The Epstein-Trump Relationship: New Insights from Mar-a-Lago Staff

A revealing Wall Street Journal investigation has uncovered new details about Jeffrey Epstein’s presence at Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago Club, painting a more complex picture of their relationship than previously known. According to former employees, Trump’s then-wife Marla Maples expressed serious concerns about Epstein shortly after the club opened in 1995, years before Trump reportedly banned him following a 2003 incident. Maples apparently shared her misgivings widely among staff, telling them something about Epstein seemed “wrong” and “off,” while expressing worry about his influence on her husband. The investigation reveals a previously unknown dynamic within the Trump household, with Maples reportedly telling employees she neither wanted to spend time with Epstein herself nor wanted Trump to associate with him. This account adds a new dimension to a relationship that has faced increasing scrutiny as the Justice Department continues releasing Epstein-related documents under recently enacted legislation.

During the late 1990s and early 2000s, Epstein was a frequent visitor at Mar-a-Lago, despite not being a dues-paying member. According to former employees, Trump instructed staff to treat Epstein like a member, granting him special access to club amenities. Perhaps most troublingly, the club reportedly dispatched spa employees, predominantly young women, to Epstein’s nearby Palm Beach mansion to provide massages, manicures, and other services. These house calls continued for years even as spa employees warned one another about Epstein’s inappropriate behavior. Staff described Epstein as sexually suggestive and known to expose himself during appointments. Appointments were typically arranged through the spa with Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s associate who was later convicted of sex trafficking, scheduling on Epstein’s behalf. This arrangement persisted despite growing unease among staff members who communicated their concerns to each other if not to management.

The spa service arrangement reportedly came to an abrupt end in 2003 following a disturbing incident. According to the Journal’s sources, an 18-year-old beautician returned from a house call at Epstein’s mansion and reported to managers that Epstein had pressured her for sex. A manager then faxed Trump with these allegations and urged him to ban Epstein from the club. Former employees told the paper that Trump responded that it was a “good letter” and instructed the manager to “kick him out.” While the allegation was reportedly disclosed to Mar-a-Lago’s human resources department, former employees said it was not reported to Palm Beach police. This timeline is significant because local police did not begin investigating Epstein until two years later, when a parent alleged he had molested a 14-year-old girl. Epstein was eventually arrested in 2006 after multiple underage teens told police he had paid them for sex.

Despite the apparent spa ban in 2003, Trump and Epstein’s paths continued to cross in the following years. In late 2004, they competed against each other at a bankruptcy auction for a Palm Beach property, which Trump ultimately won. Additionally, Epstein’s message book showed records of two calls from Trump around the time of this auction, suggesting some level of continued communication. This contradicts Trump’s more recent characterizations of their relationship, in which he has emphasized his distance from Epstein. The timeline established by the Journal’s reporting raises questions about exactly when and how completely Trump severed ties with Epstein, and whether the break was as decisive as Trump has claimed in recent statements.

The White House has firmly rejected the Journal’s reporting. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt dismissed the investigation as “fallacies and innuendo” meant to “smear President Trump,” insisting that “the truth remains: President Trump did nothing wrong and he kicked Jeffrey Epstein out of Mar a Lago for being a creep.” Trump himself has addressed the end of his relationship with Epstein on several occasions, consistently portraying himself as having taken a moral stand. Earlier this year, when asked why he stopped socializing with Epstein, Trump responded: “Because he did something that was inappropriate. He hired help. I said, ‘Don’t ever do that again.’ He did it again, and I threw him out of the place, persona non grata.” On Christmas Day, Trump posted on Truth Social: “I was the only one who did drop Epstein, and long before it became fashionable to do so.” These statements emphasize Trump’s narrative that he acted decisively against Epstein once inappropriate behavior came to light.

As the Justice Department continues releasing thousands of Epstein-related documents in response to legislation passed by Congress in November 2023, the Journal’s new reporting will likely intensify scrutiny of Trump’s connections to Epstein. While some of these records reference Trump, it’s important to note that being mentioned is not in itself an indicator of wrongdoing. Nevertheless, the revelations about Marla Maples’ early warnings and the 2003 spa complaint raise significant questions about what Mar-a-Lago staff witnessed, how Trump responded internally at the time, and the precise timeline of Trump’s break with Epstein. As more information becomes available, a clearer picture may emerge about the nature and extent of their relationship during these years. The investigation highlights how even decades later, the full story of Epstein’s connections to prominent figures continues to evolve as more witnesses come forward and additional evidence surfaces.