Many individuals, myself included, fell for that heartfelt story that Trump went to Epstein Island to save Virginia Giuffre from the wretched clutches of Epstein and Maxwell at the request of her father, a migrant worker at Mar A Lago who got Virginia a job working in the locker rooms. Many continue to believe that story, either out of a lack of being informed of what really happened between Epstein and Trump, or that optimism will win out over pessimism and it'll be found he's capable of being heartfelt in a response.
How many though, would have thought twice about voting for him if they had known the truth. If they had known the truth, it would have lead to a level of distrust at the time he couldn't take a chance on. For if a man could stab a decades long friend in the back over his own financial failures, what does that say to instill your trust toward him. I think many are pondering that exact question right now, his level of trustworthiness, but it's never to late to know the truth when calculating someone's trustworthiness.
In 2001, Abe Gosman, the owner of the property in Palm Beach, in which Trump later said they had a falling out about, Gosman filed a chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization. Gosman bought the property from Les Wexner, a billionaire and owner of Victoria Secrets whom Epstein did accounting work for. When Epstein got wind of the bankruptcy filing, he approached Gosman if they could work out a deal for Epstein to buy the property if he ended up having to sell it during the reorganization. Gosman wanted to sell it to someone who'd keep it in its present state, Epstein wanting to live there, he made a deal for Epstein to have first dibs on the property. Somewhere along the line, Epstein took Trump to the property to get his advice on where to relocate the pool. In 2003, the chapter 11 went to chapter 7, where all assets would go up for bidding. Trump, being in financial trouble, saw that as an opportunity to bid against Epstein for the property, that would generate income to save his empire.
On November 21, 2004, Trump Hotels and Casino Resorts, The Trump Taj Mahal and two dozen other affiliated Trump companies file for bankruptcy in New Jersey. On November 30, 2004, Trump outbids Epstein for the property.
From the US Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware.
On November 21, 2004, Trump Entertainment Resorts predecessor entity, Trump Hotels and Casino Resorts, Inc., together with 28 affiliates and subsidiaries, (collectively, the 2004 debtors), filed voluntary chapter 11 petitions in the USBC for the district of New Jersey. (case 04-46898) (JHW) (the "2004 chapter 11 cases")
On April 5, 2005, the BC entered an order confirming a chapter 11 plan of reorganization with respect to the 2004 Debtors, and May 20, 2005, the plan became effective.
In 2008, Trump sells the property to Dmitry Rybolovlev for $95 million.
On March 17, 2009, the BC court issued its final decree and order closing the 2004 chapter 11 cases.
Consequently, on February 17, 2009, TER and its direct and indirect subsidiaries (collectively the 2009 debtors) filed voluntary chapter 11 petitions in the USBC for the district of New Jersey (case no. 09-13654 (JHW) (the "2009 cases")
On May 7, 2010, the BC entered an order (the "2010 confirmation order") confirming a chapter 11 plan of reorganization with respects to 2009 debtors (the "2020 plan") and on July 16, 2010, the 2010 plan becomes effective.
On January 10, 2012, the BC issued it's final decree order closing the 2009 cases.
Trump was in financial dire straits, this is why he bested his best friend of decades over the property.