The friendship between Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein, the billionaire pedophile now facing charges of child sex trafficking, was cemented by accounts from a Florida businessman that the president had him fly in 28 models to put on a private show for just Trump and Epstein.

In an interview Monday, George Houraney, a Florida businessman, detailed how Trump instructed him to organize a “calendar girl” competition party at Mar-a-Lago where the only guests were Trump and Epstein.

“I arranged to have some contestants fly in,” Houraney recalled in an interview on Monday. “At the very first party, I said, ‘Who’s coming tonight? I have 28 girls coming.’ It was him and Epstein.” He recalled being surprised, stating, “I said, ‘Donald, this is supposed to be a party with V.I.P.s. You’re telling me it’s you and Epstein?’” The exclusive party was a clear indicator that Trump and Epstein were closer than the president is now trying to claim.

Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office on Tuesday, Trump acknowledged that he had once known Epstein, but attempted to downplay their relationship and distance himself from the scandal now surrounding the billionaire. Trump said he “knew [Epstein] like everybody in Palm Beach knew him.” He then added, “I had a falling out with him. I haven’t spoken to him in 15 years. I was not a fan of his, that I can tell you.”

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Epstein and Trump did have a falling out some time ago, with their relationship turning so toxic that at one point Epstein complained to his friends that he blamed Trump for his problems with the Palm Beach County police. Trump also banned Epstein from his Mar-a-Lago beach club when the billionaire was first accused of sexual assault.

In the years since the 2016 election, Epstein has attempted to play up his connection to Trump, saying that he was the one who introduced the president to his current wife Melania. Neither members of the Trump couple have ever included the billionaire when recounting how they met, always stating that Trump had asked for his future wife’s phone number at a party.

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