kat Club in Manhattan, hosted by Paolo Zampolli. Also read | Artemis II: Astronauts stuck using 'special bags' as $23 million toilet gets clogged She also stated she had never been on Epstein's plane, never visited his private island, did not know about his abuse of victims, and was never involved "in any capacity." On Maxwell, she said she had no relationship with her either. Melania did not specify what prompted the statement or which particular allegations she was responding to, though photographs of Donald and Melania Trump alongside Epstein and Maxwell at Mar-a-Lago have circulated for years. She also called on Congress to hold public hearings allowing Epstein's survivors to testify under oath. Internet fact check's Melania's 'never had' a relationship with Epstein or Maxwell claim Almost immediately after the statement went public, users online pointed to a document from the Justice Department's Epstein file release: a 2002 email addressed to "Dear G", widely interpreted as Ghislaine Maxwell, with the sender's identity redacted. The email reads: "Dear G! How are you? Nice story about JE in NY mag. You look great on the picture. I know you are very busy flying all over the world. How was Palm Beach? I cannot wait to go down. Give me a call when you are back in NY. Have a great time! Love, Melania." The tone, "dear G," a request to call, and the sign-off "love" struck many as inconsistent with Melania's claim of having no relationship with Maxwell. It must be noted that the sender's ID in the email is blacked out. It has not been independently verified that the email was sent by Melania Trump rather than some other Melania. No official attribution has been confirmed. Also read | Pam Bondi subpoenaed: House oversight committee forces Trump's AG to testify on DOJ's alleged Epstein files 'cover-up' A damning second email emerges A separate email is also making the rounds on X. The email is addressed to Jeffrey Epstein's Gmail account and is dated November 9, 2016, coincidentally the day after Trump's first presidential election victory. The sender, also redacted, writes about being surprised by the result and then adds: "I remember flying back with Donald on his plane the first weekend I went to visit you in Florida was the weekend he met Melania, and he kept on coming out of the bedroom saying 'wow what a hot piece of ass.'" The email, if authentic, could potentially contradict the account of how Trump and Melania met, though again, the sender's identity is unverified. So, did Epstein introduce the POTUS and FLOTUS? If rumours are to be believed, yes. However, for now, Melania insists, "Epstein did not introduce me to Donald Trump".

Did Melania Trump really have “no relationship” with Epstein or Maxwell? After the FLOTUS denied any links to Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, resurfaced emails have sparked fresh questions online. Coincidence, misidentification, or contradiction?Scroll down for the fact check.

'Wow, what a hot piece of a**': Melania Trump denies Epstein and Maxwell ties, but THESE emails complicate that story | FACT CHECK

US President Donald Trump said he was caught off guard by First Lady Melania Trump’s unexpected White House remarks, in which she firmly dismissed long-standing allegations linking her to financier Jeffrey Epstein. Speaking to MS Now, Trump claimed he had no prior awareness of her statement before she appeared publicly. He said he “didn't know anything about” the First Lady’s statement before she went on camera, adding that “she didn't know [Epstein]” before abruptly ending the interview call.<h2>Melania Trump’s rare public address</h2>In a rare appearance at the White House Cross Hall, Melania directly addressed years of speculation regarding her alleged ties to Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell. “I am not Epstein's victim,” she said. “Epstein did not introduce me to Donald Trump. I met my husband by chance at a New York City party in 1998.”&nbsp;She emphasized that any overlap with Epstein or Maxwell occurred only through shared social circles in New York and Palm Beach, rejecting claims of any personal or direct involvement. Warning against misinformation, she added, “These images and stories are completely false. I'm not a witness or unnamed witness in connection with any of Epstein's crimes.” “The false smears about me from mean-spirited and politically motivated individuals and entities looking to cause damage to my good name to gain financially and climb politically must stop,” she continued, stating her legal team has successfully challenged such claims.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israel-denounces-pakistan-defence-minister-s-evil-and-cancerous-state-remarks-amid-us-iran-talks-1775772096316">Israel denounces Pakistan defence minister's 'evil and cancerous state' remarks amid US-Iran talks</a>&nbsp;Melania also urged congressional action, calling for a public hearing focused on survivors of Epstein’s abuse. “I call on Congress to provide the women who have been victimized by Epstein with a public hearing specifically centered around the survivors,” she said.<h2>Email controversy addressed</h2>Addressing scrutiny over a resurfaced email exchange with Maxwell, she said, “My email reply to Maxwell cannot be characterized as anything more than casual correspondence. My polite reply to her email doesn't amount to anything more than a trivial note.” She also reiterated that she first encountered Epstein in 2000, before allegations against him became widely known, and maintained she had no awareness of any wrongdoing at the time.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/polymarket-shows-high-stakes-bets-on-geopolitical-actions-1775756682833/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/polymarket-shows-high-stakes-bets-on-geopolitical-actions-1775756682833/embed</a>

Donald Trump says “I didn’t know anything about it” after Melania Trump denies any links to Jeffrey Epstein in a rare White House address

US President Donald Trump said he was caught off guard by First Lady Melania Trump’s unexpected White House remarks, in which she firmly dismissed long-standing allegations linking her to financier Jeffrey Epstein. Speaking to MS Now, Trump claimed he had no prior awareness of her statement before she appeared publicly. He said he “didn't know anything about” the First Lady’s statement before she went on camera, adding that “she didn't know [Epstein]” before abruptly ending the interview call. Melania Trump’s rare public address In a rare appearance at the White House Cross Hall, Melania directly addressed years of speculation regarding her alleged ties to Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell. “I am not Epstein's victim,” she said. “Epstein did not introduce me to Donald Trump. I met my husband by chance at a New York City party in 1998.” She emphasized that any overlap with Epstein or Maxwell occurred only through shared social circles in New York and Palm Beach, rejecting claims of any personal or direct involvement. Warning against misinformation, she added, “These images and stories are completely false. I'm not a witness or unnamed witness in connection with any of Epstein's crimes.” “The false smears about me from mean-spirited and politically motivated individuals and entities looking to cause damage to my good name to gain financially and climb politically must stop,” she continued, stating her legal team has successfully challenged such claims. Also Read: Israel denounces Pakistan defence minister's 'evil and cancerous state' remarks amid US-Iran talks Melania also urged congressional action, calling for a public hearing focused on survivors of Epstein’s abuse. “I call on Congress to provide the women who have been victimized by Epstein with a public hearing specifically centered around the survivors,” she said. Email controversy addressed Addressing scrutiny over a resurfaced email exchange with Maxwell, she said, “My email reply to Maxwell cannot be characterized as anything more than casual correspondence. My polite reply to her email doesn't amount to anything more than a trivial note.” She also reiterated that she first encountered Epstein in 2000, before allegations against him became widely known, and maintained she had no awareness of any wrongdoing at the time. https://www.wionews.com/videos/polymarket-shows-high-stakes-bets-on-geopolitical-actions-1775756682833/embed

Melania Trump denied any ties to Jeffrey Epstein in a rare White House speech, as Donald Trump said he was unaware of her surprise remarks

'I didn’t know anything about it': Donald Trump's first reaction to Melania’s Epstein denial

Pam Bondi, the former attorney general dismissed by President Trump last week, will not appear next week for a scheduled deposition with the House Oversight Committee as part of its investigation into convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. In a statement on Wednesday, the committee said it would coordinate with Bondi to arrange a new date for her testimony, which is required under a subpoena issued last month. The subpoena was pushed forward by a bipartisan group, compelling the panel’s Republican chairman, Representative James R. Comer of Kentucky, to act.&nbsp;Comer had directed Bondi to testify on April 14 regarding the Justice Department’s investigation into Epstein, the disgraced financier who died in 2019 while facing sex trafficking charges, and the department’s handling of related investigative materials. However, a committee spokeswoman said the Justice Department indicated that Bondi would not appear because she is no longer serving as attorney general. Her missteps in handling the Epstein investigation reportedly played a key role in President Trump’s decision to remove her from the position. The Justice Department did not respond to requests for comment.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-s-parliament-speaker-ghalibaf-accuses-us-of-violating-ceasefire-araghchi-warns-world-is-watching-1775685001924">Iran's parliament speaker Ghalibaf accuses US of violating ceasefire; Araghchi warns 'world is watching'</a>&nbsp;The committee is now expected to discuss next steps, including rescheduling, with Bondi’s personal legal team. Representative Robert Garcia of California, the panel’s top Democrat, emphasized that the subpoena remains valid despite her dismissal. “Now that Pam Bondi has been fired, she’s trying to get out of her legal obligation to testify,” Mr. Garcia said in a statement. He added that “if she defies the subpoena, we will begin contempt charges in the Congress.”Even before her removal, lawmakers were concerned that &nbsp;Bondi might attempt to avoid the deposition. In a rare move, five Republicans joined Democrats to force the subpoena over Comer’s objections, marking a significant rebuke from members of the president’s own party.&nbsp;While Comer publicly stated he would honor the subpoena and Bondi claimed she intended to “follow the law,” she never firmly committed to appearing on April 14. Reports suggest she and Comer had been quietly working to avoid the deposition. Following her dismissal, Representative Nancy Mace of South Carolina, who introduced the motion to subpoena Bondi, said the legal obligation still stands.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-iran-ceasefire-trump-threatened-civilisational-destruction-iran-stood-firm-1775676592138/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-iran-ceasefire-trump-threatened-civilisational-destruction-iran-stood-firm-1775676592138/embed</a>&nbsp;“Pam Bondi cannot escape accountability simply because she no longer holds the office of attorney general,” Mace said in a statement. “Our motion to subpoena Pam Bondi, which was passed by the Oversight Committee, was for Bondi by name, not by title.” Annie and Maria Farmer, among the earliest known accusers of Epstein, criticized the delay in securing testimony. “Survivors have waited nearly three decades for answers,” they said in a statement. “How much longer must we wait?”&nbsp;The committee’s investigation began last year with a subpoena for Justice Department files and has since expanded to include materials from Epstein’s estate, as well as interviews and depositions from individuals connected to him.Previously, Comer also subpoenaed Bill and Hillary Clinton, leading to a prolonged standoff before both agreed to testify after the committee moved toward contempt proceedings.&nbsp;Looking ahead, several closed-door interviews are scheduled. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick is expected to appear voluntarily on May 6, while Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates is slated to testify on June 10, according to sources familiar with the plans.

Epstein Files: Ousted AG Pam Bondi will not testify before House Oversight committee

Pam Bondi, the former attorney general dismissed by President Trump last week, will not appear next week for a scheduled deposition with the House Oversight Committee as part of its investigation into convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. In a statement on Wednesday, the committee said it would coordinate with Bondi to arrange a new date for her testimony, which is required under a subpoena issued last month. The subpoena was pushed forward by a bipartisan group, compelling the panel’s Republican chairman, Representative James R. Comer of Kentucky, to act. Comer had directed Bondi to testify on April 14 regarding the Justice Department’s investigation into Epstein, the disgraced financier who died in 2019 while facing sex trafficking charges, and the department’s handling of related investigative materials. However, a committee spokeswoman said the Justice Department indicated that Bondi would not appear because she is no longer serving as attorney general. Her missteps in handling the Epstein investigation reportedly played a key role in President Trump’s decision to remove her from the position. The Justice Department did not respond to requests for comment. Also Read: Iran's parliament speaker Ghalibaf accuses US of violating ceasefire; Araghchi warns 'world is watching' The committee is now expected to discuss next steps, including rescheduling, with Bondi’s personal legal team. Representative Robert Garcia of California, the panel’s top Democrat, emphasized that the subpoena remains valid despite her dismissal. “Now that Pam Bondi has been fired, she’s trying to get out of her legal obligation to testify,” Mr. Garcia said in a statement. He added that “if she defies the subpoena, we will begin contempt charges in the Congress.” Even before her removal, lawmakers were concerned that Bondi might attempt to avoid the deposition. In a rare move, five Republicans joined Democrats to force the subpoena over Comer’s objections, marking a significant rebuke from members of the president’s own party. While Comer publicly stated he would honor the subpoena and Bondi claimed she intended to “follow the law,” she never firmly committed to appearing on April 14. Reports suggest she and Comer had been quietly working to avoid the deposition. Following her dismissal, Representative Nancy Mace of South Carolina, who introduced the motion to subpoena Bondi, said the legal obligation still stands. https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-iran-ceasefire-trump-threatened-civilisational-destruction-iran-stood-firm-1775676592138/embed “Pam Bondi cannot escape accountability simply because she no longer holds the office of attorney general,” Mace said in a statement. “Our motion to subpoena Pam Bondi, which was passed by the Oversight Committee, was for Bondi by name, not by title.” Annie and Maria Farmer, among the earliest known accusers of Epstein, criticized the delay in securing testimony. “Survivors have waited nearly three decades for answers,” they said in a statement. “How much longer must we wait?” The committee’s investigation began last year with a subpoena for Justice Department files and has since expanded to include materials from Epstein’s estate, as well as interviews and depositions from individuals connected to him. Previously, Comer also subpoenaed Bill and Hillary Clinton, leading to a prolonged standoff before both agreed to testify after the committee moved toward contempt proceedings. Looking ahead, several closed-door interviews are scheduled. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick is expected to appear voluntarily on May 6, while Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates is slated to testify on June 10, according to sources familiar with the plans.

