Trump is accustomed to giving up criticism. Epstein saga is different

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Anthony BolderNorth America

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Donald Trump called the story of Jeffrey Epstein a “dead question”. But after a week of the blockbuster new revelations, Epstein’s crime – and its consequences – they continue to pursue many of his former associates.

The so-called birthday book of desires given to Epstein in 2003, which was publicly published on Monday, gave new ammunition to Trump critics, and will also keep its base, which is wanted to be more details.

This may not be a proverbial smoking gun – an indisputable relationship with misconduct that destroy their careers or inscribed criminal investigations. But this is a specific, anxious proof of the close relationships that the late financier and convicted sexual criminal had with the rich and the powerful ones.

This alone makes it an explosive and captivating story – the one that attracts the attention of the public in a way that typical political history does not.

Sonia Moskovitz / Assistant / Getty Images American businessman and former President Donald Trump, Belgian model Ingrid Sinhave and American businessman Jeffrey EpsteinSonia Moskovitz / Assistant / Getty Images

The so -called birthday book of desires given to Epstein in 2003 gave new ammunition to Trump’s Trump critics

Do not be fooled until there is a proposal for criminal misconduct by Trump, the political consequences of Epstein’s saga of the president are very real.

It is vulnerable to this. His attempts to divert him or reject him did not fail.

And sometimes he threw himself into his own base for fixing them on history – an interest he had recently encouraged last year.

How did the birthday book change the story

While the 2003 book, composed by the then Epstein girlfriend and coonor Ghislaine Maxwell, is full of dozens of personal notes, this is the one that is supposed to have turned this from a tragic history of sexual trafficking and operating into a national guerrilla intrigue.

The details of the note – an imaginary dialogue between Trump and Epstein, full of hints and double events placed in the outline of a naked female torso – are known to the public, as the Wall Street Journal reported in July.

Initially, Trump responded to this reflection with the refusal of the blankets, the protests to be targeted of a “fraud” and a defamation case, in which his lawyers doubted the existence of the note.

Reuters/ Democrats at the Chamber Supervision Committee/ Democrats at the Chamber Supervision Committee Two images: left, excerpt from the 50th birthday album, drawn up in 2003 for Jeffrey Epstein. To the right, a birthday letter that US President Donald Trump wrote to sexual criminal Jeffrey Epstein more than 20 years agoReuters/ Democrats at the Chamber Supervision Committee/ Democrats at the House Supervision Committee

President’s supporters challenge the authenticity of the note, but it is no longer possible to deny its existence

As the Conservatives gathered at Trump’s defense, the president seemed to ease his fears among his political base, which was divided into the processing of the White House of Epstein’s files.

Political analysts have begun to wonder if this will be the largest in the long line of potential scandals and contradictions that the president is shrinking.

However, Trump’s strategy had an obviously obvious risk – that the note would become public. Anodine’s description of the exploded text and drawings on the pages of a financial newspaper is very different from seeing the actual element, with the depiction of small female breasts and a signature resembling Trump, which is positioned to suggest shameful hair.

The President’s advisers and supporters continue to challenge the authenticity of the note, but it is no longer possible to deny its existence.

Evelyn Hokstein / Reuters American President Donald Trump watches as he talks to the pressEvelyn Hokstein / Reuters

Trump’s reputation among supporters is a person who does not get caught in political games and hiding – any calibrated explanation risks undercutting that

“The president did not write this letter, he did not sign this letter, so the external legal team of the president is conducting court disputes against the Wall Street Journal,” White House press secretary Carolyn Levit said on Tuesday.

But in a book filled with notes and messages to Epstein, Trump at first glance stands alone in denying the authenticity of his alleged contribution.

And Levitus was very careful not to call the book herself.

Any presented defense, every calibrated explanation risks undercut Trump’s reputation among his supporters as a person who does not catch in typical political games and hiding.

A fragment of greater mosaic

However, more concerned about the White House than the specific revelation of the note is the way in which the birthday book will nourish a broader interest and attention to the case of Epstein.

