Note: This was originally written on September 11, 2020, and was updated in March 2024 for improved accuracy. It's important to note that during the update, no new details occurring after the original date of September 11, 2020, were added.
As of September 11, 2020, several associates of Donald J. Trump have faced legal charges. News reports state that over 40 individuals with ties to Trump have been indicted or convicted of various offenses.
The charges involve an array of alleged crimes, including financial misconduct, campaign finance violations, lying under oath, and other offenses. Some of those charged or convicted have been described in media as Trump’s close friends or allies.
Additional coverage has focused on connections between some Trump associates and illegal or unethical conduct related to minors. However, the specifics and veracity of such allegations require thorough investigation before making definitive statements.
Moving forward, it will be important to allow due process to take its course and gather further facts on these cases. There may also be opportunities for bipartisan cooperation on policy improvements related to preventing future ethical breaches and protecting vulnerable groups from harm. Overall, fairness and understanding are essential when discussing sensitive issues that impact many lives.
With that said…
The president has referred to some individuals as “my best people.” At least 44 of those closely associated with him have faced legal repercussions, including convictions and indictments for serious crimes. Many of these cases involve deeply troubling acts such as sex trafficking and harming children. There is evidence that even more individuals near the president have actually faced consequences that have not received public attention. Ultimately, the pattern of criminality among the president’s associates raises concerning questions.
When his old friend Jeffery Epstein was caught, Trump never celebrated. And when his old friend Ghislaine Maxwell was caught, the news pressured Trump for a comment. The best response he could give was, “She’s a very nice lady, we go way back”… and “I wish her well.”
Trump pledged to “Drain the Swamp,” but facts suggest otherwise regarding the Epstein and Maxwell case.
Trump did not order Epstein’s arrest, though he wished Ghislaine Maxwell well after hers. Attorney General Barr had Epstein removed from suicide watch before his death in federal prison. Suspicions remain about motives and relationships:
- Barr’s father involved Epstein at Dalton School, then left after Epstein’s firing.
- A pending lawsuit alleges Trump and Epstein assaulted a minor. An employee corroborates.
- Mar-a-Lago was an alleged recruitment site.
- Barr’s firm represented Epstein in 2008.
- Alex Acosta, former Labor Secretary, gave Epstein a lenient 2008 plea deal, shielding alleged co-conspirators.
- Barr briefly recused himself from the Epstein case.
- Prison experts questioned Epstein’s removal from suicide watch.
- Trump’s defense team included Dershowitz and former Epstein lawyers.
- Anonymous sources accuse Trump of assault and having Epstein killed.
- Barr fired a prosecutor investigating Epstein ties in June 2020.
- A lawsuit alleges Epstein took a 14 year old girl to meet Trump to get his blessing.
- Questions surround Trump’s conduct with minors, including family.
The facts merit further investigation, wherever they may lead.
This list was originally was posted by /u/WE_HATE_YOU. I have added all the source links.
Republican Ralph Shortey, a former Oklahoma state senator, Trump’s Oklahoma campaign chair to plead guilt to child sex trafficking
Republican Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert was indicted on federal charges of structuring bank withdrawals after prosecutors alleged Hastert had molested at least four boys as young as 14 and attempted to compensate his victims and subsequently conceal the transactions. Hastert eventually admitted that he sexually abused the boys whom he had coached decades earlier, and was sentenced to fifteen months in prison.
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/18/us/dennis-hastert-released.html
Republican Tim Nolan, chairman of Donald Trump’s presidential campaign in Kentucky, pled guilty to child sex trafficking and on February 11, 2018 he was sentenced to serve 20 years in prison.
Republican state Senator Ralph Shortey was indicted on four counts of human trafficking and child pornography. In November 2017, he pleaded guilty to one count of child sex trafficking in exchange for the dropping of the other charges.
Republican Minnesota State Representative Jim Knoblach Drops Out Of Race After Daughter Says He Molested Her For More Than Ten Years 22 Sep 2018
Republican anti-abortion activist Howard Scott Heldreth is a convicted child rapist in Florida.
https://offender.fdle.state.fl.us/offender/sops/flyer.jsf?personId=28587
Republican County Commissioner David Swartz pleaded guilty to molesting two girls under the age of 11 and was sentenced to 8 years in prison.
