Jeffrey Epstein Discussed Trump in Emails Released by Congress

Democrats in Congress released three emails this morning in which Jeffrey Epstein, the convicted sex offender, suggested that President Trump knew more about his abuse than Trump has acknowledged. In one of the messages, which you can read here, Epstein wrote that Trump had “spent hours at my house” with one of Epstein’s victims.

House Republicans responded about two hours later by releasing the rest of the material Congress had obtained from the Epstein estate — roughly 20,000 documents in all — and condemned Democrats for cherry-picking emails that mentioned Trump. My colleagues and I spent much of the day reviewing the trove. We’re updating what we’ve learned so far here.

The trove of Epstein emails includes several references to Trump, including one in which Epstein described the president as “borderline insane.” In another, he asserted that Trump “knew about the girls,” many of whom were later found by investigators to have been underage. Many of the other emails were innocuous.

Trump has emphatically denied any involvement in or knowledge of Epstein’s sex-trafficking operation. He has said that he and Epstein, the disgraced financier who died by suicide in federal prison in 2019, were once friendly but had a falling out. He accused Democrats of releasing the emails to distract from the government shutdown.

The House returned to reopen the government

Members of the House of Representatives returned to Washington today for their first session in 54 days. They are tasked with approving a Senate bill to end the longest government shutdown in American history. The vote is likely to be tight, but the chamber’s Republican leadership is expected to get it passed.

Democrats are still fighting over the deal that a small group of them made to end the shutdown. Many in the party are unhappy that they were unable to secure the extension of Affordable Care Act subsidies, but some believe the fight effectively highlighted issues like health care and food aid that could benefit them come election time.

Today, the penny died

The American penny, which came to life 232 years ago under the oversight of Alexander Hamilton, was officially retired this afternoon. The final pennies, minted in front of top Treasury officials in Philadelphia, each cost some 3 cents to make — a financial absurdity that doomed the coin.

Fear not, the penny will not vanish just yet. There are still roughly 250 billion of them in circulation, and they are very, very rarely used to help pay for something.

Michelle Obama’s photo book isn’t just a coffee table tome

On its surface, Michelle Obama’s new book, “The Look,” provides her fans with a chance to flip through photos of her most memorable outfits as first lady. But our fashion critic, Vanessa Friedman, sees it instead as a historical document.

The book, Vanessa writes, captures a pivotal moment in the evolution of the role of first lady when clothing became an even bigger part of communication. For the first first lady with a stylist on the East Wing payroll, fashion was no longer just fashion; it was a vehicle of soft political power.

Spain’s biggest bullfighting star hung up his cape

When José Antonio Morante Camacho announced his retirement last month, the world of bullfighting lost its biggest star. Known across the Spanish-speaking world as Morante de la Puebla, he was considered a legend of the ring, beloved for his artistry, courage and imagination.

Even the Spaniards who wanted to ban bullfighting often appreciated Morante, 46, for his bravery in publicly wrestling with mental health problems.

Is it possible to have too many books?

The Upper East Side home of the designer Peter-Ayers Tarantino is just 1,100 square feet. But he has managed to find enough room for more than 4,500 books. Volumes on design are neatly stacked all over the sitting room; novels and nonfiction surround his bed, filling in as side tables; and bookshelves are everywhere.

Is it too many books for the space? I don’t think so. Take a look at pictures from Tarantino’s home and see how his overflowing library is part of a maximalist aesthetic that he formed during his life on the road.

Have an expansive evening.

Thanks for reading. I’ll be back tomorrow. — Matthew

Philip Pacheco was our photo editor.

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