Trump calls Epstein emails a Democratic deflection after correspondence alleges president ‘knew about the girls’ – live

Trump says release of Epstein emails is a distraction from Democrats' performance during shutdown; White House says they prove absolutely nothing'

• Trump knew about Epstein's conduct, newly released emails suggest

• Democrat who could force Epstein vote to be sworn in after standoff

In a new batch of emails released by Democrats on the House oversight committee, Jeffrey Epstein wrote that Donald Trump knew about the late financier and sex-offender's conduct. In the three emails released, Epstein apparently told his accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell that Trump spent hours" at his house with one of Epstein's victims.

In two other emails to author Michael Wolff, Epstein wrote that of course he knew about the girls", referring to the now-president. According to the exchanges, Epstein also solicited Wolff's advice about how he should handle Trump discussing their friendship in an interview with CNN. I think you should let him hang himself," Wolff writes. If he says he hasn't been on the plane or to the house, then that gives you a valuable PR and political currency. You can hang him in a way that potentially generates a positive benefit for you, or, if it really looks like he could win, you could save him, generating a debt."