Republican judge Mark Pazuhanich pleaded no contest to fondling a 10-year old girl and was sentenced to 10 years probation.
http://www.poconorecord.com/article/20120426/NEWS90/204260334
Republican legislator Edison Misla Aldarondo was sentenced to 10 years in prison for raping his daughter between the ages of 9 and 17.
Republican Mayor Philip Giordano is serving a 37-year sentence in federal prison for sexually abusing 8- and 10-year old girls.
Republican campaign consultant Tom Shortridge was sentenced to three years probation for taking nude photographs of a 15-year old girl.
http://archive.easyreadernews.com/archives/news2001/0621/rb%20Shortridge.php
Republican Senator Strom Thurmond, a notable racist, had sex with a 15-year old black girl which produced a child.
Republican pastor Mike Hintz, whom George W. Bush commended during the 2004 presidential campaign, surrendered to police after admitting to a sexual affair with a female juvenile.
https://www.nwprogressive.org/weblog/2008/10/republicans-sex-offender-fetish.html
Republican legislator Peter Dibble pleaded no contest to having an inappropriate relationship with a 13-year-old girl.
https://www.nytimes.com/2004/04/18/nyregion/embroiled-first-selectman-takes-leave.html
Republican Congressman Donald “Buz” Lukens was found guilty of having sex with a female minor and sentenced to one month in jail.
https://www.nytimes.com/1989/05/25/us/teen-ager-in-ohio-testifies-to-sex-with-a-congressman.html
Republican fundraiser Richard A. Delgaudio was found guilty of child porn charges and paying two teenage girls to pose for sexual photos.
Republican activist Mark A. Grethen convicted on six counts of sex crimes involving children.
Republican activist Randal David Ankeney pleaded guilty to attempted sexual assault on a child.
Republican Congressman Dan Crane had sex with a female minor working as a congressional page.
Republican activist and Christian Coalition leader Beverly Russell admitted to an incestuous relationship with his step daughter.
https://www.nytimes.com/1995/08/02/opinion/journal-beverly-russell-s-prayers.html
Republican congressman and anti-gay activist Robert Bauman was charged with having sex with a 16-year-old boy he picked up at a gay bar.
Republican Committee Chairman Jeffrey Patti was arrested for distributing a video clip of a 5-year-old girl being raped.
Republican activist Marty Glickman (a.k.a. “Republican Marty”), was taken into custody by Florida police on four counts of unlawful sexual activity with an underage girl and one count of delivering the drug LSD.
Republican legislative aide Howard L. Brooks was charged with molesting a 12-year old boy and possession of child pornography.
https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-aug-20-me-brooks20-story.html
Republican Senate candidate John Hathaway was accused of having sex with his 12-year old baby sitter and withdrew his candidacy after the allegations were reported in the media.
Republican preacher Stephen White, who demanded a return to traditional values, was sentenced to jail after offering $20 to a 14-year-old boy for permission to perform oral sex on him.
http://www.thedp.com/article/2004/01/brother_stephen_convicted_of_soliciting_sex
Republican talk show host Jon Matthews pleaded guilty to exposing his genitals to an 11 year old girl.
Republican anti-gay activist Earl “Butch” Kimmerling was sentenced to 40 years in prison for molesting an 8-year old girl after he attempted to stop a gay couple from adopting her.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2000-02-10-0002100308-story.html
Republican Party leader Paul Ingram pleaded guilty to six counts of raping his daughters and served 14 years in federal prison.
Republican election board official Kevin Coan was sentenced to two years probation for soliciting sex over the internet from a 14-year old girl.
Republican politician Andrew Buhr was charged with two counts of first degree sodomy with a 13-year old boy.
Republican politician Keith Westmoreland was arrested on seven felony counts of lewd and lascivious exhibition to girls under the age of 16 (i.e. exposing himself to children).
http://www.chattanoogan.com/2002/6/21/23202/Tennessee-Legislator-Commits-Suicide.aspx
Republican anti-abortion activist John Allen Burt was charged with sexual misconduct involving a 15-year old girl.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Burt_(anti-abortion_activist)
Republican County Councilman Keola Childs pleaded guilty to molesting a male child.
http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2007/Oct/08/ln/hawaii710080338.html
Republican activist John Butler was charged with criminal sexual assault on a teenage girl.
https://caselaw.findlaw.com/il-court-of-appeals/1113050.html
Republican candidate Richard Gardner admitted to molesting his two daughters.
https://lasvegassun.com/news/2002/oct/14/assembly-candidate-gardner-ruled-ineligible-due-to/
Republican County Commissioner Merrill Robert Barter pleaded guilty to unlawful sexual contact and assault on a teenage boy.
