Understanding the Recent Claims Involving Trump, Epstein, and Elon Musk
In what began as a simple disagreement, Elon Musk and former President Trump have found themselves in the midst of controversy involving the late Jeffrey Epstein. This all unfolded on June 5 when former space and tech entrepreneur Musk, once an advisor on cryptocurrency to Trump, expressed dissatisfaction over unsealed court documents linked to Epstein.
Musk used his platform, X (previously known as Twitter), to make a bold accusation against Trump. He alleged that the former president was blocking the release of these critical documents because Trump’s name might be included within them.
“Time to drop the really big bomb: @realDonaldTrump is in the Epstein files. That is the real reason they have not been made public,” Musk posted, adding a cheeky farewell: “Have a nice day, DJT!”
With conviction, Musk stood by his statement: “Mark this post for the future. The truth will come out.” Yet, it’s key to mention, being named doesn’t necessarily suggest any illegal acts on Trump’s part.
Donald Trump has not yet directly addressed Musk’s assertion. However, David Schoen, a U.S. attorney known for his work with Epstein ahead of his death in 2019, promptly responded.
On X, Schoen firmly stated he could “authoritatively, unequivocally, and definitively” assert that during his time as Epstein’s lead defense lawyer, no information arose that could implicate the former president.
“I was hired to lead Jeffrey Epstein’s defense as his criminal lawyer nine days before he died,” Schoen shared. “He sought my advice for months, yet had no damaging revelations regarding President Trump.”
Schoen, with expertise in federal criminal defense and civil rights, has a history of defending Trump, including during his second impeachment trial. He has expressed doubts about Epstein’s supposed suicide, claiming Epstein had been hopeful and collaborating on his legal strategy.
In 2008, Epstein was convicted related to underage prostitution. Arrested again in July 2019 on charges of trafficking minors across states, Epstein was found lifeless in his cell on August 10, 2019, with his death officially ruled suicide.
The Mystery of the ‘Epstein Files’
The public dispute between Musk and Trump centers on the “Epstein files”—a contentious collection of legal documents from Epstein’s various trials.
Reports, including those by ABC News, suggest these files potentially identify influential figures partaking in unlawful acts with minors introduced to them by Epstein.
For some, the secrecy surrounding these documents fuels speculation they are being hidden intentionally.
During his re-election bid, Trump pledged transparency regarding these files. Although some sections have been released earlier this year, the public remains skeptical, believing pivotal details are still under wraps.