Pam Bondi to skip a subpoenaed deposition in the Epstein probe, prompting lawmakers to warn of contempt as the Oversight Committee plans next steps

Jeffrey Epstein discussed plans to evade the law with a billionaire psychiatrist and discussed changing his appearance through either wearing disguises or getting plastic surgery. Emails exchanged between the late paedophile and Gramercy Park psychiatrist Dr Henry Jarecki show that they had a long list of items they would need to escape punishment. Titled "<a href="https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%209/EFTA00774487.pdf">What If I Get Caught</a>" and dated May 1, 2009, it was sent by Jarecki's assistant because he wanted to write a book on the topic, the Department of Justice files show. “Dr. Jarecki asked me to send you the following notes, along with the statement, ‘I’m thinking of writing a new book, and I need a co-author,'” the email reads. Notably, this is from around the time Epstein was due to finish his sentence for soliciting prostitution from a minor. There is a list of things to keep in mind in case one needs to run away. It includes not using credit cards and preparing a financial backup for life on the run. The more stark ways to evade law enforcement are what have drawn attention. The email has a section labelled “post-trouble” which lists “disguises,” “plastic surgeon,” and “documents generation: birth certificate, driver’s license" as ways to be safe.&nbsp;The document also talks about how to deal with prosecution witnesses and gather information about their "veracity and character" through "private detectives and internet." It also talks about the importance of having multiple passports and having a stash of ready cash. "How much is enough?" the email states. Epstein has the playbook down to the T even before he got these suggestions from Jarecki. According to the FBI, Epstein used a fake Austrian passport between 1982 and 1983 to travel to the United Kingdom, France and Saudi Arabia. It carries his photo and the name "Marius Robert Fortelni". It was found in a locker at his Upper East Side mansion in 2019 along with "piles of cash" and "dozens of diamonds."Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/architect-who-worked-on-epstein-island-describes-eerie-things-he-saw-bunk-beds-for-women-1773827971287">Architect who worked on Epstein island describes eerie things he saw - 'Bunk beds for women'</a>&nbsp;The email also mentions countries like Germany, Israel and Brazil. In the last section titled "flight" it states the extradition laws in these countries, and it appears that Epstein likely thought about escaping to one of them. He had already caught the eye of the law at this time and could have possibly looked at ways to escape future punishment. Jarecki, who is now 92, released one book in 2021, a memoir titled “An Alchemist’s Way: How To Make Luck Look Like Skill.” DOJ files show that despite the age difference, the two were very close and Jarecki flew on Epstein's private jet dubbed the Lolita Express. After being released in 2009, Epstein emailed Jarecki "home and free." He responded, "I hope you do not come to your senses. And when’s the party?"Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/manipulated-deceived-norway-crown-princess-mette-marit-talks-of-epstein-links-teary-eyed-interview-timed-after-son-s-rape-trial-raises-questions-1774007343960">Manipulated, deceived: Norway Crown Princess Mette-Marit talks of Epstein links, teary-eyed interview timed after son's rape trial raises questions</a><h2>Epstein referred a girl to Jarecki</h2>“You drive away these girls,” Epstein wrote him. “They start out open to a love relation, and then, you torture and mistreat each.” One of Epstein's victims accused JArecki of raping her after the financier gave her a referral and called him the “best doctor in New York City,” according to a 2024 complaint filed in Manhattan Federal Court. Jarecki maintained that the relationship was "consensual, non-secretive and mutually respectful." A spokesperson for Jarecki’s business office told The New York Post that the email was meant to be humorous “advice”. But now that the seriousness of his crimes is out, "the humorous tone of the email written 17 years ago was completely inappropriate." The spokesperson added that Jarecki is suffering from advanced dementia.

Epstein Files have revealed that the paedophile could likely have been contemplating escaping to another country and even plastic surgery. An email sent to him by a psychiatrist friend lists several ways to escape the law.

Jeffrey Epstein discussed plans to evade the law with a billionaire psychiatrist and discussed changing his appearance through either wearing disguises or getting plastic surgery. Emails exchanged between the late paedophile and Gramercy Park psychiatrist Dr Henry Jarecki show that they had a long list of items they would need to escape punishment. Titled "What If I Get Caught" and dated May 1, 2009, it was sent by Jarecki's assistant because he wanted to write a book on the topic, the Department of Justice files show. “Dr. Jarecki asked me to send you the following notes, along with the statement, ‘I’m thinking of writing a new book, and I need a co-author,'” the email reads. Notably, this is from around the time Epstein was due to finish his sentence for soliciting prostitution from a minor. There is a list of things to keep in mind in case one needs to run away. It includes not using credit cards and preparing a financial backup for life on the run. The more stark ways to evade law enforcement are what have drawn attention. The email has a section labelled “post-trouble” which lists “disguises,” “plastic surgeon,” and “documents generation: birth certificate, driver’s license" as ways to be safe. The document also talks about how to deal with prosecution witnesses and gather information about their "veracity and character" through "private detectives and internet." It also talks about the importance of having multiple passports and having a stash of ready cash. "How much is enough?" the email states. Epstein has the playbook down to the T even before he got these suggestions from Jarecki. According to the FBI, Epstein used a fake Austrian passport between 1982 and 1983 to travel to the United Kingdom, France and Saudi Arabia. It carries his photo and the name "Marius Robert Fortelni". It was found in a locker at his Upper East Side mansion in 2019 along with "piles of cash" and "dozens of diamonds." Also Read: Architect who worked on Epstein island describes eerie things he saw - 'Bunk beds for women' The email also mentions countries like Germany, Israel and Brazil. In the last section titled "flight" it states the extradition laws in these countries, and it appears that Epstein likely thought about escaping to one of them. He had already caught the eye of the law at this time and could have possibly looked at ways to escape future punishment. Jarecki, who is now 92, released one book in 2021, a memoir titled “An Alchemist’s Way: How To Make Luck Look Like Skill.” DOJ files show that despite the age difference, the two were very close and Jarecki flew on Epstein's private jet dubbed the Lolita Express. After being released in 2009, Epstein emailed Jarecki "home and free." He responded, "I hope you do not come to your senses. And when’s the party?" Also Read: Manipulated, deceived: Norway Crown Princess Mette-Marit talks of Epstein links, teary-eyed interview timed after son's rape trial raises questions Epstein referred a girl to Jarecki “You drive away these girls,” Epstein wrote him. “They start out open to a love relation, and then, you torture and mistreat each.” One of Epstein's victims accused JArecki of raping her after the financier gave her a referral and called him the “best doctor in New York City,” according to a 2024 complaint filed in Manhattan Federal Court. Jarecki maintained that the relationship was "consensual, non-secretive and mutually respectful." A spokesperson for Jarecki’s business office told The New York Post that the email was meant to be humorous “advice”. But now that the seriousness of his crimes is out, "the humorous tone of the email written 17 years ago was completely inappropriate." The spokesperson added that Jarecki is suffering from advanced dementia.

Epstein Files have revealed that the paedophile could likely have been contemplating escaping to another country and even plastic surgery. An email sent to him by a psychiatrist friend lists several ways to escape the law.

'What If I Get Caught?' Epstein Files reveal a sinister plot to escape law through surgery and other ways

American model Gigi Hadid addressed her and her sister Bella Hadid's mention in the Epstein files after they were named in a 2015 email exchange between the late financier and an anonymous individual. She responded to one of the social media users when admitted about unfollowing Gigi Hadid.<h2>What did Gigi Hadid say about the Epstein Files?</h2>The model addressed the issue directly about the appearance of her name in the Epstein files, explaining her initial silence and emotional reaction. Responding to one of the users in Instagram, she wrote, "The documents made me sick to my stomach...it was horrible to read someone you've never met speak about you that way, especially in this context."&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/hollywood/gigi-hadid-makes-big-move-in-her-rumoured-love-life-with-bradley-cooper-here-s-what-we-know-1763353627703">Gigi Hadid makes big move in her rumoured love life with Bradley Cooper; Here's what we know</a>&nbsp;She further wrote, “I didn’t comment because I don’t want to take away from the stories of real victims of his, but your comment made me realise maybe it's not clear – and it’s important to let you know – I grew up privileged, yes." But my parents protected me and taught me the value of hard work, the same hard work that got them to this country and gave them careers.”&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/gigi-hadid-spotted-holding-hands-with-bradley-cooper-on-birthday-9006504">Gigi Hadid spotted holding hands with Bradley Cooper on birthday</a>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Gigi Hadid respondeu um comentário em uma das suas últimas postagens no Instagram sobre seu nome citado nos arquivos Epstein. <a href="https://t.co/WERUeLaZRc">pic.twitter.com/WERUeLaZRc</a>&mdash; Gigi Hadid Brasil (@GigiHadidBR) <a href="https://twitter.com/GigiHadidBR/status/2040481003508994111?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 4, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

"We applied, and my mom brought me herself to meetings with agencies in NYC just before I turned 18, two of which she was signed to in her career—Marylin's and Ford. I probably met w 10 agencies- only Marylin’s, IMG, and (maybe?) one other agency offered me a contract. I signed to IMG in 2012. And I’ve worked hard every moment since. To be named in those files, I think I was 20-21 at the time he would have written that email— is disturbing, and I want to state unequivocally that I have never had any affiliation with that disgusting human being,” she concluded.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/gigi-hadid-is-in-a-very-happy-relationship-with-bradley-cooper-he-gives-so-much-to-me-8845408">Gigi Hadid is in a 'very happy' relationship with Bradley Cooper: 'He gives so much to me...'</a><h2>About Gigi Hadid</h2>Born Jelena Noura Hadid to Yolanda Hadid and Mohamed Hadid, she grew up in Los Angeles and began modelling at age two with Baby Guess. She signed with IMG Models in 2013 and made her New York Fashion Week debut in 2014. Gigi Hadid is a renowned American supermodel and television personality, recognized as one of the highest-paid models in the world since 2017.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/rahul-banerjee-death-case-bengali-film-and-television-industry-suspends-shoots-indefinitely-we-are-insecure-1775411895667">Rahul Banerjee death: Bengali film, TV industry suspends shoots indefinitely</a>&nbsp;She continues to work as a high-fashion model, walking for brands like Versace and Miu Miu. She is known for her charity work with Pencils of Promise and UNICEF.

Gigi Hadid has broken her silence about being mentioned in the Epstein files after they were named in a 2015 email exchange.  Read to know more details. 

American model Gigi Hadid addressed her and her sister Bella Hadid's mention in the Epstein files after they were named in a 2015 email exchange between the late financier and an anonymous individual. She responded to one of the social media users when admitted about unfollowing Gigi Hadid. What did Gigi Hadid say about the Epstein Files? The model addressed the issue directly about the appearance of her name in the Epstein files, explaining her initial silence and emotional reaction. Responding to one of the users in Instagram, she wrote, "The documents made me sick to my stomach...it was horrible to read someone you've never met speak about you that way, especially in this context." Also Read: Gigi Hadid makes big move in her rumoured love life with Bradley Cooper; Here's what we know She further wrote, “I didn’t comment because I don’t want to take away from the stories of real victims of his, but your comment made me realise maybe it's not clear – and it’s important to let you know – I grew up privileged, yes." But my parents protected me and taught me the value of hard work, the same hard work that got them to this country and gave them careers.” Also Read: Gigi Hadid spotted holding hands with Bradley Cooper on birthday

Gigi Hadid has broken her silence about being mentioned in the Epstein files after they were named in a 2015 email exchange. &nbsp;Read to know more details.&nbsp;

'Made me sick to my stomach': Gigi Hadid addresses her and sister Bella's mention in Epstein Files

Donald Trump’s inner circle is facing a major shake-up. Attorney General Pam Bondi is out, and more exits could follow. From Tulsi Gabbard to Kristi Noem, several key figures are under pressure as tensions rise within the administration. Is this the beginning of a larger purge within Trump’s team?


