President Donald Trump denied ever visiting late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein’s private island in one of his “very good moments.”
Trump was in Scotland answering questions from reporters on July 28 as the controversy over the criminal case files on the financier indicted on sex trafficking charges continues to roil his administration. Epstein owned a small private island in the U.S. Virgin Islands, where sex trafficking of young girls allegedly occurred.
“I never had the privilege of going to his island, and I did turn it down, but a lot of people in Palm Beach were invited to his island,” Trump said. “In one of my very good moments, I turned it down. I didn’t want to go to his island.”
Where does the island fit in the Epstein saga? Here is what to know:
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What happened at Epstein’s island?
In January 2020, prosecutors with the U.S. Virgin Islands filed a lawsuit against Epstein’s estate, alleging a criminal enterprise took place on his property there involving the sexual abuse of young girls.
“Epstein owned and arranged for private planes, helicopters, boat and automobiles to transport victims to, from and within the Virgin Islands, and provided money to pay these young women and underage girls,” the lawsuit stated.
Numerous girls forced into his scheme were 12 to 17 years old, the lawsuit alleged, stating local authorities last observed related events happening in 2018.
A web of companies owned by Epstein, dubbed the “Epstein Enterprise” by prosecutors, “deceptively lured underage girls and women into its sex trafficking ring with money and promises of employment, career opportunities and school assistance.”
One 15-year-old girl tried to escape by swimming, the lawsuit states.
The estate settled the case with the U.S. Virgin Islands for $105 million in December 2022.
More: Jeffrey Epstein, a survivor’s untold story and the complexity of abuse
Where is the Epstein island located?
The island Epstein owned was in the U.S Virgin Islands.
Epstein also owned property in New York and Palm Beach, where federal U.S. prosecutors also allege sex trafficking occurred.
Ghislaine Maxwell eyes clemency as MAGA calls for Epstein transparency
Trump has been dealing with questions and controversy over Epstein for weeks, with members of both parties calling for more transparency about the man’s criminal case.
Trump has called for the release of more documents, but one federal judge in Florida has already denied the request to unseal grand jury transcripts.
The backlash has also led the Department of Justice back to Epstein’s ex-partner Ghislaine Maxwell for more information. She is serving a 20-year prison sentence for trafficking a minor to Epstein for sexual abuse. She spoke with DOJ officials over two days last week, and Trump has not yet ruled out a pardon.
Trump and Epstein shared a friendship for years, as they were both part of the Palm Beach, Florida, community, where Mar-a-Lago is located.
“I wouldn’t talk to Jeffrey Epstein because he did something that was inappropriate. … He stole people that worked for me. I said, ‘Don’t ever do that again.’ He did it again, and I threw him out of the place,” Trump said, in reference to his Mar-a-Lago club and residence. “Persona non grata.”
Contributing: Josh Meyer and Aysha Bagchi, USA TODAY
Kinsey Crowley is the Trump Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at kcrowley@gannett.com. Follow her on X and TikTok @kinseycrowley or Bluesky at @kinseycrowley.bsky.social.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump said he ‘never had the privilege’ to visit island Epstein owned
