Former President Trump has announced his intention to sue author Michael Wolff, following the release of previously sealed documents related to Jeffrey Epstein. The announcement came after a massive trove of records, mandated by the Epstein Files Transparency Act, became publicly available.
The core of the dispute centers on a 2019 email exchange. In it, Epstein forwarded information to Wolff asserting that Trump “never got a massage” during visits to Epstein’s residence – a claim attributed to testimony from Epstein’s house manager, John Alessi. This directly contradicts narratives that fueled years of speculation and scrutiny.
Speaking while traveling, Trump stated he’d been briefed on the implications of the released files. He believes the documents reveal a deliberate effort by Wolff to damage his reputation, characterizing it as a conspiracy with Epstein to inflict political harm.
According to released emails, Wolff actively advised Epstein on how to navigate media inquiries regarding their relationship with Trump during the 2016 presidential campaign. He suggested Epstein allow Trump to deny their association, framing it as a potential “PR and political currency” for Epstein.
As Trump’s campaign gained momentum, Wolff repeatedly urged Epstein to develop a strategy to manage the escalating media attention. He even described Epstein as “the Trump bullet,” suggesting Epstein held damaging information that could be strategically deployed.
The correspondence reveals Wolff’s awareness of interest from both The New York Times and the Hillary Clinton campaign. He encouraged Epstein to proactively address the situation, potentially framing a narrative that would be detrimental to Trump. He even proposed a scenario where Epstein could garner sympathy while simultaneously “finishing” Trump’s campaign.
In a particularly striking email sent just before the election, Wolff inquired if Epstein was interested in coming forward with information that could generate sympathy for himself and decisively harm Trump’s chances. The timing and content of these messages are now central to Trump’s planned legal action.
The newly released files paint a picture of a calculated interaction, raising questions about the motivations behind the relentless media focus on Trump’s connection to Epstein and the role of certain individuals in shaping the public narrative.
