A newly uncovered FBI document indicates that Donald Trump was aware of Jeffrey Epstein’s criminal behavior as early as 2006, allegedly telling a Florida police chief that ‘everyone’ knew about it. This revelation, part of the latest batch of Epstein files released by the justice department, contradicts Trump’s longstanding claims of ignorance and raises fresh questions about his past associations.
The document is a summary of a 2019 FBI interview with Michael Reiter, the former Palm Beach police chief, who stated that Trump called him in July 2006 during an investigation into Epstein for the alleged sexual exploitation of underage girls. According to Reiter, Trump said, ‘Thank goodness you’re stopping him, everyone has known he’s been doing this,’ and expressed relief that authorities were taking action.
Trump allegedly provided further details, claiming that he had thrown Epstein out of his Mar-a-Lago club because ‘people in New York knew he was disgusting.’ He also described being around Epstein when he was with teenagers, prompting him to ‘get the hell out of there,’ and identified Ghislaine Maxwell as Epstein’s ‘operative,’ urging police to focus on her.
These statements stand in stark contrast to Trump’s public denials. In 2019, after Epstein’s arrest for sex trafficking, Trump told reporters he had ‘no idea’ about Epstein’s crimes and hadn’t spoken to him in ‘many, many years.’ The White House has maintained that Trump severed ties with Epstein years earlier due to personal disputes.
The FBI document suggests Trump was one of the first to contact police upon learning of the investigation, highlighting his early awareness. However, a justice department official noted that there is no corroborating evidence of the 2006 call, and White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said it ‘may or may not have happened,’ emphasizing Trump’s consistent stance that he expelled Epstein for being a ‘creep.’
Trump and Epstein were once social acquaintances, frequently photographed together in the 1990s and early 2000s at events in Florida and New York. Their relationship soured around 2004, with Trump citing Epstein’s attempts to recruit his staff. Despite this, the new allegations imply a deeper knowledge of Epstein’s activities than previously acknowledged.
The release of this document comes amid ongoing scrutiny of the Epstein case, including Maxwell’s recent refusal to answer questions before Congress. It adds to the complex narrative of how powerful figures interacted with Epstein and what they knew about his crimes, potentially influencing public perception and political discourse.
Moving forward, the allegations may spur further investigations or calls for transparency, as they touch on issues of accountability and the handling of sensitive information by high-profile individuals. The episode underscores the lasting impact of the Epstein scandal and its ability to resurface in contemporary news cycles.