Trump's Trust Deficit Leading to Power Shift Among Loyalists?

Pam Bondi has been removed as US Attorney General by President Donald Trump, but she is still legally bound to testify before Congress later this month on the Epstein files investigation. A subpoena requiring her appearance on April 14 remains active. Unless something dramatic happens, she will have to face questions from Congress over the Department of Justice’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case when she was AG. Bondi’s testimony about her time leading the Justice Department would be central to the investigation into cases involving late financier Jefffrey Epstein's sex trafficking ring.&nbsp;<h2>Subpoena issued in person’s name, not post: Why Pam Bondi will need to testify</h2>Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche has taken over as acting AG after Bondi was fired by Trump on Thursday (Apr 2). But congressional subpoena was issued to Bondi by name. This means it was a subpoena to the person, not to the office of the attorney general. Legal and congressional procedure allows committees to compel former officials to testify about actions taken during their tenure.The subpoena issued to Bondi on March 17 by the House Oversight Committee chairman James Comer remains in full force.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-fires-attorney-general-pam-bondi-after-criticism-over-epstein-files-releases-1775150955840">Trump fires Attorney General Pam Bondi after criticism over Epstein files releases</a><h2>No cancellation of Bondi deposition before Congress panel</h2>At the time of writing this, there has been no cancellation or rescheduling of the April 14 deposition for Bondi. At the closed-door deposition before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, Bondi will most likely be grilled on the release and redactions of the Epstein files.The focus is likely to be on Bondi’s official actions in exposing the sex trafficking network of Epstein, his former associate Ghislaine Maxwell, and other aides.Congress is investigating the DOJ’s handling of the Epstein case, related proceedings involving Maxwell, the circumstances surrounding Epstein’s death, and DOJ compliance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act.Decisions taken under Bondi on the Epstein file release could also come up for questioning, including redactions and internal reviews. She might face questions on broader failures or gaps in combating sex-trafficking networks, and potential ethical violations involving public officials.The committee said Bondi was directly responsible for overseeing how Epstein-related files were collected, reviewed, and released under federal law.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-kash-patel-could-be-fired-today-former-fbi-agent-s-big-claim-after-trump-fires-pam-bondi-1775178603074">'Kash Patel could be fired today': Former FBI agent's BIG claim after Trump fires Pam Bondi</a><h2>Bipartisan agreement that Bondi must comply</h2>Representative Robert Garcia, the committee’s top Democrat, said Bondi remains legally obligated to appear under oath. Representative Nancy Mace, a Republican who backed the subpoena, said it still stands because it was issued to Bondi by name. Other lawmakers including Ro Khanna and Dave Min have seconded that position.<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/-trump-removes-pam-bondi-as-attorney-general-1775184294402/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/-trump-removes-pam-bondi-as-attorney-general-1775184294402/embed</a><h2>What if Bondi refuses to appear before Congress?</h2>If Bondi fails to comply with the subpoena, the committee could move to enforce it through contempt of Congress proceedings.Committee chairman Comer has said that it will evaluate next steps if necessary, but has not indicated any change to the 14 April schedule.Bipartisan pressure is mounting on her. It would be fair to say that the ghost of Epstein is haunting her. &nbsp;

Though she was fired US Attorney General, Pam Bondi will most likely have to testify on April 14 before Congress on DOJ handling of Epstein files. She will face questions on the compliance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act, and actions on sex-trafficking rings including that of Epstein.

Pam Bondi has been removed as US Attorney General by President Donald Trump, but she is still legally bound to testify before Congress later this month on the Epstein files investigation. A subpoena requiring her appearance on April 14 remains active. Unless something dramatic happens, she will have to face questions from Congress over the Department of Justice’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case when she was AG. Bondi’s testimony about her time leading the Justice Department would be central to the investigation into cases involving late financier Jefffrey Epstein's sex trafficking ring. Subpoena issued in person’s name, not post: Why Pam Bondi will need to testify Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche has taken over as acting AG after Bondi was fired by Trump on Thursday (Apr 2). But congressional subpoena was issued to Bondi by name. This means it was a subpoena to the person, not to the office of the attorney general. Legal and congressional procedure allows committees to compel former officials to testify about actions taken during their tenure. The subpoena issued to Bondi on March 17 by the House Oversight Committee chairman James Comer remains in full force. Also read: Trump fires Attorney General Pam Bondi after criticism over Epstein files releases No cancellation of Bondi deposition before Congress panel At the time of writing this, there has been no cancellation or rescheduling of the April 14 deposition for Bondi. At the closed-door deposition before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, Bondi will most likely be grilled on the release and redactions of the Epstein files. The focus is likely to be on Bondi’s official actions in exposing the sex trafficking network of Epstein, his former associate Ghislaine Maxwell, and other aides. Congress is investigating the DOJ’s handling of the Epstein case, related proceedings involving Maxwell, the circumstances surrounding Epstein’s death, and DOJ compliance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act. Decisions taken under Bondi on the Epstein file release could also come up for questioning, including redactions and internal reviews. She might face questions on broader failures or gaps in combating sex-trafficking networks, and potential ethical violations involving public officials. The committee said Bondi was directly responsible for overseeing how Epstein-related files were collected, reviewed, and released under federal law. Also read: 'Kash Patel could be fired today': Former FBI agent's BIG claim after Trump fires Pam Bondi Bipartisan agreement that Bondi must comply Representative Robert Garcia, the committee’s top Democrat, said Bondi remains legally obligated to appear under oath. Representative Nancy Mace, a Republican who backed the subpoena, said it still stands because it was issued to Bondi by name. Other lawmakers including Ro Khanna and Dave Min have seconded that position. https://www.wionews.com/videos/-trump-removes-pam-bondi-as-attorney-general-1775184294402/embed What if Bondi refuses to appear before Congress? If Bondi fails to comply with the subpoena, the committee could move to enforce it through contempt of Congress proceedings. Committee chairman Comer has said that it will evaluate next steps if necessary, but has not indicated any change to the 14 April schedule. Bipartisan pressure is mounting on her. It would be fair to say that the ghost of Epstein is haunting her.

Though she was fired US Attorney General, Pam Bondi will most likely have to testify on April 14 before Congress on DOJ handling of Epstein files. She will face questions on the compliance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act, and actions on sex-trafficking rings including that of Epstein.

It’s not over for Pam Bondi? Fired AG still faces 14 April congressional grilling over Epstein files

In a dramatic move, Donald Trump has removed Attorney General Pam Bondi following growing dissatisfaction over her handling of sensitive cases, including files linked to Jeffrey Epstein. Criticism from allies and lawmakers intensified pressure, turning the issue into a major political flashpoint and raising fresh questions about accountability and justice.


BREAKING: Deputy AG Todd Blanche To Take Over As Interim Attorney General 

President Donald Trump fired Attorney General Pam Bondi after her handling of files related to accused sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein came under criticism, and several investigations of his perceived enemies were thwarted, reported CNN and Fox News. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche will be acting attorney general, and Bondi is expected to be offered a different post in the administration, sources said.&nbsp;Bondi’s firing is Trump’s second removal of a Cabinet official in his second term. He fired Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem in March and replaced her with Markwayne Mullin, a former senator from Oklahoma.White House officials have discussed several names for attorney general, but Lee Zeldin, the Senate-confirmed administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, is the likely replacement, sources said.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-world-on-edge-of-wider-war-people-are-already-struggling-says-un-chief-antonio-guterres-1775149940522">‘World on edge of wider war, people are already struggling,’ says UN chief Antonio Guterres</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;Trump confirmed Bondi’s removal and said in a post on Truth Social, “Pam Bondi is a Great American Patriot and a loyal friend, who faithfully served as my Attorney General over the past year. Pam did a tremendous job overseeing a massive crackdown in Crime across our Country, with Murders plummeting to their lowest level since 1900. We love Pam, and she will be transitioning to a much needed and important new job in the private sector, to be announced at a date in the near future, and our Deputy Attorney General, and a very talented and respected Legal Mind, Todd Blanche, will step in to serve as Acting Attorney General.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/india-to-join-coalition-of-nations-exploring-ways-to-reopen-strait-of-hormuz-1775136809016">India to join coalition of nations exploring ways to reopen Strait of Hormuz</a><h2>Lawmakers accused Bondi of botching release of Epstein files</h2>&nbsp;&nbsp;Lawmakers of both parties accused Bondi of botching the release of Epstein files. The department of justice released about 3 million pages of documents but left another 2.5 million sealed, saying the remaining records either named women who accused Epstein of abuse, could hurt potential prosecutions, or were protected under legal privileges.Bondi’s critics argued much more should be released.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-foreign-secretary-yvette-cooper-condemns-iran-s-recklessness-says-urgent-need-to-reopen-strait-of-hormuz-1775133637067">UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper condemns Iran’s ‘recklessness’, says ‘urgent need’ to reopen Strait of Hormuz</a>&nbsp;“This is bigger than Watergate,” Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Kentucky, told Bondi at a February hearing. “This cover-up spans decades, and you are responsible for this portion of it.”When questioned about not prosecuting Epstein's accomplices, Bondi said lawmakers should appreciate that that stock markets were rising under Trump.The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee subpoenaed her to testify on April 14 about the Epstein files.&nbsp;<h2>DoJ was sluggish in investigating Trump’s perceived enemies</h2>&nbsp;The Justice Department was also sluggish in investigating Trump’s perceived enemies. Trump felt frustrated there haven’t been more indictments and arrests of his political adversaries.&nbsp;Trump pressured Bondi on social media to take legal action against New York Attorney General Letitia James, former FBI Director James Comey and Sen. Adam Schiff, D-California.James secured a half-billion dollar civil fraud judgment against Trump last year, though the penalty was later thrown out by an appeals court.Schiff led the first House impeachment against Trump over his dealings with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.“We can’t delay any longer, it’s killing our reputation and credibility,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social addressed to Bondi. “JUSTICE MUST BE SERVED, NOW!!!”&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/-no-one-told-me-says-bengal-cm-mamata-banerjee-after-sc-rap-on-sir-officers-being-held-hostage-in-malda-1775141683773">‘No one told me,’ says Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee after SC rap on SIR officers being held hostage in Malda</a>&nbsp;But judges dismissed indictments against James and Comey and grand juries refused to pursue new charges. Schiff hasn’t been charged.Grand juries have also refused to indict suspects in investigations from Jeanine Pirro, the U.S. attorney in the District of Columbia. One probe targeted six Democratic lawmakers for encouraging troops to disobey illegal orders.&nbsp;Efforts to investigate Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell and six congressional Democrats who posted a video urging military members to defy unlawful orders have also faltered, with a federal judge quashing the subpoenas into Powell and a grand jury unanimously rejecting criminal charges against the lawmakers.

Lawmakers of both parties accused Attorney General Pam Bondi of botching the release of Epstein files. The Department of Justice released about 3 million pages of documents but left another 2.5 million sealed. Bondi’s critics argued much more should be released.

President Donald Trump fired Attorney General Pam Bondi after her handling of files related to accused sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein came under criticism, and several investigations of his perceived enemies were thwarted, reported CNN and Fox News. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche will be acting attorney general, and Bondi is expected to be offered a different post in the administration, sources said. Bondi’s firing is Trump’s second removal of a Cabinet official in his second term. He fired Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem in March and replaced her with Markwayne Mullin, a former senator from Oklahoma. White House officials have discussed several names for attorney general, but Lee Zeldin, the Senate-confirmed administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, is the likely replacement, sources said. Also Read: ‘World on edge of wider war, people are already struggling,’ says UN chief Antonio Guterres Trump confirmed Bondi’s removal and said in a post on Truth Social, “Pam Bondi is a Great American Patriot and a loyal friend, who faithfully served as my Attorney General over the past year. Pam did a tremendous job overseeing a massive crackdown in Crime across our Country, with Murders plummeting to their lowest level since 1900. We love Pam, and she will be transitioning to a much needed and important new job in the private sector, to be announced at a date in the near future, and our Deputy Attorney General, and a very talented and respected Legal Mind, Todd Blanche, will step in to serve as Acting Attorney General.”

