US lawmaker claims documents contradict former president’s account of Mar-a-Lago ban

FORMER US President Donald Trump is facing renewed scrutiny after a senior American lawmaker claimed newly reviewed Jeffrey Epstein documents contradict Trump’s long-standing account of why he cut ties with the disgraced financier.

The claims centre on unredacted files released under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which has triggered ongoing political controversy in Washington as lawmakers continue examining millions of documents linked to Epstein and his convicted associate Ghislaine Maxwell.

Democratic Congressman Maxwell Frost said the material he reviewed suggests Trump may not have banned Epstein from his Mar-a-Lago resort in 2007 for the reasons previously stated publicly. Trump has repeatedly said he ended the relationship after learning Epstein had recruited a young woman from the club.

Frost alleges witness statements in the files present a different version of events. He has indicated he plans to disclose further details under congressional privilege during a speech to the US House of Representatives — a legal protection that shields lawmakers from defamation liability when speaking in Congress.

Trump has not been charged with any wrongdoing in connection with Epstein, and previous investigations by US authorities have not produced evidence sufficient for prosecution against him or other high-profile figures linked socially to Epstein.

Massive document release

The Epstein files consist of millions of pages gathered during federal investigations into Epstein’s sex-trafficking network. Congress mandated their release in an effort to increase transparency, but disputes continue over redactions and missing material.

Lawmakers from both parties have criticised the Justice Department over what they say are excessive redactions and restricted access to the documents. Frost has also alleged that officials attempted to limit congressional scrutiny — claims the department has not publicly confirmed.

The controversy comes amid broader political fallout involving Maxwell, who is serving a twenty-year prison sentence for child sex trafficking offences committed with Epstein. Her lawyers are currently challenging the release of additional documents, arguing the law forcing disclosure is unconstitutional.

Earlier revelations

Separate records released recently also included an FBI interview summary suggesting Trump may have known about concerns regarding Epstein’s conduct as early as 2006, according to a former Florida police chief cited in the documents. Trump has denied prior knowledge of criminal activity.

The former president has previously dismissed aspects of the Epstein controversy as politically motivated and has described allegations against him contained in some files as false.

Political impact

The issue has become a significant political flashpoint in the United States, with Republicans accusing Democrats of exploiting the files for partisan purposes, while Democrats argue that powerful individuals connected to Epstein have avoided accountability.

With further disclosures expected, the political ramifications — including potential implications for the upcoming US election cycle — remain uncertain.

Former UK ambassador questioned over alleged links to Jeffrey Epstein as political pressure mounts

FORMER Labour cabinet minister Lord Peter Mandelson has been arrested after police searched two of his homes as part of an investigation into alleged misconduct in public office.

The 72-year-old, who previously served as the UK’s ambassador to the United States, is accused of leaking sensitive government information to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Officers were seen at one of his properties earlier this month, and he was later taken from his London home in an unmarked police vehicle.

His arrest comes only days after Prince Andrew was detained on suspicion of similar offences, with police also carrying out extensive searches of his residences, including Royal Lodge, over an eleven-hour period. Investigators are now expected to examine electronic devices seized during the operations, including phones and computers.

The Metropolitan Police previously confirmed that warrants were executed at addresses in Camden and Wiltshire in connection with an ongoing investigation involving a 72-year-old man suspected of misconduct in public office.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Hayley Sewart said officers from the Met’s Central Specialist Crime team were leading the inquiry.

The allegations relate to documents reportedly contained within files linked to Epstein, which appear to suggest Mandelson shared confidential or market-sensitive government information during his time in office. The extent of his association with Epstein has become a major political controversy, raising questions about vetting and judgement at the highest levels of government.

The situation has also created significant political pressure on the Prime Minister, who had appointed Mandelson to the ambassadorial role last year. Downing Street has since been forced to release thousands of emails and messages relating to the appointment, with officials continuing to review the correspondence.

Several MPs have publicly criticised the decision to appoint Mandelson, with some calling for senior figures within government to take responsibility for what they describe as a serious lapse in judgement.

Police have not yet confirmed whether any charges will follow.

PEMBROKESHIRE’S most famous unexplained event — the 1977 Broad Haven UFO incident — could attract renewed attention after US President Donald Trump said he would direct American agencies to begin identifying and releasing government files related to extraterrestrial life and UFO sightings.

In a statement on social media, Trump said he would order departments, including the Pentagon, to start “the process of identifying and releasing” files connected to alien life, unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP), and UFOs, citing what he described as “tremendous interest” from the public.

His comments came hours after he told reporters he was unsure whether aliens were real, saying: “Well, I don’t know if they’re real or not.” He also criticised remarks made by former President Barack Obama during a podcast interview, which sparked global headlines about the possibility of life beyond Earth.

The development has particular relevance for Pembrokeshire because of the Broad Haven incident’s proximity to the former military installation at RAF Brawdy, located just a few miles away. At the time of the sightings, the base hosted both RAF operations and United States Navy personnel, raising the possibility that any unusual aerial activity could have been documented and classified by the US military.

The 1977 case involved schoolchildren and adults who reported seeing a silver, cigar-shaped craft and strange humanoid figures near fields close to Broad Haven Primary School. The sightings later became part of a wider wave of reports across west Wales, sometimes referred to as the “Welsh Triangle.”

Although some UK Ministry of Defence UFO files have been released over the years, no definitive explanation for the Broad Haven sightings was ever provided. Because of the US military presence at RAF Brawdy, there remains the possibility that relevant records could exist in American archives rather than British ones.

However, previous US government reports, including a Pentagon assessment in 2024, stated there was no evidence that the United States had encountered extraterrestrial life, and that most UFO sightings were likely ordinary objects or misidentified phenomena.

Any future disclosures would therefore be closely watched by researchers and residents in west Wales alike, particularly given the historical Cold War connections to Pembrokeshire.