相次ぐ報道、司法省の動き……トランプ氏につきまとい続けるエプスティーン元被告の影
Things Donald Trump would probably rather forget. His second wedding to Mara Maples and inviting Jeffrey Epstein as a guest, seen in the background of this photo that’s just surfaced amid the furori over the Epstein files. The decision not to release all the government files on his former friend has become a burgeoning political problem. The latest bombshell is a Wall Street Journal report that President Trump was told months ago that his name is in the Epstein files. Last week, he specifically denied his attorney general had told him he was mentioned in the documents. Specifically, did she tell you at all that your name appeared in the f in? No, no, she’s uh she’s given us just a very quick briefing. It is well known that he used to socialize with Jeffrey Epstein and being named in the Epstein documents doesn’t denote any kind of wrongdoing. But reports that he was briefed about the mention of his name before the decision not to release the documents will deepen suspicion among his own supporters that there’s some kind of cover up in Congress. Republicans as well as Democrats are demanding transparency. Look, I’m I’m where I’ve been every time y’all ask me this question. Release the damn files. What else? But are you concerned the president may have stopped the release of files because he could have been embarrassed? Well, I heard the president say as recently as this week that he thought the DOJ should release whatever files they have. I agree with the president. Gileain Maxwell, Epstein’s former associate, is serving 20 years for helping him abuse young women. Hi everybody. Today she and her lawyer met the deputy attorney general who apparently had much he wanted to know. He took a full day and asked a lot of questions and Miss Maxwell answered every single question. She never stopped. Uh she never invoked a privilege. She never declined to answer. She answered all the questions truthfully, honestly, and to the best of her ability. Donald Trump cannot seem to avoid questions about Jeffrey Epstein. [Music] His name comes up at cabinet meetings. Are you still talking about Jeffrey Epstein? Even in the Oval Office, I call it the Epstein hoax. Takes a lot of time and effort instead of talking about the great achievements we’ve had. President Trump just cannot seem to escape this Epstein saga, which could all have been avoided if he had just released the files or never previously suggested that he would do so. Sarah Smith, BBC News, Washington.
アメリカで、性犯罪者として登録されていた資産家ジェフリー・エプスティーン元被告（故人）に関連する資料の公開を求める声が、ドナルド・トランプ大統領の支持者を含む一般市民や議員の間で高まっている。
米紙ウォール・ストリート・ジャーナルは23日、パム・ボンディ司法長官が今年5月の定例ブリーフィンクでトランプ氏に、同氏の名前がエプスティーン元被告の関連資料に記載されていると報告していたと報じた。
ホワイトハウスは「フェイクニュースだ」として、この報道内容を否定している。
トランプ氏とエプスティーン元被告の交流は前から知られていた。元被告の関連資料に名前が出てくることは、不正行為を犯したことの証拠にはならない。トランプ氏はこれまで、元被告の事件に絡み、不正行為に問われたことはない。
こうしたなか、米司法省の高官は24日、エプスティーン元被告の長年の協力者だった、ギレイン・マックスウェル受刑者と面会。エプスティーン元被告の事件をめぐる当局の動きは、今後も続くと予想される。
サラ・スミス北米特派員が報告する。
BBCニュースサイトの記事はこちら。
https://www.bbc.com/japanese/articles/c0l4l90knggo
YouTubeのBBCチャンネル登録はこちらから。http://goo.gl/tYDMwU
BBCニュースの日本語ツイッターはこちらから。https://twitter.com/bbcnewsjapan