Justice Department releases more Epstein files and some mention Trump : NPR

Ministry of Justice released a new batch of files Tuesday's story is about convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and contains hundreds of references to President Trump.

Trump has not been accused of wrongdoing related to Epstein, although he had a well-documented friendship with the disgraced financier in the 1980s, 90s and 2000s. This latest tranche contains more details about Trump's relationship with Epstein, including documentation of Trump flying on Epstein's private jet in the 1990s. Epstein's relationships with powerful politicians and businessmen—and, in particular, the extent to which Trump may have been aware of Epstein's crimes—has been a central question as the Justice Department continued to release files.

Congress required the Department of Justice make all files available by last Friday. The department has taken a phased approach to releasing the files, which are expected to contain hundreds of thousands of pages.

IN Social media post Tuesday morningThe department said the latest batch contains about 30,000 pages, adding that it includes “false or sensational allegations” about Trump. When asked for comment on the newest files, the White House referred NPR to the Justice Department's statement.

The latest set of files includes a 2020 email from an unnamed federal prosecutor saying that “Donald Trump traveled on Epstein's private jet many more times than previously reported (or known to us).”

The prosecutor said Trump was listed as a passenger on at least eight flights between 1993 and 1996, including four on which Ghislaine Maxwell, an Epstein associate and herself a convicted sex offender, was also a passenger. The prosecutor also wrote that only Trump, Epstein and a 20-year-old man whose name was redacted were on the same flight.

Flight logs included in the latest files show Trump's flights were mostly domestic, between New Jersey, Palm Beach and Washington, D.C.

President Trump has not yet responded directly to the latest release of the documents, but told reporters Monday that he believes the Epstein files are a distraction and that they unfairly implicate innocent people.

“This whole Epstein thing is an attempt to distract from the tremendous success that the Republican Party has had,” Trump said. “A lot of people are very upset that photos of other people are being published who actually have nothing to do with Epstein, but they are in the photo with him because he was at a party. And you're ruining someone's reputation.”

The files also include a 2019 letter allegedly sent by Epstein to convicted sex offender Larry Nassar, a former USA Gymnastics team doctor. But after the letter was published, the Ministry of Justice said it was a fake.

The letter, which says Epstein sent him away from a Manhattan correctional facility, said “our President shares our love for young, coming-of-age girls.” A stamp on the letter indicates that it has been returned to the sender.

The Department of Justice posted a message on social media. The letter had some inconsistencies, such as a Virginia postmark instead of a New York postmark and a return address that listed the wrong prison for Epstein. Initially saying on Tuesday that they were “verifying the validity” of the letter, The Justice Department said the FBI concluded it was a “fake story.”

“This false letter serves as a reminder that the fact that a document is published by the Department of Justice does not make the statements contained in it factual. However, the Ministry of Justice will continue to publish all materials required by law,” the Ministry of Justice said.

The FBI declined to comment.

Another document included is a 2021 subpoena to Trump's Mar-a-Lago club for employment records during the Maxwell investigation.

NPR's Luke Garrett contributed reporting.