US lawmakers have released thousands of documents from Jeffrey Epstein’s estate, including emails that mention President Donald Trump, with one email alleging he “knew about the girls,” while the White House has dismissed it as a political smear. The disclosure has intensified scrutiny over Trump’s past association with the convicted sex offender, sparking partisan clashes and calls for full transparency from survivors.
On Wednesday, Democrats on the House Oversight Committee published over 20,000 pages of subpoenaed documents from Epstein’s estate, featuring private emails and texts that repeatedly reference Trump. These records include correspondence with Epstein’s associate Ghislaine Maxwell and author Michael Wolff, revealing how Trump remained a topic of discussion in Epstein’s inner circle. Republicans countered by releasing their own tranche of documents, accusing Democrats of cherry-picking to create a false narrative, highlighting the deep political divisions surrounding the case.
A key email from 2011, exchanged between Epstein and Maxwell, shows Epstein writing that Trump “knew about the girls” and that a victim spent hours with him at Epstein’s house. The victim’s name was redacted in the Democratic release but is believed to refer to Virginia Giuffre, a prominent accuser who died by suicide earlier this year. Giuffre had previously stated in depositions and a memoir that Trump was not involved in any wrongdoing, adding complexity to the allegations.
In another email from 2019, Epstein asserted that Trump “never got a massage” from his victims but acknowledged the president had visited his home multiple times. Maxwell, who is serving a prison sentence for sex trafficking, has told federal officials she never observed Trump in inappropriate settings. Trump has consistently denied any knowledge of Epstein’s crimes, emphasizing that he cut ties with Epstein years ago over misconduct concerns.
The documents also include exchanges with Michael Wolff, where Epstein and the author discussed how Trump might respond to media questions about their relationship. In 2015, Wolff suggested crafting answers that could either harm or help Trump, reflecting strategic maneuvering. Epstein forwarded emails to Wolff alleging financial schemes tied to Trump properties, though these claims remain unverified.
Epstein’s communications with former Trump adviser Steve Bannon reveal plans for a documentary to rehabilitate Epstein’s image, with texts showing disparaging remarks about Trump, such as calling him the “worst negotiator in human history.” Their exchanges, which continued until Epstein’s arrest in July 2019, included discussions on Middle East deals and media projects, illustrating Epstein’s efforts to maintain influence among powerful figures.
The White House has vehemently rejected the email releases, with Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt labeling them a “manufactured hoax” and “selectively leaked” to smear Trump. In a social media post, Trump accused Democrats of reviving the “Epstein hoax” to distract from other issues like the government shutdown, underscoring the political motivations behind the document disclosures.
Survivors of Epstein’s abuse, including Annie Farmer, have demanded the full release of all documents, arguing that partial disclosures leave unanswered questions for the estimated thousand victims. Farmer emphasized that transparency is crucial for justice, as the trickle of information fails to address the scope of Epstein’s network and its impact.
The fallout from these releases is likely to persist, with ongoing investigations and potential legal actions. The episode not only revisits Trump’s ties to Epstein but also highlights broader issues of accountability and partisan warfare in US politics, shaping public discourse as the 2025 political landscape evolves.
