Nearly two years ago, Donald Trump kicked off presidential-campaign season with declaration: “I was never on Epstein’s Plane, or at his ‘stupid’ Island,” he posted on Truth Social in January 2024. Reports to contrary, he insisted, were fault of AI—and of his political rivals: “This is what Democrats do to their Republican Opponent, who is leading them, by a lot, in Polls.” But this week, documents released by Trump’s own Justice Department—including flight logs and emails—told different story. Federal prosecutors determined in January 2020 that Trump had been passenger on notorious private jet owned by Jeffrey Epstein—who would later be charged with sex trafficking—far more often than they had realized.
Many of flights on what came to be known as Lolita Express took place “during period we would expect to charge in Maxwell case,” federal prosecutor in New York told colleagues. Epstein’s co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell was subsequently convicted and is now serving 20-year prison sentence for her role in sex-trafficking operation, including using plane for “transporting minor to participate in illegal sex acts.” There are many other mentions of Trump. President’s name appears more than 100 times in files released as part of DOJ’s compliance with legislation requiring it to disclose everything it has on Epstein case.
Congressional Response and Subpoena Efforts
Trump fought Congress’s demand for transparency for months before abruptly pivoting and endorsing bill once he realized he had lost. Although many references to Trump are clearly from news reports or from seemingly unverified tips to FBI, one conclusion from files is that Trump’s relationship with Epstein, former friend, was of interest to federal law enforcement for years. White House official stated Trump was never contacted by law enforcement regarding interactions with Epstein during time period for which Epstein and Maxwell were charged.
Members of Congress from both parties said they will continue to probe issue in upcoming year. Representatives stated their takeaway from reading files is that top officials in Trump administration have not been honest about what was in them, and they intend to press Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel for more information.
“Although files are overly redacted, they’ve already demonstrated that narrative painted by Patel in hearings, Bondi in press statements, and Trump himself on social media wasn’t accurate,” Thomas Massie, Kentucky Republican who co-authored Epstein legislation, stated. “Complete disclosure consistent with law will show there are more men implicated in files in possession of government.”
Contempt Resolution and Impeachment Articles
Representatives and staff on House Oversight Committee stated they were drafting subpoenas in response to documents released, seeking more information related to law enforcement’s identification of 10 alleged “co-conspirators” shortly after Epstein’s July 2019 arrest. Case that prosecutors were building related to those unnamed co-conspirators appears to have been substantial. One document released is November 2020 overview presented to deputy attorney general from acting US attorney titled “Anticipated Charges and Investigative Steps.” But what, if any, next steps were taken remains mystery: rest of page is redacted.
Oversight Committee members also drafting contempt resolution to penalize Bondi for not ensuring DOJ fully complied with law. Resolution, spearheaded by Massie and Democrat Ro Khanna, will give Bondi 30 days to fully release all remaining Epstein materials, then fine her $10,000 each day she doesn’t release them after that. They expected to introduce resolution when Congress returns in January. They are also moving ahead on articles of impeachment for Bondi, and said they were optimistic they could get them passed in House.
Khanna stated there was emerging “coalition of right and left to fight for justice.” That alliance, he added, “has proven to be kryptonite that marks beginning of end of Trump era.”
Senate Democratic Leadership Shift
Files released—and Trump’s prominence in them—appear to have changed calculation for senior Democratic Party leaders as they prepare for midterm elections. Party leadership had previously sought to convince junior members not to focus on Epstein. But this week Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said he will push for Senate to hold DOJ accountable for not fully complying with legislation, citing missed 30-day deadline for all files to be released and excessive redactions in those that have been.
“Department of Justice needs to shed more light on who was on list, how they were involved, and why they chose not to prosecute. Protecting possible co-conspirators is not transparency American people and Congress are demanding,” Schumer said in statement.
Additional Documents Discovery
Justice Department acknowledged there are still many more files to be released—and known backlog grew longer today when DOJ announced FBI and New York prosecutors had uncovered “over million more documents related to Jeffrey Epstein case” and that process of reviewing them could take “few more weeks.” Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche had earlier said on Meet the Press that delay was due to need for additional redactions in order “to protect victims.” Behind scenes, his office has requested additional “emergency” help from US attorneys’ offices to continue reviewing and redacting Epstein-related material over Christmas and New Year holidays, CNN reported.
DOJ on X sought to downplay mentions of Trump in files, saying documents “contain untrue and sensationalist claims made against President Trump that were submitted to FBI right before 2020 election. To be clear: claims are unfounded and false, and if they had shred of credibility, they certainly would have been weaponized against President Trump already.”
Survivor Reactions
Survivors of Epstein’s abuses reacted with both excitement and anger as they reviewed new files, lighting up group chats. Some were working retail jobs on one of busiest days of year; others were caring for children home from school. Lisa Phillips stated there were still too many unanswered questions, but months of work she and other Epstein survivors had put into lobbying Congress were finally delivering results. “This is first news that has made me feel like we are making headway,” she stated.
Sigrid McCawley, attorney who represents several of Epstein’s victims, said it would take time to know true impact of “avalanche” of new documents released. But she stated one thing is clear: “These brave survivors were absolutely correct that government was withholding critical information from public.”
Original reporting by Sarah Fitzpatrick from The Atlantic. Republished with additional research and verification by ThinkTanksMonitor.
