The US Department of Justice has moved to quash speculation, explicitly dismissing unfounded claims that sought to link former President Donald Trump to the activities of the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. This official clarification came alongside the release of a massive new trove of documents related to the Epstein case.
Official Rejection of Sensationalist Claims
In a statement made on the social media platform X, the Justice Department addressed the rumours head-on. It confirmed the release of nearly 30,000 additional pages of documents concerning Jeffrey Epstein. The department specifically highlighted that some files contained "untrue and sensationalist claims" made against Donald Trump, which were submitted to the FBI just before the 2020 presidential election.
The post firmly stated, "To be clear: the claims are unfounded and false, and if they had a shred of credibility, they certainly would have been weaponized against President Trump already." This strong denial aims to cut through the misinformation circulating after the documents' release.
What the Newly Released Flight Logs Reveal
The need for clarification arose following reports, including one from the BBC, that Trump's name appeared in the context of Epstein's private jet travel. The documents indeed show that Donald Trump was listed as a passenger on at least eight flights on aircraft owned by Epstein between 1993 and 1996.
An internal email dated January 7, 2020, notes that Trump had travelled on Epstein’s planes more frequently than was previously understood. According to this email:
- Trump was on at least four flights that also included Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein's former associate convicted for her role in his crimes.
- He travelled on the jet with various family members, including then-wife Marla Maples, daughter Tiffany, and son Eric.
- One flight in 1993 listed only Trump and Epstein as passengers.
- Another listed Epstein, Trump, and a 20-year-old individual whose name was redacted from the public files.
- Two other flights included women later identified in the email as potential witnesses in the Maxwell case.
Context and Previous Statements
It is crucial to note that appearance in these flight records does not, by itself, indicate any wrongdoing. Donald Trump has publicly acknowledged knowing Jeffrey Epstein in the past but has consistently denied any involvement in or knowledge of illegal activities. He has stated that the two had a falling out and were not on speaking terms for many years prior to Epstein's first arrest.
The latest document release is part of the ongoing public disclosure of materials from lawsuits related to Epstein. While they provide new details about the scale of his network and travel, the Justice Department's immediate intervention underscores the sensitivity and potential for misinterpretation surrounding the information, especially when it involves high-profile individuals.
