The Epstein Connection
Documenting the extensive, documented relationship between Donald Trump and convicted sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein — from years of socializing to appointing Epstein’s lenient prosecutor to a cabinet position. In January 2026, the DOJ released 3.5 million pages of Epstein files. Trump was mentioned 1,800+ times — more than almost anyone else besides Epstein himself.
Why This Section Exists
This is not speculation. Every item below is sourced from court documents, sworn testimony, video footage, photographs, or credible investigative journalism. Trump maintained a years-long friendship with Epstein, publicly acknowledged Epstein's preference for young women, flew on his plane, and later appointed the prosecutor who gave Epstein a sweetheart deal. These are facts. The public deserves a clear, chronological accounting.
35
Documented Events
8.5/10
Avg Severity
1,800+
Trump Mentions in Files
3.5M
Pages Released by DOJ
Key Quote — Trump on Epstein (2002)
“I've known Jeff for fifteen years. Terrific guy. He's a lot of fun to be with. It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side.”
— Donald Trump, New York Magazine, 2002
Key Quote — Trump on Ghislaine Maxwell (2020)
“I just wish her well, frankly.”
— Donald Trump, after Maxwell’s arrest on federal sex trafficking charges, July 2020 (repeated twice)
Key Quote — DOJ Official on Maxwell Transfer (Aug 2025)
“[Maxwell was transferred to a lesser-security prison] to keep her mouth shut.”
— Joseph Schnitt, Acting Deputy Chief at DOJ, caught on hidden camera (Yahoo News / HuffPost, August 2025)
Key Quote — Rep. Jamie Raskin on Unredacted Files (Feb 2026)
“Trump is in the unredacted Epstein files more than a million times... Trump was a guest at Mar-a-Lago — this was redacted for some indeterminate, inscrutable reason.”
— Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD), after reviewing unredacted Epstein files at the DOJ, February 2026
Key Quote — Sen. Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) After Reviewing Files
“Now I see what the big deal is. And the members of Congress that have been pushing this were not wrong.”
— Sen. Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), after reviewing unredacted Epstein files, February 2026
Timeline
Trump and Epstein Socializing Together
Video footage and photographs show Trump and Epstein socializing at Mar-a-Lago, partying together at events with groups of young women. Trump is recorded telling a cameraman about Epstein: "Look at her, back there... she's hot." The two were clearly close social companions.
"Terrific Guy" — Trump's Public Praise of Epstein
In a 2002 New York Magazine interview, Trump famously said: "I've known Jeff for fifteen years. Terrific guy. He's a lot of fun to be with. It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side." This quote is remarkable because Trump acknowledged knowing about Epstein's preference for young women — years before Epstein's first arrest.
Epstein's "Little Black Book" Lists Trump
Epstein's personal contact book, obtained by authorities, contained 14 different phone numbers for Trump — including numbers for Mar-a-Lago, Trump Tower, his bedrooms in both locations, and his security guard. The sheer number of contact numbers suggests a close and ongoing relationship.
Palm Beach Police Investigation Begins
Palm Beach police began investigating Epstein after a parent reported that her 14-year-old daughter had been recruited to give Epstein a massage at his mansion. The investigation uncovered dozens of victims, many of them minors. Epstein's Palm Beach mansion was near Mar-a-Lago.
The Sweetheart Plea Deal — Alexander Acosta
Federal prosecutor Alexander Acosta negotiated a secret plea deal with Epstein that was extraordinarily lenient: 13 months in a county jail (with work release), registration as a sex offender, and immunity for any co-conspirators. The deal was later ruled illegal because victims were not notified. Trump later appointed Acosta as Secretary of Labor.
Trump Claims to Have "Barred" Epstein from Mar-a-Lago
Trump claimed he banned Epstein from Mar-a-Lago after Epstein allegedly hit on a member's underage daughter. However, records and testimony suggest the falling out was actually over a real estate deal, not over concern for minors. Multiple witnesses dispute Trump's timeline, and the two continued to have contact after the alleged ban.
Virginia Giuffre's Lawsuit Names Trump's Plane
In court filings, Virginia Giuffre (one of Epstein's most prominent accusers) stated she saw Trump on Epstein's plane. While Giuffre did not accuse Trump of improper behavior toward her personally, she placed Trump in Epstein's orbit during the period of abuse. Flight logs independently confirmed Trump flew on Epstein's plane at least once.
