Epstein’s Unpublished Trump Photos: What a Journalist Was Offered and Why It Never Ran

Jeffrey Epstein once offered a New York Times journalist photos of Donald Trump. The proposed images showed Trump with “girls in bikinis” in Epstein’s kitchen. This offer was made via email in December 2015.

The communication is part of a massive document release by the House Oversight Committee. It reveals the extent of Epstein’s attempts to leverage information.

The Email Exchange That Revealed the Offer

The exchange began with journalist Landon Thomas Jr. He emailed Epstein about a 2002 quote from Trump. In that quote, Trump called Epstein “terrific” and noted his preference for beautiful women.

Epstein replied within two hours. He first suggested Thomas look into Trump’s finances. Then he made the specific offer about the kitchen photos.

Thomas responded with an enthusiastic “Yes!!!”. Epstein then identified one person in the alleged photos as a model. According to The New York Times, it is unclear if these photos ever truly existed.

Why the Story Never Saw the Light of Day

The promised photographs were never delivered. Landon Thomas Jr. confirmed this to his former newspaper. He left the Times in 2019 after an internal review.

A New York Times spokesperson stated Thomas did not meet its ethical standards. The email exchange itself was not the direct cause of his departure. It was discovered later as part of the wider document dump.

Former President Trump has called the latest document release a “hoax.” He accused Democrats of using it to distract from other political issues. This story highlights the complex ties between powerful figures and the media.

Thought you’d like to know

What photos did Epstein offer the journalist?

He offered photos of Donald Trump with “girls in bikinis” in his kitchen. He specifically mentioned a Hawaiian Tropic model named Lauren Petrella. The photos were never delivered to the journalist.

Did The New York Times publish the story?

No, the story was never published. The journalist never received the promised photos from Epstein. The Times later stated the journalist did not adhere to its ethical standards.

Why did Landon Thomas Jr. leave the Times?

He left in 2019 after an internal review. Editors found he had not adhered to the newspaper’s ethical standards. His friendship with Epstein and a request for a donation were contributing factors.

How has Donald Trump responded to the document release?

He has dismissed it as a Democratic “hoax.” He claims it is an attempt to deflect from other political issues. The statement was made on his Truth Social platform.

What was the nature of the journalist’s relationship with Epstein?

They developed a friendship after Thomas profiled him in 2002. This relationship continued for years. In 2017, Thomas asked Epstein for a $30,000 donation to a cultural center.