Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Sex pervert tycoon:i brought Melania & Trump together
Billionaire Epstein claims he was matchmaker
about Epstein. In 2002 he said: “He’s a lot of fun to be with. It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side.” The shamed financier, 66, pleaded guilty in June 2008 to procuring a minor for prostitution and soliciting prostitution by minors following a two-year investigation. Although Epstein had faced up to 20 years, he was handed an 18-month prison sentence in a controversial plea deal.
It came following an FBI sting two years earlier after agents were tipped off he had been paying for sex with underage girls at his Florida mansion for years. Within 11 months federal prosecutors had identified more than 40 young women who may have been illegally procured by Epstein.
He served just over a year in jail before being released under house arrest and registered as a sex offender.
The Duke of York, 59, sparked huge embarrassment for Buckingham Palace after he was pictured with Epstein in Central Park following his release from prison in 2011.
It prompted anger which eventually led to Prince Andrew stepping down from his role as Britain’s trade envoy.
The Trumps have never mentioned Epstein playing a role in their meeting. The First Lady, once said Donald asked for her phone number at Manhattan’s Kit Kat Club in 1998.
The White House did not respond to a request for comment.