Withheld Epstein files with accusations against Trump released by justice department
Epstein Files Reveal New Sexual Assault Allegations Against Trump
The U.S. Department of Justice has released new files detailing unsubstantiated claims of sexual assault made against Donald Trump by an unnamed woman. These documents, part of the broader Epstein file collection, were initially omitted from the DOJ’s database, leading to accusations of a cover-up by Democrats. The agency clarified that the files were mistakenly withheld during their review, as they were “incorrectly coded as duplicative.”
Allegations and Interview Summaries
The memos outline interviews conducted in 2019 with the woman, who alleges that both Trump and Jeffrey Epstein sexually assaulted her when she was between 13 and 15 years old. She claims to have met Trump through Epstein in the 1980s. According to one of the three memos, the woman introduced Trump to FBI agents during an interview, stating she was first connected to him via Epstein. The FBI agents did not pursue further contact with her after the interviews.
White House Response and Credibility Claims
In a statement, the White House called the newly published allegations “completely baseless” and “supported by zero credible evidence.” Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt emphasized that Trump had been “totally exonerated” by the release of the Epstein Files, adding that the Justice Department under the Biden administration had not charged Trump due to its knowledge of his innocence. The files, however, include thousands of references to Trump, including emails and correspondence from Epstein himself.
Context and Further Investigation
The full set of Epstein files also comprises allegations logged by the national Threat Operation Center tip line, listing numerous claims against Trump, Epstein, and other prominent individuals. Many of these appear to stem from unverified tips, often without supporting evidence. Following a prior release in January, the DOJ noted that some documents contained “untrue and sensationalist” claims against Trump, submitted shortly before the 2020 election. It remains unclear whether Trump and Epstein knew each other during the alleged incidents.
Subpoena and Legal Framework
A House committee recently voted to subpoena Attorney General Pam Bondi, seeking clarification on the DOJ’s handling of the Epstein files. The move followed a law passed last November, which mandated the release of all materials from investigations into Epstein. Millions of documents have been disclosed since then, but some key summaries, including those of interviews with the woman, were missing from the initial release. NPR first reported that the files showed the FBI had conducted four interviews with the woman in 2019 as part of an investigation into Epstein’s associate Ghislaine Maxwell, jailed in 2022 for sex trafficking.
“Some of the documents contain untrue and sensationalist claims against President Trump that were submitted to the FBI right before the 2020 election. To be clear, the claims are unfounded and false, and if they have a shred of credibility, they certainly would have been weaponized against President Trump already.”
Epstein and Trump were reportedly friends for years, though their relationship soured in the early 2000s, two years before Epstein’s first arrest. The ongoing scrutiny of the files highlights tensions over how the DOJ processed and shared information related to the sex offender and his alleged accomplices.