Lawmakers of both parties accused Attorney General Pam Bondi of botching the release of Epstein files. The Department of Justice released about 3 million pages of documents but left another 2.5 million sealed. Bondi’s critics argued much more should be released.

Trump fires Attorney General Pam Bondi after criticism over Epstein files releases

BREAKING: Trump Removes Pam Bondi As Attorney General 

The newly release documents by the US Department of Justice (DOJ) related to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in January has shaken up the world in recent months. The fresh cache of Epstein files has reignited controversy related to popular personalities like US President Donald Trump, Microsoft founder Bill Gates and the world's richest man Elon Musk. The 3 million files consists of more than 2,000 videos and over 1,80,000 photos.&nbsp;It has also led to the disclosure of personal information of Epstein survivors, who have now filed a class action lawsuit against the Trump administration and Google.&nbsp;“The United States, acting through the DOJ, made a deliberate policy choice to prioritize rapid, large-volume disclosure over protection of Epstein survivors’ privacy,” the plaintiffs said in their lawsuit filed on Thursday, reported NBC.&nbsp;ALSO READ: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-threatens-to-strike-uae-s-energy-nuclear-sites-if-us-deployed-ground-troops-in-middle-east-1774593163732">Iran threatens to strike UAE's energy, nuclear sites if US deployed ground troops in Middle East</a>&nbsp;The Justice Department “outed approximately 100 survivors of the convicted sexual predator, publishing their private information and identifying them to the world," added the lawsuit.&nbsp;Later the government withdrew survivors’ personal information from the publicly released files but the plaintiffs argue that “online entities like Google continuously republish it, refusing victims’ pleas to take it down.”&nbsp;“Survivors now face renewed trauma. Strangers call them, email them, threaten their physical safety, and accuse them of conspiring with Epstein when they are, in reality, Epstein’s victims,” the complaint of the survivors read.&nbsp;There has not been any response from the Justice Department or Google on the matter so far.Some other names to have come up in the latest Epstein files released by US Justice Department are: Larry Summers, Bill Richardson, Prince Andrew, Sarah Ferguson, Michael Jackson, Mick Jagger, Kevin Spacey, Diana Ross &amp; Chris Tucker. Woody Allen, Richard Branson, Noam Chomsky, and Stephen Hawking have also been named in the list.&nbsp;

Later the government withdrew survivors’ personal information from the publicly released files but the plaintiffs argue that online entities like Google continuously republish it.

The newly release documents by the US Department of Justice (DOJ) related to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in January has shaken up the world in recent months. The fresh cache of Epstein files has reignited controversy related to popular personalities like US President Donald Trump, Microsoft founder Bill Gates and the world's richest man Elon Musk. The 3 million files consists of more than 2,000 videos and over 1,80,000 photos. It has also led to the disclosure of personal information of Epstein survivors, who have now filed a class action lawsuit against the Trump administration and Google. “The United States, acting through the DOJ, made a deliberate policy choice to prioritize rapid, large-volume disclosure over protection of Epstein survivors’ privacy,” the plaintiffs said in their lawsuit filed on Thursday, reported NBC. ALSO READ: Iran threatens to strike UAE's energy, nuclear sites if US deployed ground troops in Middle East The Justice Department “outed approximately 100 survivors of the convicted sexual predator, publishing their private information and identifying them to the world," added the lawsuit. Later the government withdrew survivors’ personal information from the publicly released files but the plaintiffs argue that “online entities like Google continuously republish it, refusing victims’ pleas to take it down.” “Survivors now face renewed trauma. Strangers call them, email them, threaten their physical safety, and accuse them of conspiring with Epstein when they are, in reality, Epstein’s victims,” the complaint of the survivors read. There has not been any response from the Justice Department or Google on the matter so far. Some other names to have come up in the latest Epstein files released by US Justice Department are: Larry Summers, Bill Richardson, Prince Andrew, Sarah Ferguson, Michael Jackson, Mick Jagger, Kevin Spacey, Diana Ross & Chris Tucker. Woody Allen, Richard Branson, Noam Chomsky, and Stephen Hawking have also been named in the list.

Later the government withdrew survivors’ personal information from the publicly released files but the plaintiffs argue that “online entities like Google continuously republish it."

Victims facing renewed trauma: Epstein survivors sue Trump administration and Google

For years, Joanna Harrison stayed silent about the abuse she says she endured at the hands of Jeffrey Epstein. Like many survivors, she carried a heavy burden of shame and humiliation. But that silence was broken when her identity was accidentally revealed in a massive release of US government documents. Speaking to BBC Newsnight’s Victoria Derbyshire, Harrison said she felt she had no choice but to come forward. "It gets to a point where you're being suffocated and you need to breathe, and I feel this is my way of trying to breathe," she said.&nbsp;In a rare and emotional gathering, BBC Newsnight brought Harrison together with four other Epstein survivors in the same room for the first time. What followed was hours of deeply personal conversation, marked by quiet support, shared pain, and moments of visible grief as they revisited photographs from the time they first encountered Epstein.&nbsp;Their stories reflected anger, loss, and unanswered questions. Some returned to Epstein’s private island, Little St James, while others revisited memories tied to his New Mexico ranch, places they described as unsettling and haunting. Many expressed a belief that individuals within Epstein’s powerful network must have been aware of what was happening.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-turkiye-sign-typhoon-training-deal-in-major-8-billion-defence-agreement-uk-turkiye-typhoon-deal-pilot-training-nato-defence-2026-1774445387992">UK-Turkiye sign Typhoon training deal in major £8 billion defence agreement</a><h2>Identity exposed without consent</h2>The US Department of Justice released millions of files tied to Epstein investigations, but some documents failed to properly redact victims’ identities. Harrison was among those exposed. She said she had never wanted these records made public, fearing the loss of anonymity. "It's not normal to see your abuser's face every day for six years on TV," Harrison said.&nbsp;Recalling how she met Epstein at 18 in Florida, Harrison described how what seemed routine quickly turned traumatic."Everything seemed normal," Harrison said. “When he began to masturbate, I completely froze. I don't think I said two words in the car in the ride home.” She also spoke of being raped by Epstein on his birthday. Now speaking publicly for the first time, Harrison admitted she doubts justice will ever come. "I have questions I'll never get an answer to."<h2>A jet, powerful names, and hidden abuse</h2>Another survivor, Chauntae Davies, shared previously unseen photos from a trip aboard Epstein’s private jet to Africa. Among those present were Ghislaine Maxwell, Kevin Spacey, and former US President Bill Clinton. The trip, aimed at promoting AIDS awareness, appeared ordinary on the surface.&nbsp;"I described it in my journal at the time as the most eclectic group of people that you could put together... it was almost like a camp feel because you were travelling to five different countries in five days," Davies said. Despite the seemingly light atmosphere, cards, stories, and shared meals, Davies said her experience was overshadowed by what happened privately. "It was very much a once-in-a-lifetime trip, and unfortunately, it had to be tainted by what was happening behind closed doors," she said.&nbsp;Davies has alleged that Epstein raped her on his private island. She also recalled giving Clinton a massage during a stopover in Portugal, describing him at the time as “humble, kind and charismatic.” Clinton later said he was unaware of Epstein’s crimes. Davies, however, reflected on whether speaking up would have made any difference. “I was never going to speak about this with anyone.” “What would he have done, really? Could [Clinton] have stopped it?” "I guess we'll never know."<h2>The ‘eerie’ ranch in New Mexico</h2>Davies described Epstein’s Zorro Ranch in New Mexico as the site of her most traumatic experiences. "That's where the majority of the assaults happened. I have my darkest memories from Zorro Ranch," she said. She recalled feeling completely trapped. “It had a cold, dark, eerie feeling in there.” Another survivor, Lisa Phillips, echoed that sentiment:“I remember being like 'this place is really creepy', it just had that feel to it.” Davies believes there is still more to uncover about what happened there.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/israeli-palestinian-mothers-unite-in-barefoot-march-call-for-peace-1774450799745/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/israeli-palestinian-mothers-unite-in-barefoot-march-call-for-peace-1774450799745/embed</a><h2>Power, influence, and control</h2>Survivors also spoke about Epstein’s connections to influential figures, including Sarah Ferguson and Prince Andrew (Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor). Phillips recounted a disturbing allegation involving a friend who, she said, was directed to have sex with Prince Andrew. He has consistently denied wrongdoing. When Phillips questioned Epstein about the incident, she said he responded chillingly: “I like to have things on people.” Reflecting on his behaviour, she added:“He liked the fear in our eyes,” "I think he liked that we were frozen and scared and didn't know what to do, and I think he got off on that."<h2>Lingering trauma and lost innocence</h2>Two survivors, Jena Lisa Jones and Wendy Pesante, said they were just 14 when they first met Epstein. Pesante spoke about the long-term psychological damage: “When you go through something like that so young it kind of distorts your reality for a long time,” "You shouldn't have the mindset of a sex worker at 14."&nbsp;During the interview, survivors were shown photos of themselves from that time. "I don't smile the same way anymore," Harrison said. Phillips, looking at a photo taken on Epstein’s island, reflected: “I was enjoying my life, and I had no idea what was about to happen to me,” "This is not what I looked like when I left the island."&nbsp;Disclaimer: WION is only reporting the names that have been mentioned in the Epstein files and is not accusing anyone of any wrongdoing. Readers are advised to use their discretion on this article.

'It had a cold, dark, eerie feeling': Survivors recall Jeffrey Epstein’s ranch

For years, Joanna Harrison stayed silent about the abuse she says she endured at the hands of Jeffrey Epstein. Like many survivors, she carried a heavy burden of shame and humiliation. But that silence was broken when her identity was accidentally revealed in a massive release of US government documents. Speaking to BBC Newsnight’s Victoria Derbyshire, Harrison said she felt she had no choice but to come forward. "It gets to a point where you're being suffocated and you need to breathe, and I feel this is my way of trying to breathe," she said. In a rare and emotional gathering, BBC Newsnight brought Harrison together with four other Epstein survivors in the same room for the first time. What followed was hours of deeply personal conversation, marked by quiet support, shared pain, and moments of visible grief as they revisited photographs from the time they first encountered Epstein. Their stories reflected anger, loss, and unanswered questions. Some returned to Epstein’s private island, Little St James, while others revisited memories tied to his New Mexico ranch, places they described as unsettling and haunting. Many expressed a belief that individuals within Epstein’s powerful network must have been aware of what was happening. Also Read: UK-Turkiye sign Typhoon training deal in major £8 billion defence agreement Identity exposed without consent The US Department of Justice released millions of files tied to Epstein investigations, but some documents failed to properly redact victims’ identities. Harrison was among those exposed. She said she had never wanted these records made public, fearing the loss of anonymity. "It's not normal to see your abuser's face every day for six years on TV," Harrison said. Recalling how she met Epstein at 18 in Florida, Harrison described how what seemed routine quickly turned traumatic. "Everything seemed normal," Harrison said. “When he began to masturbate, I completely froze. I don't think I said two words in the car in the ride home.” She also spoke of being raped by Epstein on his birthday. Now speaking publicly for the first time, Harrison admitted she doubts justice will ever come. "I have questions I'll never get an answer to." A jet, powerful names, and hidden abuse Another survivor, Chauntae Davies, shared previously unseen photos from a trip aboard Epstein’s private jet to Africa. Among those present were Ghislaine Maxwell, Kevin Spacey, and former US President Bill Clinton. The trip, aimed at promoting AIDS awareness, appeared ordinary on the surface. "I described it in my journal at the time as the most eclectic group of people that you could put together... it was almost like a camp feel because you were travelling to five different countries in five days," Davies said. Despite the seemingly light atmosphere, cards, stories, and shared meals, Davies said her experience was overshadowed by what happened privately. "It was very much a once-in-a-lifetime trip, and unfortunately, it had to be tainted by what was happening behind closed doors," she said. Davies has alleged that Epstein raped her on his private island. She also recalled giving Clinton a massage during a stopover in Portugal, describing him at the time as “humble, kind and charismatic.” Clinton later said he was unaware of Epstein’s crimes. Davies, however, reflected on whether speaking up would have made any difference. “I was never going to speak about this with anyone.” “What would he have done, really? Could [Clinton] have stopped it?” "I guess we'll never know." The ‘eerie’ ranch in New Mexico Davies described Epstein’s Zorro Ranch in New Mexico as the site of her most traumatic experiences. "That's where the majority of the assaults happened. I have my darkest memories from Zorro Ranch," she said. She recalled feeling completely trapped. “It had a cold, dark, eerie feeling in there.” Another survivor, Lisa Phillips, echoed that sentiment: “I remember being like 'this place is really creepy', it just had that feel to it.” Davies believes there is still more to uncover about what happened there. https://www.wionews.com/videos/israeli-palestinian-mothers-unite-in-barefoot-march-call-for-peace-1774450799745/embed Power, influence, and control Survivors also spoke about Epstein’s connections to influential figures, including Sarah Ferguson and Prince Andrew (Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor). Phillips recounted a disturbing allegation involving a friend who, she said, was directed to have sex with Prince Andrew. He has consistently denied wrongdoing. When Phillips questioned Epstein about the incident, she said he responded chillingly: “I like to have things on people.” Reflecting on his behaviour, she added: “He liked the fear in our eyes,” "I think he liked that we were frozen and scared and didn't know what to do, and I think he got off on that." Lingering trauma and lost innocence Two survivors, Jena Lisa Jones and Wendy Pesante, said they were just 14 when they first met Epstein. Pesante spoke about the long-term psychological damage: “When you go through something like that so young it kind of distorts your reality for a long time,” "You shouldn't have the mindset of a sex worker at 14." During the interview, survivors were shown photos of themselves from that time. "I don't smile the same way anymore," Harrison said. Phillips, looking at a photo taken on Epstein’s island, reflected: “I was enjoying my life, and I had no idea what was about to happen to me,” "This is not what I looked like when I left the island." Disclaimer: WION is only reporting the names that have been mentioned in the Epstein files and is not accusing anyone of any wrongdoing. Readers are advised to use their discretion on this article.

