The U.S. Justice Department has just released the largest batch of Jeffrey Epstein documents yet, adding nearly 30,000 pages to a file that has been the subject of a nationwide push for transparency.
Trump’s Private Jet Trips
A key focus of the new release is an email from a federal prosecutor dated January 2020 that flagged President Donald Trump’s travel on Epstein’s private plane. The prosecutor, an assistant U.S. attorney from the Southern District of New York, wrote that flight records the office received on Jan. 6, 2020 showed Trump was on Epstein’s jet “many more times than previously has been reported (or that we were aware).” The prosecutor added that the flagging was done “because lawyers didn’t want any of this to be a surprise down the road.”
The email details that Trump was listed as a passenger on at least eight flights between 1993 and 1996, and on at least four of those flights, Ghislaine Maxwell was also aboard. One of the eight flights in 1993 had only Trump and Epstein as passengers. Another flight listed three passengers: Epstein, Trump, and a redacted individual who was 20 years old at the time. Two additional flights included two women whose names were redacted but were identified as potential witnesses in a Maxwell case.
These trips had already been disclosed during Maxwell’s criminal proceedings, but the new documents provide the most comprehensive record yet.
The Fake Letter and “Unfounded” Claims
The Justice Department also addressed a separate controversy involving a purported letter from Epstein to Larry Nassar, the sports doctor convicted of sexually abusing Olympic athletes. The department’s statement on Tuesday confirmed that the letter was fake, citing handwriting analysis, a Virginia postmark, and a return address that did not include Epstein’s jail or inmate number-both required for outgoing mail. In a post on X, the department said, “This fake letter serves as a reminder that just because a document is released by the Department of Justice does not make the allegations or claims within the document factual.”
The release also included documents that the department described as containing “unfounded and false” claims against President Trump that were submitted to the FBI shortly before the 2020 election. In the same statement, the department referred to the claims as “untrue and sensationalist claims”.
Mar-a-Lago Subpoena and Employment Records
In addition to flight logs, the latest batch shows that Mar-a-Lago, Trump’s southern Florida club, was served with a subpoena in 2021 for its employment records. The disclosure came as part of an email chain in which lawyers for the Southern District of New York and an attorney in touch with representatives for the Trump Organization discussed the employment status of a redacted individual.
Prince Andrew and the “A” Correspondence
The new files also bring the U.K.’s former Prince Andrew back into the spotlight. Among the documents is a series of emails between Maxwell and a correspondent who signs off with the initial “A.” The August 2001 email, sent by someone identified only as “The Invisible Man,” references Balmoral Summer Camp for the Royal Family and includes the line, “How’s LA? Have you found me some new inappropriate friends?” The writer also mentions leaving “the RN” and caring for “the Girls.” These references point to Prince Andrew, who was stripped of his royal titles in October and is now known as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.
Prince Andrew has denied any wrongdoing, including allegations by Virginia Giuffre that she was trafficked by Epstein and had sex with him when she was 17. The documents also reveal months of negotiations between U.S. federal prosecutors and British authorities that ultimately failed to secure Andrew’s testimony.
Trump’s Reaction and Political Fallout
President Trump criticized the release as a distraction. Speaking at an event at his Mar-a-Lago home on Monday, he said, “What this whole thing is with Epstein is a way of trying to deflect from the tremendous success that the Republican Party has,” and added, “You probably have pictures being exposed of other people that innocently met Jeffrey Epstein years ago, many years ago. And they’re, you know, highly respected bankers and lawyers and others.”
Trump had tried for months to keep the records sealed before relenting to political pressure, including from some fellow Republicans. He eventually signed a bill mandating the release of most of the Justice Department’s files on Epstein.
The Largest Dump Yet
Monday’s overnight release was the biggest yet, adding nearly 30,000 more pages. It includes news clippings, varied tips to law enforcement, and surveillance videos from the New York jail where Epstein was held before taking his own life in 2019. Much of the material was already in the public domain, but the new documents provide a fuller picture.
The law required the files to be released within 30 days, yet the Justice Department has been issuing them in stages starting Friday. Officials say the gradual release protects victims, though some women assaulted by Epstein have publicly called for greater transparency.
Senate Criticism
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said the tens of thousands of files released still left “more questions than answers.” He pointed to a 2019 FBI email that mentions 10 people under investigation as possible co-conspirators but contains few additional details.
Key Takeaways
- The Justice Department released almost 30,000 new pages, including detailed flight logs showing Trump’s trips on Epstein’s private jet.
- A purported letter from Epstein to Larry Nassar was confirmed fake, and the department highlighted “unfounded and false” claims against Trump.
- Prince Andrew’s name appears in the files through a series of emails, reigniting scrutiny over his alleged ties to Epstein.
The release underscores the ongoing demand for transparency in the Epstein investigation and the complex web of connections that continue to draw public attention.
