Latest Epstein documents reveal Trump’s flights on the financier’s jet and a fake letter, as the DOJ disputes “untrue” allegations.
WASHINGTON: A new batch of Jeffrey Epstein files released on Tuesday contains multiple references to former US President Donald Trump.
The documents detail flights Trump took on Epstein’s private jet and include claims the Justice Department labelled “untrue and sensationalist.”
This latest release contains thousands of previously unseen pages from the investigation into the financier, who died in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial for sex trafficking.
Trump features prominently in the files, underscoring his past close ties to the convicted sex offender.
The Justice Department issued a statement defending the 78-year-old Republican shortly after the release.
It stated some documents “contain untrue and sensationalist claims made against President Trump.”
Trump, who is not accused of any wrongdoing, had long fought to prevent the documents’ release.
Political pressure ultimately forced the disclosure under a new law.
Trump said on Monday he disapproved of the file dumps, worrying about reputational damage to those who “innocently met” Epstein.
“Everybody was friendly with this guy,” he remarked.
The documents include a 2020 prosecutor’s note detailing eight trips Trump took on Epstein’s jet between 1993 and 1996.
“Records we received yesterday reflect that Donald Trump traveled on Epstein’s private jet many more times than previously has been reported,” the note states.
One flight reportedly had just three passengers: Epstein, Trump and an unidentified 20-year-old.
A handwritten letter in the files, purportedly from Epstein to disgraced doctor Larry Nassar, contained vulgar claims about Trump.
The Justice Department swiftly declared this letter a fake, confirmed by the FBI.
It noted the letter was postmarked after Epstein’s death and entered the mail system in Virginia, not New York where he was jailed.
Critics argue the government continues to slow-walk the release of embarrassing material.
At least two emails in the cache mention 10 unidentified “co-conspirators” of Epstein.
Democratic Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called for the Justice Department to investigate potential accomplices.
“The Department of Justice needs to shed more light on who was on the list, how they were involved, and why they chose not to prosecute,” Schumer said.
Epstein’s former girlfriend, Ghislaine Maxwell, remains the only person convicted in connection with his crimes.