Epstein survivors speak out, recounting abuse, powerful connections, and lasting trauma in a deeply emotional interview

In a teary-eyed interview aired on national television, Norway’s Crown Princess Mette-Marit on Friday (Mar 20) spoke publicly for the first time regarding her association with late paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, saying she was ‘manipulated and deceived’. Breaking seven weeks of silence since the release of Epstein files in the US, she sat down with her husband, Crown Prince Haako, to discuss her past association with the financier and convicted sex offender. Among the trove of documents released by the US Justice Department were hundreds of emails between Mette-Marit and Epstein between 2011 and 2014. It also emerged that she had stayed at his Palm Beach, Florida residence.<h2>Mette-Marit takes responsibility, expresses regret for Epstein links</h2>Seeking to set the record straight before the nation, Mette-Marit expressed deep regret and acknowledged personal responsibility over the Epstein links."I feel so manipulated, and when you are manipulated, you don't realise it from the start," she said, adding, "It is incredibly important for me to take responsibility for not checking his background more carefully… and to take responsibility for being so manipulated and deceived as I was."“Of course, I wish I had never met him.”Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/first-image-surfaces-of-andrew-mandelson-and-epstein-together-in-newly-released-doj-files-1773484466617">First image surfaces of Andrew, Mandelson and Epstein together in newly released DOJ files</a><h2>Norway Crown Princess reacts to public scrutiny over Epstein ties</h2>The interview followed intense criticism in Norway against the princess from both the public and politicians, including Norway’s Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre. She had previously apologised and admitted to “poor judgment”.Even the interview on national TV was seen by some as an attempt to defend herself.<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/epstein-files-ignite-rahul-puri-political-firestorm-1770833155735/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/epstein-files-ignite-rahul-puri-political-firestorm-1770833155735/embed</a><h2>Did the princess know about Epstein’s past?</h2>It is clear from the emails that the princess had researched Epstein. He had already been convicted in Florida for soliciting sex from a minor by the time they met. In a 2011 email, Mette-Marit wrote: "Googled u after last email. Agree didn't look too good."However, during the interview, she denied awareness about Epstein’s crimes. "I didn't know he was a sex offender or a predator," she said, adding, "I can't remember this; it was 15 years ago, to be honest."Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/dan-goldman-unveils-previously-redacted-epstein-document-contradicting-donald-trump-s-mar-a-lago-claim-1773896950722">Dan Goldman unveils previously redacted Epstein document contradicting Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago claim</a><h2>Nature of Mette-Marit’s relationship with Epstein</h2>Asked about their relationship, Mette-Marit described Epstein as a private acquaintance. He was a "private contact," said the princess, adding she did not tell everyone about her private contacts.Explaining her stay at his Palm Beach home, she said, "Epstein was a close friend of a good friend of mine."She admitted she was overly trusting: “I am overly trusting, I tend to think the best of people.”<h2>Princess had an uneasy incident yet continued contact with Epstein</h2>In the interview, she spoke of an uncomfortable experience during her stay at Eptein's home. While describing it as a situation that made her feel uneasy on the final day, she did not disclose details of the incident. She said she telephoned her husband at the time because it made her feel insecure. Despite this, she maintained contact for some time before eventually ending it: “But I also chose to end all direct contact with him. And it was because of such episodes as that.”<h2>‘Focus should remain on Epstein victims’, says princess as timing of interview questioned</h2>Mette-Marit said the focus should remain on Epstein’s victims and the lack of justice, while expressing anger that they had not yet received justice.Meanwhile, the timing of the interview is being questioned: it was recorded after the conclusion of her son Marius Borg Høiby’s rape trial hearings. This suggested that she delayed speaking publicly until those proceedings had concluded.<h2>Princess discusses health concerns and future role, as crown prince expresses support</h2>The crown princess also addressed concerns about her ability to continue royal duties due to illness. She suffers from the chronic lung disease pulmonary fibrosis. "I live with a serious illness… That is the very thing that decides, quite plainly, whether I can, in any way whatsoever, continue to perform in the role I hold, or not.""I would very much like to stand by him in that truly important and challenging project, if I have the opportunity to do so, given my health."Sitting with her for the interview, Crown Prince Haakon expressed solidarity with the princess. "This is, after all, our project, which we're doing together," he said, reflecting on their more than 25 years of marriage.

Norway’s Crown Princess Mette-Marit said on national TV she was “manipulated and deceived”, while addressing her links to Jeffrey Epstein for the first time in public. She admitted poor judgment, but denied knowing of the crimes of the convicted paedophile



In a teary-eyed interview aired on national television, Norway’s Crown Princess Mette-Marit on Friday (Mar 20) spoke publicly for the first time regarding her association with late paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, saying she was ‘manipulated and deceived’. Breaking seven weeks of silence since the release of Epstein files in the US, she sat down with her husband, Crown Prince Haako, to discuss her past association with the financier and convicted sex offender. Among the trove of documents released by the US Justice Department were hundreds of emails between Mette-Marit and Epstein between 2011 and 2014. It also emerged that she had stayed at his Palm Beach, Florida residence. Mette-Marit takes responsibility, expresses regret for Epstein links Seeking to set the record straight before the nation, Mette-Marit expressed deep regret and acknowledged personal responsibility over the Epstein links. "I feel so manipulated, and when you are manipulated, you don't realise it from the start," she said, adding, "It is incredibly important for me to take responsibility for not checking his background more carefully… and to take responsibility for being so manipulated and deceived as I was." “Of course, I wish I had never met him.” Also read: First image surfaces of Andrew, Mandelson and Epstein together in newly released DOJ files Norway Crown Princess reacts to public scrutiny over Epstein ties The interview followed intense criticism in Norway against the princess from both the public and politicians, including Norway’s Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre. She had previously apologised and admitted to “poor judgment”. Even the interview on national TV was seen by some as an attempt to defend herself. https://www.wionews.com/videos/epstein-files-ignite-rahul-puri-political-firestorm-1770833155735/embed Did the princess know about Epstein’s past? It is clear from the emails that the princess had researched Epstein. He had already been convicted in Florida for soliciting sex from a minor by the time they met. In a 2011 email, Mette-Marit wrote: "Googled u after last email. Agree didn't look too good." However, during the interview, she denied awareness about Epstein’s crimes. "I didn't know he was a sex offender or a predator," she said, adding, "I can't remember this; it was 15 years ago, to be honest." Also read: Dan Goldman unveils previously redacted Epstein document contradicting Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago claim Nature of Mette-Marit’s relationship with Epstein Asked about their relationship, Mette-Marit described Epstein as a private acquaintance. He was a "private contact," said the princess, adding she did not tell everyone about her private contacts. Explaining her stay at his Palm Beach home, she said, "Epstein was a close friend of a good friend of mine." She admitted she was overly trusting: “I am overly trusting, I tend to think the best of people.” Princess had an uneasy incident yet continued contact with Epstein In the interview, she spoke of an uncomfortable experience during her stay at Eptein's home. While describing it as a situation that made her feel uneasy on the final day, she did not disclose details of the incident. She said she telephoned her husband at the time because it made her feel insecure. Despite this, she maintained contact for some time before eventually ending it: “But I also chose to end all direct contact with him. And it was because of such episodes as that.” ‘Focus should remain on Epstein victims’, says princess as timing of interview questioned Mette-Marit said the focus should remain on Epstein’s victims and the lack of justice, while expressing anger that they had not yet received justice. Meanwhile, the timing of the interview is being questioned: it was recorded after the conclusion of her son Marius Borg Høiby’s rape trial hearings. This suggested that she delayed speaking publicly until those proceedings had concluded. Princess discusses health concerns and future role, as crown prince expresses support The crown princess also addressed concerns about her ability to continue royal duties due to illness. She suffers from the chronic lung disease pulmonary fibrosis. "I live with a serious illness… That is the very thing that decides, quite plainly, whether I can, in any way whatsoever, continue to perform in the role I hold, or not." "I would very much like to stand by him in that truly important and challenging project, if I have the opportunity to do so, given my health." Sitting with her for the interview, Crown Prince Haakon expressed solidarity with the princess. "This is, after all, our project, which we're doing together," he said, reflecting on their more than 25 years of marriage.

Norway’s Crown Princess Mette-Marit said on national TV she was “manipulated and deceived”, while addressing her links to Jeffrey Epstein for the first time in public. She admitted poor judgment, but denied knowing of the crimes of the convicted paedophile&nbsp;

Manipulated, deceived: Norway Crown Princess Mette-Marit talks of Epstein links, teary-eyed interview timed after son's rape trial raises questions

A new document, which was earlier redacted, was unveiled by Democrat Senator Dan Goldman on the House Floor. The document has explicit mentions that directly contradict Trump's claim that he threw out Jeffrey Epstein from Mar-a-Lago for poaching his employees. The document is an October 2009 conversation between Epstein's lawyer, Jack Goldberger and Trump's attorney, Alan Garten. In the unredacted version presented by Democratic Senator Dan Goldman on the House floor, Goldberger wrote that Garten said Epstein was never asked to leave Trump's Florida club, as he was a guest, not a member.&nbsp;Goldman accused Attorney General Pam Bondi of deliberately covering up information; he claimed that if this was covered up and later revealed to Congress, then what else was covered up. Goldman highlighted that the DOJ is refusing to disclose more than 3 million documents.&nbsp;“Now, why is this important? Because if the attorney general is covering up this information that she then reveals to Congress, what else is she covering up about Donald Trump’s involvement in the Epstein files?” said Goldman. This is one of many lies Trump has said related to Epstein; he earlier denied that he ever travelled in Jeffrey Epstein's private plane. But the flight log reveals that Trump travelled on the flight at least 8 times.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/epstein-files-fbi-memo-donald-trump-allegation-1773141245781">FBI memo claims Epstein abused a minor while speaking to Trump on speaker phone</a>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">WATCH: Today, I went to the House floor and revealed previously redacted files that should have never been redacted. The unredacted portion showed that Donald Trump has repeatedly lied about his knowledge of and involvement in Epstein’s sex trafficking ring. If they are… <a href="https://t.co/50D5WUHOtI">pic.twitter.com/50D5WUHOtI</a>&mdash; Rep. Dan Goldman (@RepDanGoldman) <a href="https://twitter.com/RepDanGoldman/status/2034396183053976017?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 18, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

A third batch of files was released in early March, 40,000- 50,000 new files, after the newspaper Wall Street Journal (WSJ) said that they were missing from the second batch. According to the DOJ, it was withheld for further review and redaction following the initial massive release of over 3 million pages in January 2026. This batch had interviews where the victim discussed being abused by Trump when she was a minor.The Trump administration has denied all these claims as "baseless' and called the women mentally disturbed. Attorney General Pam Bondi is already under fire for cover up of the Epstein Files. The Republican-led House Oversight Committee has subpoenaed for a deposition in April.

