The U.S. Department of Justice has confirmed that a controversial letter signed by ‘J. Epstein’ and addressed to convicted sex offender Larry Nassar, which made lewd references to President Donald Trump, is a fabrication. The FBI determined the letter to be fake based on handwriting analysis and discrepancies in its origin, underscoring the complexities in handling the Epstein files.
Released on Tuesday, December 23, 2025, as part of a substantial document dump related to Jeffrey Epstein, the handwritten letter immediately attracted attention for its salacious content. It was among thousands of pages made public by the DOJ, which included multiple mentions of Trump and other figures. The letter, dated August 2019, begins with ‘Dear L.N.’ and claims, ‘As you know by now, I have taken the short route home,’ a possible reference to Epstein’s suicide. It continues with assertions about a shared ‘love and caring for young ladies’ and explicitly states, ‘Our President also shares our love of young, nubile girls,’ accompanied by vulgar language about Trump’s treatment of women.
Hours after the release, the Justice Department issued a statement on X, declaring the letter fake. The FBI’s analysis revealed that the handwriting did not match Epstein’s, and the envelope was postmarked from Virginia, not New York City’s Metropolitan Correctional Center where Epstein was held. Moreover, the return address was for a different facility, and the mail was processed on August 13, 2019—three days after Epstein’s death on August 10. Prison staff discovered the letter weeks later in the jail mail room after it was returned from Nassar’s prison in Arizona, marked ‘no longer at this address.’
The DOJ emphasized that the release of such documents is required by law, particularly under court orders and Freedom of Information Act requests, but warned that some contain ‘untrue and sensationalist claims.’ In a broader statement, the department said, ‘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 cautionary note aims to prevent the spread of misinformation from the Epstein files, which have been a subject of intense public and media scrutiny.
Larry Nassar, the disgraced former doctor for the U.S. gymnastics team and Michigan State University, is serving a 60-year federal sentence for crimes related to child sexual abuse images and has additional state sentences. Over 150 women, including Olympic athletes, have accused him of abuse. There is no evidence of a relationship between Nassar and Epstein, and the motive behind the fake letter remains unclear. Some speculate it could be an attempt to smear Trump or exploit the Epstein case for attention.
The fake letter has reignited debates about Epstein’s death, which was officially ruled a suicide but has been questioned by his brother and others who suggest foul play. Epstein was arrested in 2019 on sex trafficking charges, decades after a controversial plea deal, and his connections to powerful individuals have fueled conspiracy theories. The DOJ’s prompt debunking of the letter seeks to maintain integrity in the ongoing investigations and document releases.
Looking ahead, the Justice Department plans to continue releasing Epstein-related materials as mandated, while implementing checks to verify authenticity. This incident highlights the importance of forensic analysis in historical document review and the need for public skepticism towards unverified claims. As the legal processes unfold, authorities urge reliance on official statements and corroborated evidence to separate fact from fiction in the complex Epstein saga.
