Trump 'kicked out' Epstein years ago, White House says, as new files surface

Leavitt said the release of documents linked to Epstein reflected the Trump administration’s commitment to transparency. (File photo)

• Trump severed ties with Epstein years ago, expelling him from Mar-a-Lago club
• White House releases over 3 million Epstein-related documents for transparency.
• Senate leader says those named in Epstein files must answer public questions

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The White House on Tuesday said that US President Donald Trump had severed ties with Jeffrey Epstein years ago, asserting that the decision underscored the President’s consistency and transparency as fresh disclosures related to Epstein’s crimes come into public view.

Addressing a press briefing, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump had expelled Epstein from his Mar-a-Lago club after concluding that he was a “creep.”

"The president has always remained consistent and that he kicked Jeffrey Epstein out of his club at Mar-a-Lago because Jeffrey Epstein was a creep," Leavitt said, further adding, "And unlike many other people who are named in these files, President Trump cut off his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein and was honest and transparent about that for years and years".

Leavitt said the release of documents linked to Epstein reflected the Trump administration’s commitment to transparency.

"I think what the president has said all along has always remained true. The release of more than three million documents related to Jeffrey Epstein and his heinous, disgusting crimes just shows the level of transparency that this president and administration have committed to in bringing these files to light," she added.

Meanwhile, US Senate Majority Leader John Thune said Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick would need to respond to questions regarding his past interactions with Epstein, but maintained that it would ultimately be up to the American public to judge whether those explanations were adequate.

Lutnick confirmed earlier this week that he and his family had lunch with Epstein at the latter’s Caribbean island in 2012, while insisting that the two did not share a personal relationship.

"I think it's going to be - ultimately, what happens there is probably going to be up to American people," Thune told reporters when asked about the matter, as quoted by CNN. "And the, what I've been for, and I've been very clear about this from the outset, is full disclosure. Get the information out there, let's have transparency. And I think that's being done."

Thune added that individuals named in the Epstein-related documents would be expected to address questions arising from the disclosures.

"And so, you know, for people whose names appear, or in some context, might be in the Epstein files, they're going to have to answer the questions around that. And I think the American people are going to have to make judgments about whether or not they think those answers are sufficient," he said, as quoted by CNN.