Reappearance of Trump and Epstein Statue Amid Controversy Over Released Emails

A 3.6-meter statue depicting US President Donald Trump and the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein holding hands reappeared in Washington on Thursday. This comes a day after a controversy erupted over the 20,000 documents released by Congress, in which Epstein alleges that the president was aware of his crimes and had spent "hours" with one of the victims.

After being removed twice by federal authorities in the US capital, the artwork, created by the collective The Secret Handshake, was positioned in front of the Busboys and Poets restaurant on U Street.

The reappearance coincides with renewed scrutiny of the ties between Trump and Epstein, following the House Oversight Committee's publication of tens of thousands of messages from the financier's estate. These included exchanges with his accomplice, Ghislaine Maxwell, in which the president is mentioned by name.

Trump is not listed as a sender or recipient in these emails. However, Epstein stated in the files that the president is "a dog that doesn't bite," making it known that he was aware of his crimes and had additionally spent "hours" with one of the victims at his property.

The artists who created the installation told US media that they aim to make an "unexpected greeting," capitalizing on the national impact the sculpture had when it was removed from the vicinity of the Capitol in September for allegedly failing to meet the permit requirements granted by the Department of the Interior.

Official Dismissal of the Revelations

The government and Trump himself have downplayed the revelations, labeling them a "hoax," while Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt asserted that it is a "setup" driven by political opponents to divert attention from the president's accomplishments.