Republican City Councilman Fred C. Smeltzer, Jr. pleaded no contest to raping a 15 year-old girl and served 6-months in prison.
https://www.wgal.com/article/council-accepts-resignation-of-member-imprisoned-for-rape/6189408
Republican activist Parker J. Bena pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography on his home computer and was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison and fined $18,000.
http://www.salem-news.com/articles/october172007/repub_scandals_10_17_07.php
Republican parole board officer and former Colorado state representative, Larry Jack Schwarz, was fired after child pornography was found in his possession.
Republican strategist and Citadel Military College graduate Robin Vanderwall was convicted in Virginia on five counts of soliciting sex from boys and girls over the internet.
Republican city councilman Mark Harris, who is described as a “good military man” and “church goer,” was convicted of repeatedly having sex with an 11-year-old girl and sentenced to 12 years in prison.
Republican businessman Jon Grunseth withdrew his candidacy for Minnesota governor after allegations surfaced that he went swimming in the nude with four underage girls, including his daughter.
http://articles.latimes.com/1990-10-15/news/mn-2056_1_girls-candidate-accused
Republican director of the “Young Republican Federation” Nicholas Elizondo molested his 6-year old daughter and was sentenced to six years in prison.
https://bakersfieldnow.com/news/local/registered-sex-offender-keeps-custody-of-daughter
Republican benefactor of conservative Christian groups, Richard A. Dasen Sr., was charged with rape for allegedly paying a 15-year old girl for sex. Dasen, 62, who is married with grown children and several grandchildren, has allegedly told police that over the past decade he paid more than $1 million to have sex with a large number of young women.
But, wait! There’s more!
George Nader, an informal adviser to Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign who testified in the Mueller probe pleaded guilty on January 13, 2020 to charges of child sex trafficking and possessing child pornography.
Nader was first charged in June 2019 with transporting and possessing pornographic images of children including some featuring toddler-age boys, baby goats and other farm animals. A month later in July, prosecutors added a sex-trafficking charge, saying Nader had arranged the transport to his Washington home of a 14-year-old boy from the Czech Republic in February 2000.
Nader allegedly held onto the child’s passport after flying him through Dulles International Airport. Once at his residence, he assaulted him nightly and kept the child silent by threatening him and his mother with imprisonment should they ever attempt to report him, according to the indictment.
https://www.courthousenews.com/trump-campaign-adviser-pleads-guilty-to-child-porn-sex-trafficking/
Trump has MANY accusations of rape. Do you really think they are all wrong when you consider Trump’s closest friends and his own demeanor? I mean seriously, we are talking about the guy that was on recording saying he likes to “grab them by the pussy” …referring to models backstage.
Then there is the porn star he slept with and then paid off before spending millions of dollars to hide his tax returns so that he can hid that fact.
Here are just a few of Trumps accusers…. (there are more).
Multiple women have accused President Trump of sexual misconduct over the years. Details on these allegations can be found at the linked article. https://www.businessinsider.com/women-accused-trump-sexual-misconduct-list-2017-12#jessica-leeds-1
Some comments Mr. Trump has made regarding his daughter have been criticized as inappropriate. During a 2006 TV appearance, when asked how he would react if she posed for an adult magazine, he responded positively about her appearance, saying “I’ve said that if Ivanka weren’t my daughter, perhaps I would be dating her.” The show’s co-host understandably expressed dismay at the remark.
In another alleged incident, Mr. Trump reportedly asked a columnist if it was acceptable to be more attracted to one’s daughter versus one’s wife. Most would view such a question as highly inappropriate.
Columist Richard Cohen reportedly claimed in a draft for a Washington Post op-ed published in November 2016 that Donald Trump once allegedly asked him, “Is it wrong to be more sexually attracted to your own daughter than your wife?”
The line was reportedly edited out and never published, but was allegedly in reference to Ivanka, who was 13 at the time.
Trump joked on Wendy Williams’ talk show about how he and his daughter both liked sex.