Trump Appoints Alexander Acosta as Labor Secretary
Trump appointed Alexander Acosta — the prosecutor who gave Epstein the sweetheart deal — as Secretary of Labor. Acosta served until 2019, when the Epstein case resurfaced and public pressure forced his resignation. Trump praised Acosta even as he resigned, calling him a "great labor secretary."
Epstein Dies in Federal Custody
Jeffrey Epstein was found dead in his cell at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Manhattan, ruled a suicide by hanging. Both guards assigned to check on him had fallen asleep, and surveillance cameras outside his cell malfunctioned. Trump retweeted conspiracy theories blaming the Clintons. The death prevented Epstein from testifying and naming co-conspirators.
Trump Wishes Ghislaine Maxwell "Well" — Twice
After Ghislaine Maxwell — Epstein's recruiter and convicted sex trafficker — was arrested and charged with enticement of minors, Trump told reporters: "I just wish her well." Two weeks later, in an Axios interview with Jonathan Swan, Trump doubled down: "Yeah, I wish her well. I'd wish you well. I'd wish a lot of people well." He was the only prominent public figure to publicly express sympathy for Maxwell after her arrest on federal sex trafficking charges.
Trump Dodges Epstein Questions During Campaign
Throughout the 2024 presidential campaign, Trump repeatedly refused to answer questions about Epstein or commit to releasing the Epstein files. When pressed, he would deflect to Bill Clinton's connections to Epstein or claim he "wasn't a fan" — despite years of documented friendship.
Second Term Begins — Epstein Files Still Sealed
Despite promising transparency and having the power to declassify documents, the Trump administration initially did not release sealed Epstein-related documents. As president, Trump had the authority to direct the DOJ to unseal files that could reveal Epstein's co-conspirators. The silence was notable given Trump's willingness to declassify other sensitive documents.
AG Bondi Claims Epstein List Is "Sitting on My Desk"
Attorney General Pam Bondi told Fox News that the Epstein client list was "sitting on my desk," implying release was imminent. The statement was never followed by action. Months of delays followed. Right-wing influencers, including the Hodgetwins, called for Trump to fire Bondi over the stonewalling. In August, a judge denied Bondi's request to unseal grand jury files from the Maxwell case — the very files she'd claimed were on her desk.
FBI's Bongino Clashes with Bondi Over Epstein Files — Nearly Resigns
Dan Bongino, Trump's deputy director of the FBI, had a heated confrontation with AG Bondi over her handling of the Epstein files and considered resigning. The clash suggested internal conflict within Trump's own administration over the opacity of the file release process. Bongino was later demoted to Co-Deputy Director in September and announced his resignation in December.
Trump Calls Epstein "Somebody Nobody Cares About" and "A Big Hoax"
As pressure mounted to release the Epstein files, Trump publicly dismissed the entire matter. On July 12, he called Epstein "somebody that nobody cares about." Four days later, he called the Epstein files "a big hoax." This followed reports that Bondi and Deputy AG Blanche had informed Trump that his name was "among many in the Epstein files." Prominent podcasters close to Trump — including Joe Rogan, who accused the administration of "gaslighting the public," and Andrew Schulz, who said Trump was "insulting our intelligence" — criticized the reversal.
WSJ Publishes Trump's Birthday Letter to Epstein — Trump Sues for $10 Billion
The Wall Street Journal published a letter Trump wrote for Jeffrey Epstein's 50th birthday album, with the title: "Jeffrey Epstein's Friends Sent Him Bawdy Letters for a 50th Birthday Album. One Was From Donald Trump." The letter was reportedly submitted to a birthday compilation that included notes from Epstein's closest associates. Trump responded by filing a $10 billion lawsuit against Rupert Murdoch and the WSJ — a reaction that critics noted was far more aggressive than any action he took against Epstein himself.
Maxwell Interviewed by Deputy AG — Says Nothing About Trump
After being subpoenaed by Congress, Ghislaine Maxwell was interviewed by Deputy AG Todd Blanche on July 24-25. She told investigators that Trump "never did anything concerning" in her presence. Critics noted the appearance of impropriety: Trump's own appointed deputy AG interviewing a convicted sex trafficker about the president, before Congress could question her. Maxwell later demanded immunity as a condition of congressional testimony, and ultimately invoked the Fifth Amendment.
