The defense
“He was never charged with anything.”
Strong evidenceWhat the record shows
Criminal charges require a prosecutor willing to file them. Epstein's own 2008 plea deal — widely condemned as corrupt — shielded many associates. The E. Jean Carroll case DID go to a federal jury, which unanimously found Trump liable for sexual abuse. The judge clarified this constituted rape by common definition. Civil and criminal courts use different standards of proof, but a jury of 9 evaluated the evidence and ruled against Trump. He presented no defense. The appeals court upheld the verdict.
Last updated November 3, 2026
Other common defenses
- “The allegations are unverified — just accusations.”
- “He banned Epstein from Mar-a-Lago.”
- “He cooperated with investigators.”
- “The DOJ said the claims against Trump are false.”
- “Democrats are just using this to attack him.”
- “The Carroll case was thrown out / is still being appealed.”
- “Why didn't Carroll report it at the time?”
- “Where can I read the Epstein files?”
- “The Epstein files didn't prove anything about Trump.”
- “A jury didn't specifically find him guilty of rape.”