Trump Reportedly Knew About Epstein's Crimes in 2006, FBI Documents Show
Newly released FBI interview records from the Justice Department's Epstein case files have revealed startling claims about former US President Donald Trump's knowledge of Jeffrey Epstein's criminal activities. According to a 2019 FBI interview with former Palm Beach police chief Michael Reiter, Trump contacted him in July 2006—just as Epstein's criminal sex charges became public—to discuss the financier's behavior.
The 2006 Phone Call Revelation
The Miami Herald reported that during this conversation, Trump allegedly told Reiter that Epstein's activities with teenage girls were "well known" in both New York and Palm Beach communities. "Thank goodness you're stopping him, everyone has known he's been doing this," Trump reportedly stated, according to the FBI interview transcript.
This disclosure stands in stark contrast to Trump's public statements in July 2019 when questioned by reporters about whether he had any knowledge of Epstein molesting girls. At that time, Trump emphatically responded, "No, I had no idea. I had no idea."
Trump's Characterization of Ghislaine Maxwell
According to the FBI report, Reiter told agents that Trump described Epstein's associate Ghislaine Maxwell as Epstein's "operative" and advised law enforcement to "focus on her," adding that "she is evil." The former president further claimed that he had been around Epstein once when teenagers were present and that he "got the hell out of there." Trump also told Reiter that he had thrown Epstein out of his Mar-a-Lago club.
Context of the FBI Interview
The interview with former Chief Reiter was conducted in October 2019, months after Epstein's death in jail while awaiting trial for sex trafficking underage girls. Reiter, who retired as police chief in 2009, confirmed to the Miami Herald that FBI agents interviewed him in 2019 and that his conversation with Trump occurred in July 2006.
Epstein Files Release and Congressional Interest
These revelations come as the Justice Department has released millions of documents related to the government's investigation into Epstein under the Epstein Files Transparency Act (EFTA), passed by Congress in November. Many documents remain heavily redacted, but the latest disclosures have prompted renewed scrutiny.
Meanwhile, Ghislaine Maxwell, currently serving a 20-year prison sentence for sex trafficking, has been subpoenaed by the House Oversight Committee to discuss her relationship with Epstein. Her attorney, David Markus, stated that Maxwell would be prepared to speak publicly "if granted clemency by President Trump," suggesting a potential quid pro quo arrangement for testimony.
Implications and Ongoing Questions
The alleged 2006 conversation raises significant questions about:
- How much Trump knew about Epstein and Maxwell's criminal enterprise
- Why this information wasn't acted upon more aggressively at the time
- The timeline of Trump's awareness versus his public denials
- Potential political implications as Trump campaigns for re-election
These developments add another layer to the complex Epstein-Maxwell saga that has implicated numerous high-profile individuals across business, political, and entertainment circles. The release of additional documents under the EFTA may provide further insights into the extent of knowledge among Epstein's associates about his criminal activities.