In 2013, talk show host Wendy Williams played a game with Donald and Ivanka, asking them what favorite activities they had in common. Ivanka said, “Either real estate or golf.” Donald grinned and said, “Well, I was going to say sex, but I can’t relate that to her,” prompting groans from the audience.
Trump awkwardly touched Ivanka’s hips at the Republican National Convention in 2016.
Ivanka introduced her father at the 2016 Republican National Convention (RNC), and when he came on stage, he awkwardly kissed and touched her.
This one isn’t a quote, per se, but it’s very much in line with Trump’s brand of creepy.
In 2013, when Wendy Williams asked Donald and Ivanka Trump to share interests they had in common, Ivanka mentioned, “Either real estate or golf.” Donald humorously responded, “Well, I was going to say sex, but I can’t relate that to her,” which led to groans from the audience.
Trump’s interaction with Ivanka at the 2016 Republican National Convention raised eyebrows.
This incident aligns with Trump’s controversial behavior. After Ivanka introduced her father at the convention, he greeted her on stage with an awkward kiss and touch, prompting discussions.
Trump allegedly compared two alleged mistresses to Ivanka.
Trump is said to have compared two women he was allegedly involved with to his daughter Ivanka. In an interview from 2011 that only became public in 2018, Stormy Daniels shared that Trump once complimented her by saying she was as “beautiful and smart” as his daughter. Daniels believed he was talking about Ivanka because his other daughter, Tiffany, would have been around 13 at the time in 2006.
In another instance, during a CNN interview with Anderson Cooper on March 22, former Playboy model Karen McDougal spoke about her supposed affair with Trump that occurred more than ten years ago. McDougal claimed that Trump praised her by saying she was “beautiful like her,” apparently referring to Ivanka as well.
Trump once told Howard Stern it was OK to refer to Ivanka as “a piece of ass.”
Trump once approved Howard Stern’s use of the phrase “a piece of ass” to describe Ivanka. In a 2004 interview with Howard Stern, Trump agreed that it was acceptable for Stern to call Ivanka “a piece of ass.”
In a separate 2006 clip uncovered by CNN, Stern questioned Trump, “Did your daughter get breast implants?”
Trump responded, “No, she didn’t. I mean, I would know if she did. The answer is no. Why? Did she look a bit more full?”
“She seems more voluptuous than before,” Stern remarked.
“No, she didn’t get them,” Trump clarified. “She’s actually always been very voluptuous … She’s tall, she’s almost 6 feet tall and she’s been, she’s an amazing beauty.”
Trump said he likes it when Ivanka calls him “daddy.”
Trump mentioned he enjoys being called “daddy” by Ivanka. During a rally in North Dakota in September 2017, he invited Ivanka on stage and shared that he appreciates it when his daughter, who is a senior White House adviser, refers to him as “daddy.”
“Come on up, honey,” the president said, inviting his 36-year-old daughter to the stage, mentioning it was her suggestion to accompany him at the rally.
“She asked, ‘Dad, can I go with you?'” Trump recounted. “Actually, she said, ‘Daddy, can I go with you?’ I like that. ‘Daddy, can I go with you?’ I told her, ‘Yes, you can.'”
“If I weren’t happily married and, ya know, her father … “
In a September 2015 interview with Rolling Stone reporter Paul Solotaroff, Trump made an unsettling comment regarding Ivanka’s beauty, saying, “Yeah, she’s really something, and what a beauty, that one. If I weren’t happily married and, you know, her father…”
I wish Solotaroff had pressed him for clarification with a, “No, I don’t know. Could you explain?”
This comment adds to a growing list of concerns that many of Trump’s supporters seem willing to overlook. The pattern is hard to ignore, suggesting a proverbial saying, “Birds of a feather flock together.”
Consider this: if your child had over 44 of their friends and associates sent to prison in the last four years for severe crimes like sex trafficking and child abuse, wouldn’t you question their judgment in people?
Yet, astonishingly, some are deflecting these glaring issues onto Trump’s political opponent, Joe Biden, accusing him of the very misdeeds linked to Trump, but without any supporting evidence.
It’s staggering. It’s as if a right-wing extremist group is somewhere celebrating their ability to conduct the most significant propaganda campaign since World War II.
Speaking of which, this is a good article explaining how some of this happens…