In a startling email that surfaced as part of the Justice Department’s third release of its Jeffrey Epstein records, a federal prosecutor in New York sent a January 2020 message to an undisclosed recipient. The note disclosed that flight logs show President Donald Trump flew on Epstein’s private jet at least eight times between 1993 and 1996, including a trip with an unnamed 20-year-old woman.
The Flight Log Details
The email, whose sender and recipient names were redacted, began with the line: “For your situational awareness, wanted to let you know that the flight records we received yesterday reflect that Donald Trump traveled on Epstein’s private jet many more times than previously has been reported (or that we were aware), including during the period we would expect to charge in a [Ghislaine] Maxwell case.” It then listed that Trump, who was serving his first term as president, was “listed as a passenger on at least eight flights between 1993 and 1996, including at least four flights on which Maxwell was also present. He is listed as having traveled with, among others and at various times, Marla Maples, his daughter Tiffany, and his son Eric.” The email added, “On one flight in 1993, he and Epstein are the only two listed passengers; on another, the only three passengers are Epstein, Trump, and then-20-year-old [redacted]. On two other flights, two of the passengers, respectively, were women who would be possible witnesses in a Maxwell case.”
Maxwell’s Legal Trajectory
Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s alleged accomplice, was indicted in July 2020 on federal sex-trafficking charges. She was found guilty in December 2021 and is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence. The email’s reference to Maxwell underscores the context in which the flight records were examined.
DOJ Releases Nearly 30,000 Pages
The Justice Department, bound by the Epstein Files Transparency Act, announced that it had released nearly 30,000 additional pages of documents related to Epstein. In a post on X, the department stated: “The Department of Justice has officially released nearly 30,000 more pages of documents related to Jeffrey Epstein. Some of these documents contain untrue and sensationalist claims made against President Trump that were submitted to the FBI right before the 2020 election. 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.” The DOJ emphasized that it was releasing the documents with the legally required protections for Epstein’s victims.
DOJ’s Clarification on Sensationalist Claims
In the same X post, the department added: “Nevertheless, out of our commitment to the law and transparency, the DOJ is releasing these documents with the legally required protections for Epstein’s victims.” The statement clarified that the records contained allegations against Trump that the DOJ deemed untrue and sensationalist.
Congressional Response
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-NY, announced on Monday that he would introduce a resolution directing the Senate to initiate legal action against the DOJ for releasing only a fraction of the records. Schumer wrote on X: “The law Congress passed is crystal clear: release the Epstein files in full so Americans can see the truth. Instead, the Trump Department of Justice dumped redactions and withheld the evidence – that breaks the law.” The initial release included less than 10,000 of the hundreds of thousands of documents that Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche had promised.
Clinton Pictures and Trump’s Reaction
The first set of documents contained only passing references to Trump and a large number of photographs of former President Bill Clinton, who had flown on Epstein’s plane for Clinton Foundation trips in the early 2000s. Among the images were Clinton in a hot tub, swimming with Maxwell, and standing with a woman on his leg. Trump has asked the DOJ to investigate Clinton’s ties to Epstein, while Clinton has denied wrongdoing. Clinton’s spokesman urged that all pictures and references to him be released.
Trump commented to reporters: “I like Bill Clinton. I’ve always gotten along with Bill Clinton. Been nice to him. He’s been nice to me. We’ve always gotten along,” he said. He added, “I hate to see photos come out of him, but this is what the Democrats, mostly Democrats, and a couple of bad Republicans, are asking for. So they’re giving their photos of me, too. Everybody was friendly with this guy,” he said of Epstein. He further noted that “a lot of people are very angry that pictures are being released of other people that really had nothing to do with Epstein, but they’re in a picture. They’re in a picture with him because he was in a party, and you ruin a reputation of somebody. So a lot of people are very angry that this continues.”
Legal Framework and Redactions
Congress passed a bill last month that Trump signed into law on Nov. 19. The law gave Attorney General Pam Bondi 30 days to make publicly available in a searchable and downloadable format all unclassified records, documents, communications, and investigative materials in the possession of the Department of Justice involving Epstein, “including all investigations, prosecutions, or custodial matters.” The law allows for some redactions and exceptions, including to protect victims’ identities.
Survivors Call for Congressional Oversight
A group of Epstein survivors posted a letter on Instagram on Monday urging lawmakers to intervene. The letter stated: “The public received a fraction of the files, and what we received was riddled with abnormal and extreme redactions with no explanation. At the same time, numerous victim identities were left unredacted, causing real and immediate harm.” The survivors accused the DOJ of violating the law and urged “immediate congressional oversight, including hearings, formal demands for compliance, and legal action, to ensure the Department of Justice fulfills its legal obligations.”
Current Status of the DOJ Release
The Justice Department’s latest release contains a mix of flight logs, photographs, and internal communications. While the DOJ asserts that the claims against Trump are unfounded, the documents also reveal the extent of the redactions and the incomplete nature of the public release. Congressional leaders and survivors continue to push for a full, unredacted disclosure of all Epstein-related records.
Key Takeaways
- DOJ email shows Trump flew on Epstein’s jet eight times in the 1990s, including trips with Maxwell.
- Maxwell was indicted July 2020, found guilty December 2021, serving 20-year sentence.
- DOJ released nearly 30,000 pages, labeling Trump-related claims as untrue and sensationalist.
- Congress and survivors demand a complete, unredacted release of all Epstein records.
The ongoing scrutiny highlights the challenges of balancing transparency, victim protection, and legal compliance as the DOJ continues to disclose its extensive Epstein files.