Dan Goldman reveals an unredacted Epstein document contradicting Trump’s Mar-a-Lago claim, as Pam Bondi faces cover-up allegations.

A new document, which was earlier redacted, was unveiled by Democrat Senator Dan Goldman on the House Floor. The document has explicit mentions that directly contradict Trump's claim that he threw out Jeffrey Epstein from Mar-a-Lago for poaching his employees. The document is an October 2009 conversation between Epstein's lawyer, Jack Goldberger and Trump's attorney, Alan Garten. In the unredacted version presented by Democratic Senator Dan Goldman on the House floor, Goldberger wrote that Garten said Epstein was never asked to leave Trump's Florida club, as he was a guest, not a member. Goldman accused Attorney General Pam Bondi of deliberately covering up information; he claimed that if this was covered up and later revealed to Congress, then what else was covered up. Goldman highlighted that the DOJ is refusing to disclose more than 3 million documents. “Now, why is this important? Because if the attorney general is covering up this information that she then reveals to Congress, what else is she covering up about Donald Trump’s involvement in the Epstein files?” said Goldman. This is one of many lies Trump has said related to Epstein; he earlier denied that he ever travelled in Jeffrey Epstein's private plane. But the flight log reveals that Trump travelled on the flight at least 8 times. Also Read: FBI memo claims Epstein abused a minor while speaking to Trump on speaker phone

Dan Goldman reveals an unredacted Epstein document contradicting Trump’s Mar-a-Lago claim, as Pam Bondi faces cover-up allegations.

Dan Goldman unveils previously redacted Epstein document contradicting Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago claim

French architect Robert Couturier, who worked for a short time on Jeffrey Epstein's infamous island, says he could see tell-tale signs that something was not right with the place. He also commented on those who said that they did not notice anything wrong with Epstein's island, stating that it is 'impossible" to believe that whoever visited the island could miss how weird it was. Talking to CNN, Couturier said Epstein hired him to work on the island, but he left after a few months after coming across multiple warning signs. One of them was the bunk beds, he told Kyung Lah. He recalled asking Epstein if he was expecting "grandchildren" on the island. The paedophile told him, "No… these are for the girls." Couturier said, "There’s no mistaking… you don’t put women on bunk beds. I’m sorry. Everybody knew what was happening on that island. Even his staff people worked for him."&nbsp;In statements to investigators, high-profile figures who visited Epstein's Little Saint James island claimed that they did not notice anything unusual. But the French architect says it is hard to believe that people missed out on clear signs. "You can decide that you’re blind… but the idea that a person would go to that island and not see something weird is impossible to me," he said. He further detailed what he saw at Epstein's home, and almost everything was eerie. He said there was one room filled with computers, which Epstein told him was for "the girls when they have fun." The rooms had heavy, dark curtains and windows that were almost never opened, lending the overall atmosphere a "terrible" vibe. Couturier said, "The girls and young women on the island were basically prisoners. He added that he was questioned about Epstein and the island in 2010, but no one took any action.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/epstein-had-a-baby-with-perfect-mystery-woman-a-victim-told-fbi-according-to-doj-files-1773289438919">Epstein had a baby with 'perfect' mystery woman, had her photo and mold at his mansion, DOJ files show</a>&nbsp;CNN quoted a former staffer as saying there were rooms with photos of young girls, some of them half-naked. Staff saw Epstein bring young girls into his room regularly, and one of them told investigators about a man with nude underage girls. He also claimed that he saw former Prince Andrew with a young girl in a pool. Over 3 million Epstein Files were released in January this year, naming some powerful figures. Photos showing Bill Gates, Bill Clinton and Andrew with girls were part of the tranche.&nbsp;

French architect Robert Couturier worked on Epstein's island for a short time. He noticed weird things around him and decided to quit. In an interview, Couturier said the curtains, beds and the overall atmosphere felt terrible. 

French architect Robert Couturier, who worked for a short time on Jeffrey Epstein's infamous island, says he could see tell-tale signs that something was not right with the place. He also commented on those who said that they did not notice anything wrong with Epstein's island, stating that it is 'impossible" to believe that whoever visited the island could miss how weird it was. Talking to CNN, Couturier said Epstein hired him to work on the island, but he left after a few months after coming across multiple warning signs. One of them was the bunk beds, he told Kyung Lah. He recalled asking Epstein if he was expecting "grandchildren" on the island. The paedophile told him, "No… these are for the girls." Couturier said, "There’s no mistaking… you don’t put women on bunk beds. I’m sorry. Everybody knew what was happening on that island. Even his staff people worked for him." In statements to investigators, high-profile figures who visited Epstein's Little Saint James island claimed that they did not notice anything unusual. But the French architect says it is hard to believe that people missed out on clear signs. "You can decide that you’re blind… but the idea that a person would go to that island and not see something weird is impossible to me," he said. He further detailed what he saw at Epstein's home, and almost everything was eerie. He said there was one room filled with computers, which Epstein told him was for "the girls when they have fun." The rooms had heavy, dark curtains and windows that were almost never opened, lending the overall atmosphere a "terrible" vibe. Couturier said, "The girls and young women on the island were basically prisoners. He added that he was questioned about Epstein and the island in 2010, but no one took any action. Also Read: Epstein had a baby with 'perfect' mystery woman, had her photo and mold at his mansion, DOJ files show CNN quoted a former staffer as saying there were rooms with photos of young girls, some of them half-naked. Staff saw Epstein bring young girls into his room regularly, and one of them told investigators about a man with nude underage girls. He also claimed that he saw former Prince Andrew with a young girl in a pool. Over 3 million Epstein Files were released in January this year, naming some powerful figures. Photos showing Bill Gates, Bill Clinton and Andrew with girls were part of the tranche.

French architect Robert Couturier worked on Epstein's island for a short time. He noticed weird things around him and decided to quit. In an interview, Couturier said the curtains, beds and the overall atmosphere felt terrible.&nbsp;

Architect who worked on Epstein island describes eerie things he saw - 'Bunk beds for women'

Beneath Tehran’s manufactured moral outrage lies a staggering, state-sanctioned reality: the Islamic Republic is aggressively criticising Western sex crimes while its own legal system actively facilitates the marriage of children.



Beneath Tehran’s manufactured moral outrage lies a staggering, state-sanctioned reality: the Islamic Republic is aggressively criticising Western sex crimes while its own legal system actively facilitates the marriage of children.&nbsp;

'Propaganda of hypocrisy': Iran is weaponising Epstein files while legally marrying off 13-year-old girls

An image has surfaced of ex-prince Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Peter Mandelson with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in &nbsp;documents released by the US Department of Justice (DOJ). The image is being considered as the first of all three men together, but no time or location is given for the picture.&nbsp;According to BBC, that cited ITV news, the pic is supposed to be taken between 1999 and 2000 in Martha's Vineyard in the US. This is when Epstein was sentenced to 13 months in prison and charged as a sex offender.&nbsp;In the image one can see the three men sitting around a wooden deck table, with mugs decorated with the US flag in front of them. However, the image of all of them together does not suggest any wrongdoing.&nbsp;ALSO READ: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/bad-omen-for-iran-centcom-video-shows-b-2-bombers-taking-off-on-friday-the-13th-before-kharg-island-attack-1773466018973">Bad omen for Iran? CENTCOM video shows B-2 bombers taking off on Friday the 13th before Kharg Island attack | WATCH</a>&nbsp;The image was found in a large set of files released by the Justice Department earlier this year. The material includes around three million pages of records, as well as thousands of photographs and videos that have been made public.&nbsp;Mountbatten-Windsor and Lord Mandelson were arrested over their connections to the paedophile but have since then been released &nbsp;and are under investigation.&nbsp;Mountbatten-Windsor has consistently maintained he is innocent and has done nothing wrong in connection with Epstein. While Lord Mandelson has said he believes he has not acted criminally.Mountbatten-Windsor has said he first met Epstein, in 1999 through his British girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell, whom he knew since her &nbsp;university days.&nbsp;

The image of all three together was found in a large set of files released by the Justice Department earlier this year.

An image has surfaced of ex-prince Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Peter Mandelson with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in documents released by the US Department of Justice (DOJ). The image is being considered as the first of all three men together, but no time or location is given for the picture. According to BBC, that cited ITV news, the pic is supposed to be taken between 1999 and 2000 in Martha's Vineyard in the US. This is when Epstein was sentenced to 13 months in prison and charged as a sex offender. In the image one can see the three men sitting around a wooden deck table, with mugs decorated with the US flag in front of them. However, the image of all of them together does not suggest any wrongdoing. ALSO READ: Bad omen for Iran? CENTCOM video shows B-2 bombers taking off on Friday the 13th before Kharg Island attack | WATCH The image was found in a large set of files released by the Justice Department earlier this year. The material includes around three million pages of records, as well as thousands of photographs and videos that have been made public. Mountbatten-Windsor and Lord Mandelson were arrested over their connections to the paedophile but have since then been released and are under investigation. Mountbatten-Windsor has consistently maintained he is innocent and has done nothing wrong in connection with Epstein. While Lord Mandelson has said he believes he has not acted criminally. Mountbatten-Windsor has said he first met Epstein, in 1999 through his British girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell, whom he knew since her university days.

The image of all three together was found in a large set of files released by the Justice Department earlier this year.

First image surfaces of Andrew, Mandelson and Epstein together in newly released DOJ files

Top Iranian security official Ali Larijani fired back at U.S. criticism amid the US‑Iran war, mocking American leaders by referencing Epstein Island in a viral social‑media post — a jab that underscores rising diplomatic and information‑war tensions between Tehran and Washington. His remarks came after U.S. comments accusing Iran’s leadership of hiding from conflict. The exchange highlights how the war’s rhetoric now mixes geopolitical confrontation with provocative personal attacks. 


US-Iran War: Iran's Larijani Hits US with Epstein Island Jibe 

A previously reported 2018 memo linked to Jeffrey Epstein recounts a meeting he allegedly had with former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair in 2002. The document has resurfaced in renewed discussions about Epstein’s connections with prominent political and business figures.


Epstein Memo from 2018 Recounts Meeting with Tony Blair in 2002

Late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein’s personal accountant has claimed that an accuser of US President Donald Trump was paid out by the Epstein estate. Richard Kahn, who worked closely with Epstein for more than a decade, reportedly made the remarks while testifying before the House Oversight Committee on Wednesday (Mar 11), said US Representative Suhas Subramanyam. This comes after Kahn appeared in a closed-door deposition as part of a congressional probe into Epstein’s finances and associates. While details of the testimony have not been released yet, lawmakers present at the session have revealed some early insights.Sharing his notes from the Richard Kahn deposition, Subramanyam wrote on X, “A Trump accuser has received $ from the survivor fund managed by Kahn.” He did not specify to whom the money was paid or how much.“Guys like Kahn enable billionaires like Epstein to get away with crimes the other 99.9% of Americans couldn’t,” he added.Speaking to the reporters outside the deposition on Capitol Hill, Subramanyam said, “Another person who was an accuser of Donald Trump was given a settlement by Jeffrey Epstein’s estate. We did confirm that.”“We wanted to confirm that certain accusers had received settlements, and he confirmed that,” the Democrat lawmaker added.Subramanyam also said that five rich and powerful men who paid for Epstein’s enterprise included: American billionaire businessman and political activist Les Wexner, American billionaire hedge fund manager Glenn Dubin, American businessman and investor Steven Sinofsky, the wealthy Ashkenazi Jewish noble banking family Rothschilds, and American private equity investor Leon Black.He added, “When I asked about heads of state or elected officials with financial ties to Epstein, Kahn mentioned Ehud Barak,” the former Prime Minister of Israel.The files released by the Department of Justice revealed that at least one woman had accused Trump of sexually abusing her when she was 13-years-old. According to the FBI account, the woman had alleged that Trump forced her to commit a sex act on him around 1984 after she was recruited by Epstein.Meanwhile, the US president has denied any wrongdoing in connection with the sex offender. The White House has called the accusations “completely baseless.”Disclaimer: WION is only reporting the names that have been mentioned in the Epstein files and is not accusing anyone of any wrongdoing. Readers are advised to use their discretion on this article.&nbsp;

During a deposition, Jeffrey Epstein’s accountant Richard Kahn claimed a Donald Trump accuser received money from the Epstein estate survivor fund, according to Suhas Subramanyam.

