Everyone knew what Epstein was doing, Trump allegedly said

New documents released by the US Department of Justice have once again raised questions about US President Donald Trump's relationship with the late financier Jeffrey Epstein.

In 2006, Trump allegedly called the Florida police chief and told him that "everyone knew" what Epstein was doing. Trump was reportedly warned that Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein's associate, was "bad," according to the document.

Trump also said that he was once in Epstein's company when teenage girls were present and that he "immediately left." He allegedly thanked the chief for stopping Epstein.

However, the president has long claimed that he did not know about his crimes. The White House admits that it is unclear whether the phone call ever took place. Police Chief Michael Reiter, who retired in 2009, confirmed to the Miami Herald the details of the conversation with the FBI, which was the first to report on its existence.

Current Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has also come under pressure. Emails published in the file show that he visited Epstein's island in 2012, even though he claimed to have cut off contact in 2005. Lutnick denies the allegations, and Trump has publicly supported him.

At the same time, Democrats have introduced a bill to make it easier for victims of sex trafficking to file lawsuits even years later.

(reuters, mja)