WASHINGTON (AP) - The U.S. Justice Department has released a significant number of documents related to Jeffrey Epstein, providing more than 30,000 pages that notably include mentions of former President Donald Trump. However, the documents did not offer much new or groundbreaking information regarding Epstein, a financier and convicted sex offender, whose connections to high-profile individuals have kept public interest alive.
This release is the largest to date and follows extensive public demand for increased transparency regarding the U.S. government's investigations into Epstein. Many mentions of Trump stemmed from media articles, but an email from a prosecutor indicated that Trump had utilized Epstein's private jet more frequently than previously acknowledged. Attorney emails revealed that Trump was a passenger on Epstein's plane at least eight times between 1993 and 1996, during which Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s co-conspirator, was also aboard on multiple occasions.
Notably, on one flight in 1993, only Trump and Epstein were listed as passengers. In another instance, records noted the presence of a 20-year-old individual alongside Trump and Epstein. A few other flights also listed unidentified women who may have connections to Maxwell’s legal cases. The Justice Department pointed out that some documents released contained "untrue and sensationalist claims" against Trump, linking them to false allegations that surfaced shortly before the 2020 election.
In light of the release, Trump expressed his frustration, calling the documents a political distraction from the important work being undertaken by himself and the Republican Party. During an event at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Palm Beach, Florida, he attributed the controversy to Democrats and some members of his party, asserting that the ongoing scrutiny over Epstein's circle attempts to detract from Republican successes.
Among the notable individuals mentioned in the newly released documents, former President Bill Clinton, the late pop star Michael Jackson, and singer Diana Ross were included. Notably, inclusion in these files does not imply any wrongdoing. The release also drew attention to former Prince Andrew of the U.K., whose name surfaced in correspondence with Maxwell that suggested a personal connection, though a request for comment from Andrew was not answered. The emails highlighted references to where the royal family traditionally spends vacations, alongside discussions about the writer's personal circumstances.
Prince Andrew, brother of King Charles III, has faced substantial public scrutiny due to his connections with Epstein, leading to a significant reduction in his royal titles and honors. He has consistently denied any wrongdoing, including allegations concerning a relationship with Virginia Giuffre, who accused Epstein of trafficking her and claimed to have had sexual encounters with Andrew when she was underage.
The Justice Department's most recent document dump follows months of pressure that included legislative mandates from members of both parties to release these findings to the public. The latest documents consisted of a variety of materials, including news clippings, emails, and video surveillance from Epstein's time in a New York jail before his death in 2019. While officials initially planned a quicker release, they decided to stagger the disclosure to ensure victim protection amid calls from Epstein's survivors for more transparency in their cases. The large volume of material published underscores ongoing public interest and the complexities of the Epstein case and its connections to powerful figures.