Maxwell Moved to Minimum Security — DOJ Official Caught on Tape
Ghislaine Maxwell was quietly transferred from a high-security facility to a minimum-security prison camp in Texas. Joseph Schnitt, an acting Deputy Chief at the DOJ, was caught on video claiming Maxwell was transferred to a lesser-security prison "to keep her mouth shut" — i.e., to prevent her from contradicting anything the Trump administration said. The DOJ denied the connection. Rep. Jamie Raskin later reported a whistleblower alleged Maxwell was receiving special treatment, including custom meals, computer access for visitors, a service dog, and having the warden send documents on her behalf.
Trump Actively Fights to Block Epstein File Release
For months, Trump and Republican leadership fought to prevent Congress from forcing the release of Epstein files. On November 12, Trump personally summoned Rep. Lauren Boebert to the White House to pressure her against voting for the discharge petition that would force a vote. The NYT reported GOP leaders "moved quickly to squelch legislation" on Trump's behalf. Only after the discharge petition reached its threshold and defeat was certain did Trump reverse course on November 16, posting on Truth Social that Republicans "should vote to release the Epstein files." Rep. Massie responded: "He got tired of me winning."
Epstein's Brother Alleges Files Being "Sanitized" to Remove Republican Names
Mark Epstein, Jeffrey Epstein's brother, went public claiming there was an active coverup to "sanitize" the Epstein files. He alleged that at a facility in Winchester, Virginia, officials were "scrubbing the files to take Republican names out." He claimed this was the real reason Trump suddenly reversed his position on releasing the files — because the sanitization was complete. Rep. Massie noted this concern as well, warning that Trump's DOJ opening new investigations could itself be "a big smoke screen" to prevent release under the ongoing-investigation exemption.
Epstein Files Transparency Act Signed into Law
Congress passed the Epstein Files Transparency Act with overwhelming support (427-1 in the House, unanimous in the Senate), and Trump signed it into law. The law required the DOJ to publish all unclassified Epstein-related records within 30 days. However, Trump's DOJ missed the December 19 deadline and released files in slow, heavily redacted waves — leading to accusations of a coverup. Critically, the investigation was closed under Trump's DOJ, which is what legally enabled the files to be released — meaning Biden could not have released them because the case was still active. The FBI had spent 4,737 overtime hours and over $851,000 on a "Special Redaction Project" for the files in the months prior.
Susie Wiles Admits Trump "Is In" the Epstein Files
White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles told Vanity Fair that Trump "is in" the Epstein files, but insisted he is not "doing anything awful." The admission was notable because the Trump administration had spent months dismissing the files as a "hoax" and "something nobody cares about." Two days later, Rep. Massie released a 14-minute video noting there are "at least 20 names of men who are accused of sex crimes" in the FBI's possession, and criticized Bondi, Johnson, and FBI Director Patel for their handling of the release.
First File Release — DOJ Pulls Trump Photo, Over 500 Pages Blacked Out
The DOJ released an initial batch of 3,965 files — violating the law, which required ALL files by this date. Over 500 pages were entirely blacked out. Within 24 hours, at least 16 files were silently removed from the justice.gov website, including a photo of Trump, Epstein, and Maxwell together (file EFTA00000468). Sen. Schumer called it "one of the biggest cover ups in American history." After public outcry, the DOJ restored the Trump photo the next day. Rep. Khanna said he was considering impeaching AG Bondi. Rep. Massie said Bondi could be "convicted of obstruction of justice" for the partial release.
Redactions Easily Bypassed — Hidden Names Exposed
On December 22, an additional 11,034 documents were released. Within hours, the public discovered that many redactions could be trivially bypassed using basic software or by simply copy-pasting the "redacted" text. The hidden material contained significant information about Epstein's trafficking ring — not just victim privacy information as permitted by the Act. The botched redactions raised questions about whether the "poor execution" was intentional, designed to create an appearance of transparency while actually concealing key information.
Fourth Release — Direct Rape Allegation, 8+ Flights on Epstein's Jet
The DOJ released nearly 30,000 additional files on December 23. This batch mentioned Trump significantly more than earlier releases and included: a direct rape allegation against Trump in a case file; a 2020 email stating Trump had flown with Epstein "many more times than previously has been reported"; and flight logs listing Trump as a passenger on at least 8 flights on Epstein's private jet between 1993 and 1996. The DOJ preemptively issued a statement calling allegations against Trump "untrue and sensationalist claims submitted to the FBI right before the 2020 election."