Late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein’s personal accountant has claimed that an accuser of US President Donald Trump was paid out by the Epstein estate. Richard Kahn, who worked closely with Epstein for more than a decade, reportedly made the remarks while testifying before the House Oversight Committee on Wednesday (Mar 11), said US Representative Suhas Subramanyam. This comes after Kahn appeared in a closed-door deposition as part of a congressional probe into Epstein’s finances and associates. While details of the testimony have not been released yet, lawmakers present at the session have revealed some early insights. Sharing his notes from the Richard Kahn deposition, Subramanyam wrote on X, “A Trump accuser has received $ from the survivor fund managed by Kahn.” He did not specify to whom the money was paid or how much. “Guys like Kahn enable billionaires like Epstein to get away with crimes the other 99.9% of Americans couldn’t,” he added. Speaking to the reporters outside the deposition on Capitol Hill, Subramanyam said, “Another person who was an accuser of Donald Trump was given a settlement by Jeffrey Epstein’s estate. We did confirm that.” “We wanted to confirm that certain accusers had received settlements, and he confirmed that,” the Democrat lawmaker added. Subramanyam also said that five rich and powerful men who paid for Epstein’s enterprise included: American billionaire businessman and political activist Les Wexner, American billionaire hedge fund manager Glenn Dubin, American businessman and investor Steven Sinofsky, the wealthy Ashkenazi Jewish noble banking family Rothschilds, and American private equity investor Leon Black. He added, “When I asked about heads of state or elected officials with financial ties to Epstein, Kahn mentioned Ehud Barak,” the former Prime Minister of Israel. The files released by the Department of Justice revealed that at least one woman had accused Trump of sexually abusing her when she was 13-years-old. According to the FBI account, the woman had alleged that Trump forced her to commit a sex act on him around 1984 after she was recruited by Epstein. Meanwhile, the US president has denied any wrongdoing in connection with the sex offender. The White House has called the accusations “completely baseless.” Disclaimer: WION is only reporting the names that have been mentioned in the Epstein files and is not accusing anyone of any wrongdoing. Readers are advised to use their discretion on this article.

During a deposition, Jeffrey Epstein’s accountant Richard Kahn claimed a Donald Trump accuser received money from the Epstein estate survivor fund, according to Suhas Subramanyam.

Was Trump accuser paid by Epstein Estate? Sex offender’s accountant drops bombshell claim

Jeffrey Epstein had a baby and even kept a sculpture and a photo of a blonde woman, whom he claimed was the mother, one of his victims told the FBI, according to the Department of Justice release. The victim, who said she was 16 at the time, said the paedophile pointed to a photo in his Manhattan townhouse and told her that the woman in it was the "mother of my child." The DOJ files even have a photo of Epstein with a woman holding a baby whose face has been redacted. Her blonde hair can be seen, but just slightly. There is another one of Epstein with the baby. He told the victim that the woman was "perfect" and that "her husband will be very lucky." The incident happened in 2005, and the victim recounted what Epstein told her in 2020. He had the photo of the woman on a beach in one room, while another had a naked, blue mould-like sculpture without head, arms or legs.<h2>Emails show Epstein had a baby boy&nbsp;</h2>This is not the first time that documents have alluded to the possibility that Epstein had a baby. An email from Sept. 21, 2011, sent by Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, shows that she congratulated Epstein on having a “baby boy.” “Don’t know if you’re still on this bbm but have heard from The Duke that you have had a baby boy,” Ferguson wrote. Another one from Fergie had her saying that he had disappeared and "she wasn’t aware he was about to become a father." Epstein's brother, Mark, has repeatedly denied that the late financier had a baby. But the documents and the newly uncovered photos hint otherwise.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/andrew-mountbatten-windsor-seen-with-two-women-at-epstein-s-home-in-new-blurry-photo-1773137954269">Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor seen with two women at Epstein's home in new blurry photo</a>&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img src="https://cdn1.wionews.com/prod/wion/images/2026/20260312/image-1773291335681.png"></figure>&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img src="https://cdn1.wionews.com/prod/wion/images/2026/20260312/image-1773292874631.png"></figure><h2>How the victim met Epstein in New York</h2>In the <a href="https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%209/EFTA01246320.pdf">account given to the FBI</a>, the victim says she was still a virgin when she met Epstein. She is an immigrant and moved to Kansas. A modelling scout discovered her, after which she moved to New York. She met Epstein in 2005, five times through acquaintances in the modelling world. There is one document indicating that he asked another woman whether she wanted to have a child with him. The suggestion apparently made "GM (Maxwell) upset and pissed". The woman said that Maxwell "punished" her for what Epstein said.&nbsp;Notes show that Epstein wanted to start a human race with his DNA and asked some women to have his child. A New York Times report from 2019 stated that his New Mexico ranch was the planned base where he wanted to impregnate women himself. He was said to be crazy about the topic of transhumanism, where AI or genetic engineering are used to create an advanced human population.

Emails from the Epstein Files show that Epstein had a baby with a blonde woman whom he described as “perfect”. Photos show Epstein holding a baby, with another one of the woman and the baby with him. One of his victims told FBI that he had a photo and a mould of the woman.

Jeffrey Epstein had a baby and even kept a sculpture and a photo of a blonde woman, whom he claimed was the mother, one of his victims told the FBI, according to the Department of Justice release. The victim, who said she was 16 at the time, said the paedophile pointed to a photo in his Manhattan townhouse and told her that the woman in it was the "mother of my child." The DOJ files even have a photo of Epstein with a woman holding a baby whose face has been redacted. Her blonde hair can be seen, but just slightly. There is another one of Epstein with the baby. He told the victim that the woman was "perfect" and that "her husband will be very lucky." The incident happened in 2005, and the victim recounted what Epstein told her in 2020. He had the photo of the woman on a beach in one room, while another had a naked, blue mould-like sculpture without head, arms or legs. Emails show Epstein had a baby boy This is not the first time that documents have alluded to the possibility that Epstein had a baby. An email from Sept. 21, 2011, sent by Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, shows that she congratulated Epstein on having a “baby boy.” “Don’t know if you’re still on this bbm but have heard from The Duke that you have had a baby boy,” Ferguson wrote. Another one from Fergie had her saying that he had disappeared and "she wasn’t aware he was about to become a father." Epstein's brother, Mark, has repeatedly denied that the late financier had a baby. But the documents and the newly uncovered photos hint otherwise. Also Read: Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor seen with two women at Epstein's home in new blurry photo How the victim met Epstein in New York In the account given to the FBI, the victim says she was still a virgin when she met Epstein. She is an immigrant and moved to Kansas. A modelling scout discovered her, after which she moved to New York. She met Epstein in 2005, five times through acquaintances in the modelling world. There is one document indicating that he asked another woman whether she wanted to have a child with him. The suggestion apparently made "GM (Maxwell) upset and pissed". The woman said that Maxwell "punished" her for what Epstein said. Notes show that Epstein wanted to start a human race with his DNA and asked some women to have his child. A New York Times report from 2019 stated that his New Mexico ranch was the planned base where he wanted to impregnate women himself. He was said to be crazy about the topic of transhumanism, where AI or genetic engineering are used to create an advanced human population.

Emails from the Epstein Files show that Epstein had a baby with a blonde woman whom he described as “perfect”. Photos show Epstein holding a baby, and another one of the woman and the baby with him. One of his victims told the FBI that he had a photo and a mould of the woman.

Epstein had a baby with 'perfect' mystery woman, had her photo and mold at his mansion, DOJ files show

Iran has intensified its propaganda campaign against the United States by invoking the Jeffrey Epstein scandal, as geopolitical tensions continue amid the ongoing US-Israel conflict with Iran. The X account associated with Iran's former supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, shared an excerpt from a speech by the late Iranian leader, linking the United States to what he described as corruption symbolised by Jeffrey Epstein’s private island in the United States Virgin Islands. The post included a graphic of a large dossier labeled “Epstein,” floating like an island in the sea. The illustration appeared to contain a subtle reference to Donald Trump through a red tie emerging from the file, an accessory the US president is known for wearing frequently.&nbsp;The design of the file also resembled an aircraft carrier stationed near the Persian Gulf, complete with fighter jets, a radar station and a US flag. The imagery appeared to suggest that Washington’s military actions in West Asia are intended to divert attention from the domestic fallout linked to the Epstein scandal. However, no evidence has emerged to substantiate that claim.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-doesn-t-rule-out-troops-in-iran-as-tehran-lays-mines-in-strait-of-hormuz-says-us-targeted-iranian-mine-laying-vessels-1773175173553">Trump doesn’t rule out troops in Iran as Tehran lays mines in Strait of Hormuz; says US targeted Iranian mine-laying vessels</a><h2>Here's what Ali Khamenei had said on Epstein Files</h2>In January 2026, the late Iranian Supreme Leader reacted to the global discussion surrounding the Epstein Files, arguing that systems of oppression remain unchanged even if their outward appearance evolves. “You must have heard on the world news over the past few months that they’ve created an island for corruption [Epstein’s island]. Is that a joke? Moral corruption, corruption in actions, oppression, force, coercion, interference, striking whoever they can reach and clawing at whatever they can get their hands on. Human beings are still the same human beings; however, their language and appearance have changed,” the Ayatollah said.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/iran-us-war-irgc-fires-heavier-ballistic-missiles-as-tehran-unleashes-monster-missiles-wion-1773176383524/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/iran-us-war-irgc-fires-heavier-ballistic-missiles-as-tehran-unleashes-monster-missiles-wion-1773176383524/embed</a>&nbsp;“Today, he [the oppressor] enters the arena wearing cologne, a necktie, a suit, and fine clothes. However, they’re the same people and they haven't changed. Today, humanity, of course, I don't mean all of humanity when I say this, in many societies, especially Western ones, humanity is afflicted by this plague. Rights are trampled on, and the weak are killed,” he added.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Island of oppression &amp; corruption They’ve created an island for corruption. Is that a joke? Moral corruption, corruption in actions, oppression, force, coercion, interference, and clawing at whatever they can get their hands on. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EpsteinFiles?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EpsteinFiles</a> <a href="https://t.co/Af3x6wMFzy">pic.twitter.com/Af3x6wMFzy</a>&mdash; Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) <a href="https://twitter.com/khamenei_ir/status/2031419898312655008?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 10, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, US, Gulf nations and non-state actors like Hezbollah, Hamas, Houthis, Islamic State, and others. Claims and counterclaims, disinformation and misinformation are being made online and offline. Given this context, WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos and videos.&nbsp;Disclaimer: WION is only reporting the names that have been mentioned in the Epstein files and is not accusing anyone of any wrongdoing. Readers are advised to use their discretion on this article.

