(The Hill) — Mark Epstein, the older brother of disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, refuted the White House’s claims that President Donald Trump never visited the convicted sex offender at his office.
“That’s just another blatant lie,” the older Epstein said during a Tuesday appearance on CNN’s “Erin Burnett OutFront.”
“Because he was there. People that worked for Jeffrey in his office, they could testify that they saw Trump in Jeffrey’s office on numerous occasions,” he continued. “So for him to say he wasn’t there, all I can say is that’s just another lie.”
Later on the show, Epstein accuser Maria Farmer appeared, giving her account of the president’s visit to the wealthy businessman’s office decades before his death.
Mark Epstein has repeatedly alleged that his brother was killed while in prison. A joint memo issued earlier this month from Trump’s Justice Department and the FBI concluded that there is no evidence to support allegations that Epstein was murdered and that he did not keep a so-called “client list.”
“Every time they say something or do something to try to quash the fact that he was most likely murdered, they just put their foot further down their mouth,” Epstein’s brother told Nexstar’s host Chris Cuomo earlier this month, when asked why he doesn’t believe the administration’s latest explanation.
The Trump administration in recent days has been roiled with speculation around its handling of the Epstein files, as calls grow for more transparency in the case.
The president has repeatedly attempted to deny closeness to Epstein, who was accused of leading a sex trafficking operation involving underage girls. Trump’s statements rejecting their relationship was befuddled last week by a Wall Street Journal article that unveiled an alleged correspondence between the two in 2003.
The Journal reported that a letter, which appears to bear Trump’s signature, was typed inside the outline of a naked woman and sent to Epstein.
“A pal is a wonderful thing. Happy Birthday and may every day be another wonderful secret,” the final line reads, the Journal reported.
In response, the president sued the outlet for defamation and has pressed his supporters to move on from the topic.