3.5 Million Pages Released — Trump Mentioned 1,800+ Times
The DOJ released over 3.5 million pages of Epstein files. A search of the DOJ's Epstein website for "Donald Trump" yielded more than 1,800 hits — making Trump one of the most frequently mentioned individuals in the entire archive, second only to Epstein himself. The documents included newly disclosed unverified sexual assault claims against Trump, fresh details about how victims described their interactions with the future president, private correspondence from Epstein about Trump, and records contradicting Trump's public claims about their relationship.
Congress Reviews Unredacted Files — "More Than a Million" Trump References
Members of Congress began reviewing unredacted Epstein files at the DOJ. Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) revealed that Trump appears "more than a million times" in the full unredacted files. Raskin disclosed that Epstein's own lawyers wrote memos stating Trump was a guest at Mar-a-Lago — directly contradicting Trump's public claims that he had expelled Epstein. Material about the Trump-Mar-a-Lago connection had been redacted "for some indeterminate, inscrutable reason." Sen. Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) stated after reviewing the files: "Now I see what the big deal is. And the members of Congress that have been pushing this were not wrong."
DOJ Accused of Protecting Trump in Redactions
As Congress reviewed the files, accusations mounted that Trump's DOJ had selectively redacted information that was embarrassing to the president while claiming to have met its legal obligations. Rep. Raskin called the limited computer access for Congress members "just part of the coverup." The deputy AG stated the releases "didn't protect" Trump, but critics noted that key information about Trump's connection to Mar-a-Lago had been unnecessarily redacted. ABC News reported the DOJ's deputy AG made these claims even as missed redactions exposed sensitive information about victims.
Massie and Khanna Review Unredacted Files — Accuse DOJ of "Breaking the Law"
Reps. Thomas Massie (R-KY) and Ro Khanna (D-CA) — the bipartisan architects of the Transparency Act — became the first members of Congress to review unredacted files at the DOJ. They emerged and told reporters the DOJ was "breaking the law" by withholding material. The next day, Khanna took the extraordinary step of reading the names of six men "likely incriminated" in the unredacted files from the House floor — using congressional privilege to shield against defamation suits. The six names included Leslie Wexner, Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Salvatore Nuara, Zurab Mikeladze, Leonic Leonov, and Nicola Caputo.
Rep. Moskowitz: "What I Read Was Just Gross" — Co-conspirator List "Would Surprise"
After reviewing unredacted Epstein files, Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-FL) described the content as "just gross." Moskowitz stated that a list of Epstein's co-conspirators "would surprise" the public, "because a lot of them were women." House Speaker Mike Johnson said he planned to view unredacted files at a later date while conspicuously defending the DOJ — further fueling suspicion of a coordinated coverup.
AG Bondi Lies to Congress About Maxwell Prison Transfer
Attorney General Pam Bondi told Congress under questioning that Ghislaine Maxwell was NOT transferred to a "lower level facility" — a statement directly contradicted by public reporting, prison records, and the DOJ's own prior acknowledgments that Maxwell was moved from a high-security facility to a minimum-security prison camp in Bryan, Texas. HuffPost described it as a flat lie. Combined with the DOJ official caught on tape saying the transfer was to "keep her mouth shut," the pattern suggested a coordinated effort to minimize Maxwell's ability to implicate powerful individuals.
Polls: 56% Disapprove of Trump's Handling; Only 6% Satisfied with Disclosure
Public opinion polls painted a damning picture of the Trump administration's handling of the Epstein files. An Economist/YouGov poll found 56% of Americans disapproved of Trump's handling, while just 25% approved. 49% said Trump was "attempting to cover up Epstein's crimes." A CNN poll found only 6% of Americans were satisfied with how much had been released. 91% of Democrats, 78% of independents, and even 74% of Republicans supported releasing the files — making it one of the most bipartisan issues in American politics, and one where Trump was on the wrong side of his own base.
Democrats Introduce "Virginia's Law" — Files Reveal Lutnick Visited Epstein's Island
Democrats introduced "Virginia's Law" — named after the late Virginia Giuffre — to eliminate the statute of limitations on civil sexual abuse cases, preventing Epstein's co-conspirators from escaping accountability through legal time limits. The same day, Trump's Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick admitted he had lunch with Epstein on his private island. Separately, detailed emails revealed Epstein engineered an intimate relationship for Kimbal Musk (Elon Musk's brother and Tesla board member), with Elon Musk also exchanging emails about visiting Epstein's island. The Epstein files showed people close to Trump — including Lutnick, Steve Bannon, and Elon Musk — all had closer relationships with Epstein than previously known.