'Island for corruption': Khamenei’s X account targets Trump with ‘Epstein Island’ jibe as Iran’s war narrative intensifies

Iran has intensified its propaganda campaign against the United States by invoking the Jeffrey Epstein scandal, as geopolitical tensions continue amid the ongoing US-Israel conflict with Iran. The X account associated with Iran's former supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, shared an excerpt from a speech by the late Iranian leader, linking the United States to what he described as corruption symbolised by Jeffrey Epstein’s private island in the United States Virgin Islands. The post included a graphic of a large dossier labeled “Epstein,” floating like an island in the sea. The illustration appeared to contain a subtle reference to Donald Trump through a red tie emerging from the file, an accessory the US president is known for wearing frequently. The design of the file also resembled an aircraft carrier stationed near the Persian Gulf, complete with fighter jets, a radar station and a US flag. The imagery appeared to suggest that Washington’s military actions in West Asia are intended to divert attention from the domestic fallout linked to the Epstein scandal. However, no evidence has emerged to substantiate that claim. Also Read: Trump doesn’t rule out troops in Iran as Tehran lays mines in Strait of Hormuz; says US targeted Iranian mine-laying vessels Here's what Ali Khamenei had said on Epstein Files In January 2026, the late Iranian Supreme Leader reacted to the global discussion surrounding the Epstein Files, arguing that systems of oppression remain unchanged even if their outward appearance evolves. “You must have heard on the world news over the past few months that they’ve created an island for corruption [Epstein’s island]. Is that a joke? Moral corruption, corruption in actions, oppression, force, coercion, interference, striking whoever they can reach and clawing at whatever they can get their hands on. Human beings are still the same human beings; however, their language and appearance have changed,” the Ayatollah said. https://www.wionews.com/videos/iran-us-war-irgc-fires-heavier-ballistic-missiles-as-tehran-unleashes-monster-missiles-wion-1773176383524/embed “Today, he [the oppressor] enters the arena wearing cologne, a necktie, a suit, and fine clothes. However, they’re the same people and they haven't changed. Today, humanity, of course, I don't mean all of humanity when I say this, in many societies, especially Western ones, humanity is afflicted by this plague. Rights are trampled on, and the weak are killed,” he added.

Iran revives Epstein controversy in propaganda against the US, sharing a cryptic post from former Iran's supreme leader, Ali Khamenei’s X account, linking Western power and corruption amid ongoing regional tensions

New images from the Epstein Files show former Prince Andrew with a girl whose identity has been redacted. The images are low resolution and seem to show a man who appears to be Andrew with his arms around a woman who is sitting on his lap. Another photo shows a girl standing behind her with her arms on his shoulders. The two seem to be different women, judging by their outfits. The pictures were apparently taken in Epstein's New York dining room. The man is wearing a blue shirt and a grey sweater. The latest photo is a part of more than 180,000 images released by the DOJ under the Epstein Files Transparency Act. In January this year, the department released over 3 million new documents from the Epstein Files. They included photos of high-profile figures like Bill Clinton, Bill Gates, Peter Mandelson, and Sarah Ferguson, among others. The files include several pictures of Andrew, with one showing him on all fours, kneeling over a girl and touching her.&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Prince Andrew Queen Elizabeth second son and brother of the King pictured on Jeffrey Epstein&#39;s house holding a young girl on his lap, and another girl is having her hands around him. ESPECIALLY in the first picture the girl he has on his lap looks very young. This is really… <a href="https://t.co/51KzFJiEnH">pic.twitter.com/51KzFJiEnH</a>&mdash; Nina (@ShakeLS) <a href="https://twitter.com/ShakeLS/status/2030734683609178257?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 8, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Andrew is said to have been extremely close to Epstein and stayed at his house in December 2010, according to The Telegraph. In a Newsnight interview in 2019, Andrew said that he thought saying "goodbye" to him was the "honourable" thing to do, and that's why he went on the trip. However, the DOJ files show that their connection was much deeper, and they stayed in regular touch with each other. Andrew has also been accused of sexually abusing Virginia Giuffre, one of the most vocal victims of Epstein, who trafficked her. She passed away in 2025.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/epstein-files-show-the-paedophile-killed-pons-years-ago-who-was-he-and-what-happened-1773120194001">Epstein Files show the paedophile ‘killed Pons years ago’. Who was he and what happened?</a><h2>Andrew in Epstein Files</h2>Epstein referred to Andrew as "The Duke" in one of the emails and told him to meet a "26-year-old 'beautiful' Russian woman." He told Andrew, "he had a friend whom I think you might enjoy having dinner with in London later that month." Andrew replied that he would be "delighted to see her."&nbsp;Andrew has lost his royal titles, military roles, and patronages. He is also being investigated for alleged misconduct in public office during his time as UK trade envoy.&nbsp;

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor can be seen with a woman on his lap at Epstein's New York home in a new photo doing the rounds. Another picture shows a woman standing behind him as he apparently sits in the dining room. 

New images from the Epstein Files show former Prince Andrew with a girl whose identity has been redacted. The images are low resolution and seem to show a man who appears to be Andrew with his arms around a woman who is sitting on his lap. Another photo shows a girl standing behind her with her arms on his shoulders. The two seem to be different women, judging by their outfits. The pictures were apparently taken in Epstein's New York dining room. The man is wearing a blue shirt and a grey sweater. The latest photo is a part of more than 180,000 images released by the DOJ under the Epstein Files Transparency Act. In January this year, the department released over 3 million new documents from the Epstein Files. They included photos of high-profile figures like Bill Clinton, Bill Gates, Peter Mandelson, and Sarah Ferguson, among others. The files include several pictures of Andrew, with one showing him on all fours, kneeling over a girl and touching her.

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor can be seen with a woman on his lap at Epstein's New York home in a new photo doing the rounds. Another picture shows a woman standing behind him as he apparently sits in the dining room.&nbsp;

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor seen with two women at Epstein's home in new blurry photo

Secrets and crimes continue to tumble out of the Epstein Files as a new email shows just how much power the paedophile held. Jeffrey Epstein claimed in an email that he was behind ending the endeavours of Stanley Pons, the co-inventor of cold fusion. In October 2009, he wrote to perceptual scientist Al Seckel that he used political channels to ensure that Pons did not receive congressional funding for the project. "regarding cold fusion. I killed Pons years ago," the late financier wrote. The Department of Justice released over 3 million new documents from the Epstein Files in January this year. One of them has Epstein boasting that he played a major role in deciding what happens to the Pons' research on cold fusion. He even met with the head of the Mormon Church to influence decisions at Brigham Young University, a key institution in Pons’ research network.<h2>Who was Stanley Pons?</h2>Epstein doesn't literally mean he "killed" Pons, but that he ended all research into his project that could have theoretically led to the production of limitless clean energy. Stanley Pons was an electrochemist at the University of Utah who became famous in 1989 for claiming that he and Martin Fleischmann had achieved nuclear fusion at room temperature. If true, it would have proved to be a revolution in the energy sector. However, their research was soon dismissed by physics institutions and federal agencies, leading to the end of funding. Pons moved to France after his scientific reputation took a hit.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/deepak-chopra-told-epstein-to-bring-your-girls-to-israel-and-switzerland-i-am-just-a-lover-1772080714586">Epstein told Deepak Chopra, 'I liked watching you zero in on your prey' - 'Just a lover'</a> &nbsp;<figure class="image"><img src="https://cdn1.wionews.com/prod/wion/images/2026/20260310/image-1773120735127.png"></figure><h2>New Epstein emails show his influence on scientific research</h2>Epstein wrote in the email to Seckel, "regarding cold fusion. i killed pons years ago", to which the latter replied, "Don't leave me hanging Jeff. I want to know you relationship to Pons and cold fusion..." Epstein names a congressman and how he argued against the funding, including a meeting with the head of the Mormon church. "the origidnal (sic) senate funding came out of congress, and wayne owens senator from utah „ i was there an argues against, it, had of meet with the head of the mormon church," Epstein wrote. This was reportedly because BYU's competing cold fusion program ran through the Church's governance.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/stephen-hawking-photographed-with-bikini-clad-women-in-new-epstein-files-photo-1772012206281">Stephen Hawking photographed with bikini-clad women in new Epstein Files | PHOTO</a><h2>Cold fusion and Epstein</h2>Seckel wrote in an email, "BTW, for your amusement, I spent part of the last month investigating a new cold fusion device for our billionaire engineer pals on the west coast, who were about to sink millions of dollars into this thing." The new emails show that Epstein wielded influence on scientific research, as he details how he was present during congressional hearings and presented the case that cold fusion research should not be funded. The incident is an example of how some people could be dictating how scientific research happens, who gets funds and what should be suppressed. Epstein talked about science in other emails also, including Low Energy Nuclear Reactions, another name for cold fusion.&nbsp; &nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">1/ 🧵BREAKING: Previously unreported federal Epstein file emails reveal that Jeffrey Epstein claimed he personally killed cold fusion — the discovery that could have given the world clean, limitless energy from water. Not through science. Through congressional defunding and a… <a href="https://t.co/sVZeO5rTe7">pic.twitter.com/sVZeO5rTe7</a>&mdash; Sayer Ji (@sayerjigmi) <a href="https://twitter.com/sayerjigmi/status/2028670306689106188?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 3, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Jeffrey Epstein ‘killed Pons years ago’, referring to an electrochemist who was working on cold fusion in the late 1980s. The paedophile wrote in an email how he stopped funding for his project after speaking against it at the political level.

Secrets and crimes continue to tumble out of the Epstein Files as a new email shows just how much power the paedophile held. Jeffrey Epstein claimed in an email that he was behind ending the endeavours of Stanley Pons, the co-inventor of cold fusion. In October 2009, he wrote to perceptual scientist Al Seckel that he used political channels to ensure that Pons did not receive congressional funding for the project. "regarding cold fusion. I killed Pons years ago," the late financier wrote. The Department of Justice released over 3 million new documents from the Epstein Files in January this year. One of them has Epstein boasting that he played a major role in deciding what happens to the Pons' research on cold fusion. He even met with the head of the Mormon Church to influence decisions at Brigham Young University, a key institution in Pons’ research network. Who was Stanley Pons? Epstein doesn't literally mean he "killed" Pons, but that he ended all research into his project that could have theoretically led to the production of limitless clean energy. Stanley Pons was an electrochemist at the University of Utah who became famous in 1989 for claiming that he and Martin Fleischmann had achieved nuclear fusion at room temperature. If true, it would have proved to be a revolution in the energy sector. However, their research was soon dismissed by physics institutions and federal agencies, leading to the end of funding. Pons moved to France after his scientific reputation took a hit. Also Read: Epstein told Deepak Chopra, 'I liked watching you zero in on your prey' - 'Just a lover' New Epstein emails show his influence on scientific research Epstein wrote in the email to Seckel, "regarding cold fusion. i killed pons years ago", to which the latter replied, "Don't leave me hanging Jeff. I want to know you relationship to Pons and cold fusion..." Epstein names a congressman and how he argued against the funding, including a meeting with the head of the Mormon church. "the origidnal (sic) senate funding came out of congress, and wayne owens senator from utah „ i was there an argues against, it, had of meet with the head of the mormon church," Epstein wrote. This was reportedly because BYU's competing cold fusion program ran through the Church's governance. Also Read: Stephen Hawking photographed with bikini-clad women in new Epstein Files | PHOTO Cold fusion and Epstein Seckel wrote in an email, "BTW, for your amusement, I spent part of the last month investigating a new cold fusion device for our billionaire engineer pals on the west coast, who were about to sink millions of dollars into this thing." The new emails show that Epstein wielded influence on scientific research, as he details how he was present during congressional hearings and presented the case that cold fusion research should not be funded. The incident is an example of how some people could be dictating how scientific research happens, who gets funds and what should be suppressed. Epstein talked about science in other emails also, including Low Energy Nuclear Reactions, another name for cold fusion.

Jeffrey Epstein ‘killed Pons years ago’, referring to an electrochemist who was working on cold fusion in the late 1980s. The paedophile wrote in an email how he stopped funding for his project after speaking against it at the political level.

Epstein Files show the paedophile ‘killed Pons years ago’. Who was he and what happened?

Activists staged a rally on International Women’s Day demanding a fresh investigation into Zorro Ranch, the New Mexico property linked to Jeffrey Epstein. Protesters called for greater transparency and accountability in the ongoing Epstein case, urging authorities to examine activities that allegedly took place at the ranch.

The demonstration highlighted demands from campaigners and survivors’ advocates for deeper scrutiny of Epstein’s network and properties associated with the late financier.


Epstein Files: Women’s Day Rally Demands Probe of Zorro Ranch | WION

Newly surfaced FBI memos from past interviews reportedly contain unsubstantiated allegations involving U.S. President Donald Trump linked to the Jeffrey Epstein investigation. Trump has denied all claims, while reports say the accusations stem from interviews conducted with a woman who alleged she was introduced to Trump by Epstein in the 1980s. The documents are now drawing renewed scrutiny and political attention.


Epstein Files: New FBI Files Reveal Unsubstantiated' Allegations Against Trump 

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