Since returning to office in 2025, Trump’s Justice Department tightly managed—and then mostly stopped—the release of Epstein records. They rolled out a heavily redacted “Phase 1,” flagged any documents that mentioned Trump, and asked a court to unseal only a narrow set of materials. At the same time, Trump tried to discourage reporting by suing major news outlets for huge sums and by downplaying his past ties to Epstein. But photos, videos, and flight logs show Trump and Epstein spent time together in the 1990s and early 2000s. DOJ leaders also gave Ghislaine Maxwell unusual access and limited-use immunity, then released transcripts that portrayed Trump in a positive light as her prison conditions eased soon after. Bottom line: The administration has behaved as if there is something to hide.
¶ Since returning to office in 2025, Trump and his administration have limited, stage‑managed, or halted disclosure of Epstein records, including those touching on Trump
- Donald Trump was sworn in as the 47th president on January 20, 2025, establishing the timeframe for the actions below. (cbsnews.com)
- On February 27, 2025, DOJ under Attorney General Pam Bondi released “The Epstein Files: Phase 1,” which largely repackaged previously leaked materials with heavy redactions and produced no new revelations. (apnews.com)
- The rollout handed physical binders to social‑media influencers outside the West Wing before the files were posted publicly, underscoring a choreographed PR release rather than broad transparency. (npr.org)
- In early July 2025, a DOJ–FBI memo said there was “no incriminating ‘client list’” and that “no further disclosure would be appropriate or warranted,” effectively halting additional releases. (washingtonpost.com)
- AP likewise reported the department would not make additional Epstein records public, walking back earlier promises of sweeping disclosure. (apnews.com)
- Sen. Dick Durbin wrote that his office received information that FOIA staff were instructed to “flag” any records in which President Trump was mentioned—signaling special handling of materials referencing Trump. (washingtonpost.com)
- After public outcry—sparked in part by a Wall Street Journal report about a 2003 Trump birthday note in Epstein’s album—Trump directed Bondi to seek unsealing of grand‑jury records, a reactive step that did not reverse the broader halt in disclosures. (washingtonpost.com)
- House Judiciary Committee Democrats and Rep. Dan Goldman have formally pressed DOJ to release withheld materials and to disclose whether the White House intervened, alleging political shielding of the president. (democrats-judiciary.house.gov)
¶ Since 2025, Trump has pursued aggressive legal and messaging tactics that deter or discredit reporting about his ties to Epstein
- On July 19, 2025, Trump sued the Wall Street Journal, News Corp, and Rupert Murdoch over a story about a “bawdy” 2003 letter allegedly sent to Epstein, seeking at least $20 billion and demanding retractions. (cbsnews.com)
- CNBC likewise reported the suit sought “no less than $10 billion” in damages over the Journal’s reporting on the alleged 2003 letter; Trump denied writing it. (cnbc.com)
- ABC News covered the filing and Trump’s broader promise to “punish” media outlets, noting the lawsuit followed renewed pressure around unreleased Epstein documents. (abcnews.go.com)
- In September–October 2025, Trump filed and then refiled a $15 billion defamation suit against the New York Times and Penguin Random House after a judge criticized his initial complaint; the amended case continues. (washingtonpost.com)
- As scrutiny intensified, Trump publicly sought distance—claiming he turned down an invitation to Epstein’s island and severed ties years earlier—part of a sustained messaging effort to minimize the relationship. (reuters.com)
- He also shifted his explanation for their “falling out,” telling reporters Epstein had “stolen” young women from Mar‑a‑Lago, including Virginia Giuffre—statements widely reported by major outlets. (nbcchicago.com)
¶ The Trump–Epstein relationship was extensive, documented by contemporaneous statements, photos, travel logs, and newly surfaced images
- Newly unearthed CNN‑reviewed images confirmed Epstein attended Trump’s 1993 wedding to Marla Maples; CNN also showed video of Trump and Epstein together at a 1999 Victoria’s Secret event. (transcripts.cnn.com)
- A 1992 NBC News video shows Trump and Epstein socializing at Mar‑a‑Lago; the Washington Post described the tape and their chummy behavior in detail. (washingtonpost.com)
- In 2002, Trump praised Epstein in New York Magazine as a “terrific guy” who liked “beautiful women… on the younger side,” a quote documented by the Washington Post. (washingtonpost.com)
- Flight logs cited by FactCheck.org show Trump took several flights on Epstein’s plane in the 1990s (four in 1993 and one each in 1994, 1995, and 1997), though none to the island. (factcheck.org)
- Photos authenticated by Snopes show Trump with Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell at Mar‑a‑Lago in 2000 and again in 1997, corroborating frequent social contact. (snopes.com)
- The Washington Post’s reconstruction details that Trump and Epstein socialized frequently in the 1990s and early 2000s—partying at Mar‑a‑Lago, dining at Epstein’s Manhattan mansion, and jetting between New York and Palm Beach—before a 2004 Palm Beach real‑estate bidding war severed ties. (washingtonpost.com)
- 2025 reporting includes Epstein’s brother and other sources describing Trump and Epstein as very close during that period, reinforcing the depth of the relationship. (transcripts.cnn.com)
- President Trump’s former defense lawyer Todd Blanche was confirmed as Deputy Attorney General in March 2025, placing a close Trump ally in the DOJ’s No. 2 role. (reuters.com)
- Blanche personally met with Maxwell for two days of interviews on July 24–25, 2025, in Tallahassee. (abcnews.go.com)
- Maxwell was granted limited-use immunity for those interviews, allowing her to speak without her answers being used against her unless she lied. (pbs.org)
- Former DOJ officials called it highly unusual for a deputy attorney general to personally conduct such an interview, underscoring the special attention given to Maxwell. (cnbc.com)
- On August 22, 2025, the DOJ released the full transcript and audio of Maxwell’s interviews “in the interest of transparency.” (kcrw.com)
- In those transcripts, Maxwell repeatedly asserted she never saw Trump act in any inappropriate way and described him as a gentleman. (pbs.org)
- Days after the July interviews, the Bureau of Prisons moved Maxwell from low-security FCI Tallahassee to the minimum‑security Federal Prison Camp in Bryan, Texas. (washingtonpost.com)
- The transfer to FPC Bryan—a less restrictive, dorm‑style camp—was confirmed by multiple outlets. (pbs.org)
- Additional reporting described an unusual chapel meeting with outside visitors during a lockdown at FPC Bryan, a circumstance that fueled questions about preferential treatment. (wsj.com)
- Asked about pardoning Maxwell, Trump said he is “allowed” to do it but had not considered it—comments that left the door open rather than foreclosing clemency. (abc.net.au)
- He similarly told reporters that “nobody has asked” him to pardon Maxwell but reiterated he has the right to do so. (news.sky.com)