Bondi's Explosive House Hearing — Calls Raskin a "Washed-Up Loser Lawyer"
AG Pam Bondi appeared before the House Judiciary Committee to defend the DOJ's handling of the Epstein files and became openly combative. She screamed "You're a washed-up loser lawyer!" at ranking member Jamie Raskin, refused to apologize to Epstein victims in the hearing room, and declared Trump "the greatest president in American history" when pressed on redactions. Key revelation: Rep. Ted Lieu cited an Epstein message stating Trump "knew about" the girls, and ex–Palm Beach Police Chief Michael Reiter told the FBI that Trump said "everyone has known he's been doing this." Lieu accused Bondi of perjury when she denied evidence of Trump's involvement. Rep. Massie told Bondi: "This cover-up spans decades, and you are responsible for this portion."
DOJ Caught Tracking Congress Members' Epstein File Searches — Bondi's "Burn Book"
Reuters photographs from the hearing showed Bondi holding a dossier titled "Jayapal Pramila Search History" — a document tracking every file that Rep. Jayapal accessed while reviewing unredacted Epstein documents at the DOJ. The DOJ confirmed to The Guardian that it logs all searches made by Congress members on its systems. Members described the review process: escorted to a DOJ annex, logged into DOJ computers with personal IDs, watched over by DOJ staff recording everything they accessed. Raskin called it "the perfect set-up for the DOJ to spy on members' review" and demanded an inspector general investigation. Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) called the surveillance "creepy." Goldman Sachs top lawyer Kathy Ruemmler also resigned the same day after emails showed she called Epstein "Uncle Jeffrey" and received luxury gifts from him.
Unanswered Questions
- •Why was Trump mentioned 1,800+ times in the released Epstein files — more than almost anyone else besides Epstein himself?
- •Why was information about Trump being a “guest at Mar-a-Lago” (contradicting his claim he expelled Epstein) redacted from the public release?
- •Why did Trump’s DOJ miss the legally required December 19 deadline and release files in slow, heavily redacted waves?
- •Why did Trump appoint Alexander Acosta — the man who gave Epstein a sweetheart deal — to his cabinet?
- •What did Trump mean when he said Epstein liked women “on the younger side” — and why did he maintain the friendship for years after saying it?
- •Why were there 14 different phone numbers for Trump in Epstein’s contact book, including bedroom numbers?
- •What happened to the surveillance footage outside Epstein’s cell on the night he died?
- •Why did Trump close the Epstein investigation (enabling the files to be released) rather than pursuing co-conspirators?
- •Why did Trump sue the Wall Street Journal for $10 billion over a birthday letter to Epstein — a more aggressive response than any action he took against Epstein’s trafficking operation?
- •Why was Ghislaine Maxwell quietly transferred to minimum security, and why did AG Bondi lie to Congress about it?
- •Why did the DOJ silently remove a photo of Trump with Epstein and Maxwell from its website during the first file release?
- •Why did the released flight logs show Trump on Epstein’s private jet at least 8 times between 1993 and 1996 — despite Trump claiming he was “not a fan” of Epstein?
- •Why did Trump’s DOJ track and log every search made by Congress members reviewing the Epstein files — and why did Bondi bring a dossier of an individual lawmaker’s search history to a hearing?
- •If Epstein said Trump “knew about” the girls, and Trump told a police chief that “everyone” knew what Epstein was doing — why was no follow-up investigation conducted?
Addressing the “Why Didn’t Biden Release Them?” Question
A common deflection is asking why Biden didn’t release the Epstein files during his presidency. The answer is straightforward:
- 1.The Epstein case was an active, open criminal investigation during the Biden administration, with grand jury proceedings and pending appeals (including Maxwell’s appeal).
- 2.Federal law and DOJ policy prohibit releasing case files while an investigation is ongoing — this is standard practice, not a cover-up.
- 3.Trump’s DOJ closed the investigation, which is what legally enabled the release. Ironically, by closing the case, Trump may have prevented the prosecution of Epstein’s remaining co-conspirators.
- 4.Even after the legal path was cleared, Trump’s DOJ missed its own deadline and released files with unnecessary redactions that concealed embarrassing information about Trump.
Sources: NewsNation | Factually | Al Jazeera Fact Check