On Monday, the Department of Justice unveiled a new batch of documents related to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein, drawing fresh scrutiny to former President Donald Trump’s ties with the disgraced businessman and to other individuals linked to Epstein.
Trump Flights on Epstein’s Jet
A federal prosecutor’s email released in the latest drop revealed that Trump “traveled on Epstein’s private jet many more times than previously has been reported (or that we were aware)” during the 1990s. The correspondence also mentioned a flight where the former president and Epstein were the only listed passengers, accompanied by a “then-20-year-old” whose name was redacted by the DOJ. The email underscores a more extensive travel relationship between Trump and Epstein than previously documented.
Maxwell Tip to Police in 2001
In 2001, a tipster in Palm Beach, Florida, reported to police that Ghislaine Maxwell was recruiting young women to answer Epstein’s phone calls at his home. According to the police report, the women would receive $200 a day. Maxwell’s own statement, quoted in the report, read: “needed young, beautiful unmarried women to answer phones and do office work at her home in Palm Beach.” Three of the girls later described Maxwell and Epstein as “secretive” about the house’s activities, with at least two complaining that Epstein touched them inappropriately.
Emails from an Ex-Prince Andrew
The new release includes a letter from Maxwell to an individual with the electronic signature “A,” who identified himself as once being “at Balmoral Summer Camp for the Royal Family.” The content of the letter and the mention of Balmoral point to Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, formerly Prince Andrew, who had a known association with Epstein. Mountbatten Windsor was present at Balmoral in August 2001, according to ABC News. Maxwell replied two days later: “So sorry to dissapoint [sic] you, however the truth must be told. I have only been able to find appropriate friends. Kisses, G.” Mountbatten Windsor has denied wrongdoing, and King Charles III stripped him of his title amid renewed scrutiny after Virginia Giuffre’s posthumous memoir.
Fake Letter from Larry Nassar to Epstein
The DOJ publicly denounced a letter it released that purportedly came from former sports doctor Larry Nassar to Epstein. The letter, described as “FAKE,” referenced Trump and suggested they “share our love for young, nubile girls.” The text included: “When a young beauty walked by, he loved to ‘grab snatch,’ whereas we ended up snatching grub in the mess halls of the system,” and concluded with “Life is unfair.” The DOJ stated that the handwriting did not match Epstein’s and that the letter was postmarked in northern Virginia three days after Epstein’s death in 2019. On the platform X, the DOJ said: “The FBI has confirmed this alleged letter from Jeffrey Epstein to Larry Nassar is FAKE,” adding that the fake letter was received by the jail and flagged for the FBI at the time.
Photo of Maxwell and Bannon
Another file released on Monday contained a photo discovered on former Trump adviser Steve Bannon’s phone in 2021. The image showed Bannon alongside Maxwell and was uncovered by investigators probing the “We Build the Wall” fundraising campaign, which faced accusations of defrauding donors. The investigator attached the photo to an email, but the image was redacted in the DOJ release. Bannon, a right-wing commentator known for his “War Room” podcast, was indicted in 2020 for funneling money from a charity that collected donations to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. Although he received a pardon at the end of Trump’s first term, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg charged him again the following year. Bannon pleaded guilty in February as part of a deal to avoid incarceration.
Key Takeaways
- DOJ’s latest documents reveal Trump flew on Epstein’s private jet more often than previously reported.
- Maxwell’s 2001 tip to police highlighted her recruiting of young women for Epstein’s home and allegations of inappropriate contact.
- A letter from Maxwell to an ex-Prince Andrew, and a fake letter from Nassar, add new layers to the Epstein dossier.
- A photo of Maxwell with former adviser Steve Bannon surfaces in the investigation of the “We Build the Wall” campaign.
The continuous release of Epstein files keeps the spotlight on the network of associates surrounding the disgraced financier. As the DOJ pushes toward a full congressional deadline, each new batch of documents offers deeper insight into the relationships and activities that have drawn public attention for years.
