The U.S. Justice Department has unveiled a substantial new collection of documents related to the Jeffrey Epstein case, containing numerous references to former President Donald Trump’s associations with the convicted sex offender. The latest release of approximately 8,000 files includes surveillance footage from August 2019—the month Epstein died in custody—and details Trump’s repeated use of Epstein’s private jet, contradicting the former president’s previous statements about their relationship.
The documents reveal a January 2020 memorandum from New York federal prosecutors investigating Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell, which states that Trump traveled on Epstein’s aircraft “many more times than previously has been reported.” This evidence challenges Trump’s repeated claims that he distanced himself from Epstein after allegedly expelling him from his Florida golf club for inappropriate behavior.
Among the more sensational materials is a handwritten letter attributed to Epstein from prison, addressed to convicted former USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar, containing unverified claims about Trump’s behavior. The Justice Department has preemptively dismissed many allegations in the documents as “untrue and sensationalist claims” that would have been “weaponized against President Trump already” if credible.
The document release follows intense political pressure and a rare bipartisan legislative effort co-sponsored by Democrat Ro Khanna and Republican Thomas Massie, who threatened contempt charges against Attorney General Pam Bondi for delayed compliance. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche attributed the slow disclosure pace to the extensive redaction required to protect the identities of Epstein’s numerous victims.
Previous document batches included photographs of prominent figures such as former President Bill Clinton, who has openly encouraged full transparency, and celebrities including Mick Jagger and Michael Jackson. Maxwell remains the only individual convicted in connection with Epstein’s crimes, while Trump faces no allegations of wrongdoing in the matter.