The note that Trump is supposed to be just a fragment in a bigger mosaic than Epstein’s life -a photo of a person who has friends and associates in the highest places, including some of whom found humor in his reputation for sexual feats.

Less than a week after a group of victims of Epstein and their families, they gathered at the steps of the Capitol to talk about the pain and the emotional trauma they suffered, the birthday book provided bright evidence of seemingly indifferent indifference to Epstein’s escales of many in the Epstein circle.

Stephanie Keith / String / Getty Images The Protest Group detains signs of Jeffrey Epstein and President Donald Trump in front of the federal court Stephanie Keith / String / Getty Images

One of the worries is that the birthday book will nourish the updated more wider interest and attention to the Epstein case

A note that seems to be from an investor in Florida includes a photo of Epstein, which holds a big check on the novelty at first glance from Trump. The accompanying text jokes that Epstein has sold “a completely depreciated” woman to Trump for $ 22,500 – using a financial period for an item whose value is reduced by use.

Other notes included ridiculous drawings, naked photos and in one case images of animals that have sex.

There were reports from politicians, lawyers and business leaders. Former President Bill Clinton cited Epstein’s “Child Curiosity” and his desire to “make a change.”

Lord Peter Mandelson, the current UK ambassador to the United States, included photos of tropical places and pointed to Epstein as “my most good friend.”

The Clinton service did not respond to a BBC request for comment, although he had previously said he was not aware of Epstein’s crimes.

An official spokesman for Lord Mandelson told the BBC that “it has long been clear that he was very sorry that he was once introduced to Epstein.”

Alex Wroblewski / Assistant / Getty Images A message calling President Donald Trump to launch all the Dossier related to Jeffrey Epstein is designed by an activist group in the US Chamber of CommerceAlex Wroblewski / Assistant / Getty Images

The Epstein saga, which seemed old news early this year, approaches a self -supporting critical mass

Some Republicans have pointed out the way Democrats have focused almost exclusively on Trump as proof that their claims of outrage are guided by a desire for political advantage.

This can be difficult for those on the left to deny.

Democrats in the Chamber Committee investigating the Epstein case, for example, quickly launched Trump’s birthday page, which was provided to them by the Epstein estate.

Expect any other details related to the president to receive such a quick route in public views.

A story greater than the president

However, the story has become greater than the president, and interest in the history of Epstein – one of sex, crime and power – will attract attention, regardless of the political motivations behind some who are progressing it.

If Trump’s critics feel the opportunity, not all Trump allies help.

Last week, Chamber of Chamber Mike Johnson suggested that Trump had collaborated with the original federal investigation of Epstein, the theory that Epstein himself sailed during interviews with journalist Michael Wolf in 2016 and 2017.

Johnson, a Republican, later replied his comments, but not before provoking another round of questions about what Trump knows about Epstein’s illegal behavior and when he knows it.

Photography by Davidoff Studios / Getty Images Jeffrey Epstein and Donald Trump posed together at the mar-lago mansionPhotography by Davidoff Studios / Getty Images

There is no evidence of Trump’s criminal behavior, but his friendship with Epstein (which ended in 2004) made him a central player in this drama

There are still many that the public could learn with the release of more Epstein documents, including statements from witnesses, financial recordings and evidence collected in the search for the law enforcement of Epstein property.

Two Congressmen, the Republican Thomas Tables of Kentucky and Democrat Ran, California, are currently collecting signatures to force a vote in the House of Representatives to publicly release the other Epstein files – a move that the White House is vigorously opposed.

The Epstein saga, which seemed old news earlier this year, is approaching a self -supporting critical mass that will be difficult for everyone, no matter how well connected or influential, to be contained.

And although the President is not the central focus and there is no evidence of criminal behavior on his part, his long -standing friendship with Epstein (which ended after falling in 2004), combined with his position at the top of US political power, will keep him a central player in this drama while continuing to unfold.

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