Washington: A fresh batch of documents related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, released by the U.S. Department of Justice on Tuesday, reveals that former President Donald Trump flew on Epstein’s private jet several times in the 1990s, contradicting previous public statements. However, the Justice Department has strongly dismissed allegations of any criminal wrongdoing by Trump, calling the claims unfounded and politically motivated.
The files include an email from an unidentified New York prosecutor dated January 7, 2020, which indicates that Trump flew on Epstein’s plane at least eight times during the 1990s. On at least four of these flights, Epstein’s associate Ghislaine Maxwell—currently serving a 20-year prison sentence for her role in Epstein’s sexual abuse ring—was also present.
One flight documented in the records had only Epstein, Trump, and a 20-year-old woman as passengers, while other trips included women identified as potential witnesses in Maxwell’s case. The documents offer no accusation that Trump committed any crime during these flights.
Trump, who knew Epstein socially during the 1990s and early 2000s, has repeatedly denied any involvement in Epstein’s criminal activities. In a social media post from 2024, he claimed he was “never on Epstein’s Plane, or at his ‘stupid’ Island.” Trump maintains their relationship ended by the mid-2000s and insists he was unaware of Epstein’s abuse.
The Justice Department clarified in a statement on X (formerly Twitter) that the documents contain “untrue and sensationalist claims” submitted to the FBI before the 2020 presidential election. The department emphasized that the allegations lack credibility and would have been used against Trump politically if they had merit. Nonetheless, the DOJ is releasing the documents to fulfill legal transparency obligations, while protecting the privacy of Epstein’s victims.
The release, consisting of approximately 30,000 pages with numerous redactions and video clips, also includes a grainy photograph of Trump sitting next to Maxwell at a 2000 New York fashion show, as well as references to Trump in various other reports, none of which have been deemed credible by authorities.
Some materials include unverified allegations, such as a claim from an anonymous caller who stated he overheard Trump discussing “abusing a girl” during a 1995 phone call. The DOJ has not confirmed the authenticity or relevance of such tips.
Additionally, the documents feature a video purported to show Epstein in his jail cell prior to his death. However, experts have identified it as likely a computer-generated image that first appeared on social media in 2020.
The recent disclosures come after Congress passed a law mandating the full release of Epstein-related files, overriding Trump’s efforts to keep them sealed. The law aims to provide transparency on a topic that has attracted intense political and public scrutiny.
While Republicans have criticized the extensive redactions in the released documents, Trump downplayed the significance of the revelations, stating they were attempts to “deflect against tremendous success” by him and his party.
Kentucky Republican Representative Thomas Massie, who helped push the transparency law, rebuked Trump for blaming the legislation he signed and accused officials of attempting to withhold critical information.
Jeffrey Epstein died in a New York jail in 2019, with his death officially ruled a suicide. The continuing release of documents related to his case keeps the spotlight on his network and the political implications tied to it.
