Newly released Justice Department documents reveal striking information about President Donald Trump’s travel on the private jet of the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The files describe several flights from the 1990s and note that one trip included Trump, Epstein, and an unnamed 20-year-old woman.
The Justice Department released thousands of pages of Epstein-related records on Monday as part of a court-ordered disclosure. Officials had briefly removed the documents before reposting them on Tuesday.
Highlights
- DOJ documents reveal Trump flew on Epstein’s private jet at least eight times between 1993 and 1996, sometimes with Ghislaine Maxwell aboard.
- One flight included Trump, Epstein, and an unnamed 20-year-old woman, raising questions about the nature of their travel.
- DOJ released nearly 30,000 pages of Epstein files, warning some contain false claims against Trump submitted before the 2020 election.
Newly released DOJ documents describe that Trump and Epstein were on the latter's private jet with a 20-year-old
Image credits: U.S. Department of Justice
The release followed a law passed earlier this year that required the DOJ to make public the remaining Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell Investigation files, with redactions only to protect victims.
Among the documents is a January 2020 email sent by a senior federal prosecutor in the Southern District of New York. The names of the potential witnesses, the email’s sender and recipient, were redacted.
The email indicated, “Donald Trump traveled on Epstein’s private jet many more times than previously has been reported (or that we were aware), including during the period we would expect to charge in a Maxwell case.”
Image credits: Davidoff Studios/Getty Images
Epstein’s Boeing 727 private jet was reportedly used to fly young women between his homes in New York and Florida. Victims say the plane had a large bed and padded floors for sexual activity. However, it is not confirmed whether this specific jet is referenced in the emails.
The email mentions that one flight was from 1993, and notes two others, where the passengers “were women who would be possible witnesses in a Maxwell case.”
Maxwell, Epstein’s longtime associate, was convicted in 2021 on federal sex trafficking charges and is now serving a 20-year prison sentence.
Image credits: U.S. Department of Justice
The email further mentions, “In particular, he is listed as a passenger on at least eight flights between 1993 and 1996, including at least four flights on which Maxwell was also present. He is listed as having travelled with, among others and at various times, Marla Maples, his daughter Tiffany, and his son Eric.”
Epstein died in a Manhattan jail in August 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges. His case has become one of the most high-profile criminal scandals in recent history due to his connections with powerful figures.
The email alleged Trump had travelled on Epstein's jet on at least eight flights in the late 1900s
Image credits: U.S. Department of Justice
While those now in the Trump administration had campaigned to release the Epstein files, members of the administration backtracked soon after the GOP came into power. Authorities later ruled Epstein's death a suicide.
The newly released files also show that federal prosecutors sent a subpoena to Trump’s Mar-a-Lago property in 2021. The subpoena sought records during the investigation and prosecution of Maxwell.
In addition, the release includes FBI tips collected over the years that reference Trump’s past interactions with Epstein. The files do not indicate whether those tips were verified or led to further investigation.
Trump has repeatedly denied any involvement in Epstein's crimes. He has said he had no knowledge of Epstein’s illegal activities and has not been charged in connection with the case. The duo, however, used to be close friends till the mid-2000s, and have been photographed together at Trump’s clubs.
“They’re asking me questions about Epstein,” Trump told reporters on Monday. “I thought that was finished.”
At another point, he said, “This whole thing with Epstein is a way of trying to deflect from the tremendous success that the Republican Party has.”
“A lot of people are very angry that pictures are being released of other people that really had nothing to do with Epstein. But they’re in a picture with him because he was at a party, and you ruined a reputation of somebody,” Trump continued.
The DOJ said Tuesday that it released nearly 30,000 additional pages and warned that some documents include unverified or false claims submitted to the FBI in the past. The department alleged on Tuesday that “some of these documents contain untrue and sensationalist claims made against President Trump that were submitted to the FBI right before the 2020 election.”
“To be clear: the claims are unfounded and false, and if they had a shred of credibility, they certainly would have been weaponized against President Trump already. Nevertheless, out of our commitment to the law and transparency, the DoJ is releasing these documents with the legally required protections for Epstein’s victims.”
Despite the release, only a small portion of the total Epstein-related records have become public so far. The DOJ said more documents may follow in the coming weeks.