Trump Praised Police During Epstein Investigation, According to Newly Released DOJ Files
Fresh disclosures continue to emerge from the final set of documents released by the U.S. Department of Justice concerning convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Among the most significant revelations is evidence that former President Donald Trump once contacted a Florida police official who was leading the sex-trafficking investigation in the mid-2000s.
Trump's Call to Palm Beach Police Chief
According to an FBI interview document dated April 23, 2020, former Palm Beach Police Chief Michael Reiter stated that he received a call from Trump during the investigation. Trump reportedly said, "thank goodness you’re stopping him, everyone has known he’s been doing this." The document further details that Trump was one of the first individuals to contact police upon learning of the Epstein probe.
The former president has consistently denied any wrongdoing, despite his name appearing in the released files. Trump has repeatedly asserted that he severed ties with Epstein over two decades ago from Mar-a-Lago after discovering Epstein had poached employees from the club's spa.
Additional Statements from Trump in the Document
The FBI document contains further remarks attributed to Trump during his conversation with Reiter. Trump stated that people in New York knew Epstein was "disgusting" and referred to Ghislaine Maxwell as "EPSTEIN's operative, she is evil and to focus on her." Notably, Trump also mentioned that he once found himself around Epstein when teenagers were present and "got the hell out of there."
An ABC News report, citing sources, indicates that the alleged call from Trump occurred in July 2006, coinciding with the period when details of the police investigation became public.
Ghislaine Maxwell Seeks Clemency from Trump
This document, first reviewed by the Miami Herald, surfaced hours after Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein's girlfriend and associate, sought clemency from Trump during a closed-door deposition. Maxwell is currently serving a 20-year sentence at a Texas prison for her involvement in sex trafficking. During a congressional hearing, she invoked the Fifth Amendment and remained silent throughout.
In a social media post, Maxwell's lawyer stated that she is prepared to speak "honestly and completely" if Trump grants her clemency. Clemency is a form of pardon, a power vested in the President under the U.S. Constitution. In a statement to the Republican House Oversight Committee, her lawyer asserted that both Trump and former President Bill Clinton "are innocent of any wrongdoing," but clarified that only Maxwell can provide a full explanation.
Background of the Jeffrey Epstein Case
The case against the late wealthy financier Jeffrey Epstein originated from a 2006 complaint by the parents of a 14-year-old girl who was allegedly molested at his Florida residence. Epstein initially pleaded not guilty but later, in 2008, pleaded guilty to two felony charges, including soliciting a minor for prostitution. This plea enabled him to avoid federal prosecution and serve a reduced sentence in a county jail.
Years later, in 2019, Epstein was arrested in New York on charges of sex trafficking of minors. On August 10, 2019, he was found dead in his prison cell, with authorities ruling it a suicide. However, the recent release of documents and images has reignited speculation and scrutiny over the circumstances of his death, with many pointing to perceived lapses in the official records.
