Keep Digging, Donald. You’re Keeping the Epstein Scandal Alive.

Donald Trump is an adjudicated rapist, accused of sexual abuse or assault by dozens of ladies. Additionally, he appears to be in severe cognitive decline. That mixture of things nearly ensures that the story of his ties to convicted intercourse offender Jeffrey Epstein, indicted for little one intercourse trafficking earlier than he died in jail, will proceed to unfurl.

Trump gave an extended, typically incoherent press convention alongside British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Monday. They had been ostensibly assembly to debate tariffs, however questions veered towards Epstein. As a substitute of slapping them down or ignoring them, as he typically does, Trump answered them. At size. And really surprisingly.

Trump has maintained that he had a falling out with Epstein years in the past. In 2004, they competed for a similar gaudy Palm Seaside property, and Trump outbid his pal and received it. (In some accounts, Epstein was the one who broke off the friendship over it.)

Sounds believable, for two scummy rich guys.

A few of Trump’s communications folks say Trump kicked Epstein out of Mar-a-Lago “for being a creep,” within the phrases of henchman Stephen Cheung.

However at Monday’s press convention, Trump gave a unique clarification. And a hauntingly creepy one.

“For years I wouldn’t speak to Jeffrey Epstein, as a result of he did one thing that was inappropriate…. He stole those that labored for me.… And he did it once more. So I threw him out of the place [Mar-a-Lago]. I’m glad I did.”

My first response was that “inappropriate” looks as if weak beer to explain Epstein’s 2008 imprisonment for “soliciting and procuring a minor for prostitution.” However no, Trump wasn’t speaking about that. He clarified: “[Epstein] stole those that labored for me.” Then I recalled that convicted intercourse trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell in truth employed 16-year-old Virginia Giuffre, the daughter of a Mar-a-Lago upkeep supervisor, away from a job as a spa attendant there. Is that what Trump is considering? And did the pair “steal” one other Mar-a-Lago employee from Trump?

Do not forget that Maxwell known as the ladies who labored for her “slaves.” Trump additionally appeared to have a proprietary curiosity within the staff of Mar-a-Lago; they weren’t free to pursue different employment—they had been “stolen” property, akin to “slaves” if you’ll. However Trump’s unforced error goes to spur extra digging by reporters. (I’m not an knowledgeable on the a whole bunch of ladies trafficked by Epstein and Maxwell over time, nevertheless it’s not unimaginable that one other might have additionally been found working at Mar-a-Lago.) Trump additionally, bizarrely, stated he had by no means “had the privilege” of visiting Epstein’s personal Caribbean island, the place a lot of the intercourse trafficking is alleged to have taken place. What a privilege!

A long time after first making an attempt to blow the whistle on Epstein and Maxwell (and Prince Andrew, who she alleged compelled her to have intercourse a number of occasions), Virginia Giuffre reportedly dedicated suicide in April of this 12 months (although her mother and father have questioned her reason for loss of life). Her loss of life is a vital reminder that not one of the girls who raised allegations in opposition to the trafficking pair have gotten justice.

Trump stored one other side of the story alive Monday, when he once more denied contributing a “controversial drawing” of a lady, with allusions to his and Epstein’s many commonalities and “secrets and techniques,” to a e-book for Epstein’s fiftieth birthday. However he did permit that such a e-book may exist. “They are saying there have been many letters carried out by many individuals,” he informed reporters. “Many large, profitable folks.” He can’t resist associating himself with the “large profitable folks” who contributed to Epstein’s e-book, ought to such a e-book exist—it does, and I predict we’ll see it. What’s flawed with him?

And within the wake of Deputy Legal professional Basic (and former Trump private protection lawyer) Todd Blanche spending nearly two days chatting with Maxwell, presently serving 20 years in jail for her crimes), Trump blithely insisted, “Properly, I’m allowed to offer her a pardon however no person’s approached me with it. No person’s requested me about it. Proper now it will be inappropriate to speak about it.” Proper now, anyway.

Dangerously, that is one place the place Trump’s lapdogs appear a bit anxious about the best way this story will go. On Sunday, Home GOP Speaker Mike Johnson, one in all Trump’s most dependable toadies, unloaded concerning the morality and the politics of pardoning Maxwell. It’s value studying in full:

If you happen to’re asking my opinion, I feel 20 years was a pittance. I feel she ought to have a life sentence at the least. Consider all these unspeakable crimes. And as you famous earlier, in all probability a thousand victims. It’s arduous to place into phrases how evil this was and that she orchestrated it and was a giant a part of it. At the very least underneath the legal sanction, I feel is an unforgivable factor. So once more, not my choice, however I’ve nice pause about that as any affordable particular person would.

Sure, I see that Johnson is holding up the lady within the scandal because the “orchestrator,” when proof to that impact is suspect. She’s extra in charge than Epstein? However the remainder of his assertion is spot on.

It’s all proof of the wicked mindset of elites, whether or not it’s about treating staff, or minor ladies, as property. (From which the religious Christian Johnson nearly at all times appears to be like away.) It additionally seems like Trump’s persevering with cognitive decline is making it arduous for him, personally, to reply or dodge questions successfully. He doesn’t need to discuss Epstein, but additionally can’t cease speaking about Epstein. This story is staying with us.