The FBI has removed Donald Trump’s name, along with those of other prominent public figures, from Jeffrey Epstein’s files, three sources familiar with the matter told Bloomberg’s Jason Leopold.
Internal directives issued to about 1,000 FBI agents instructed them to flag any mention of Trump during a review of nearly 100,000 pages of files in March, sources familiar with the matter told Bloomberg.
The U.S. Department of Justice announced that the review revealed no “client lists” or evidence linking Trump to criminal activity, despite his name appearing in Epstein’s address book and travel logs.
Newsweek contacted the FBI by email Friday morning for comment.
Why It Matters
The president and senior White House officials have repeatedly said in recent weeks that there is no reason to release the remaining Epstein files, and they have sought to push the saga forward despite calls from Trump’s base to release all the documents as promised.
What To Know
Bloomberg reported that earlier this year, FBI agents were tasked with searching all documents related to the Epstein case, totaling tens of thousands of pages, to determine which ones could be released, at the request of Attorney General Pam Bondi.
During their review in March, the FBI agents reportedly identified numerous references to Trump and other prominent figures, whose names were subsequently redacted by Freedom of Information Act officials because they were private citizens at the time—a common practice under the law.
After these redactions, the files were turned over to Bondi, who reportedly informed Trump in May that his name appeared in them.
In early July, the Justice Department and the FBI issued a joint statement indicating that they had concluded that no further documents were necessary.
The statement stated: “While we have worked diligently to provide the public with as much information as possible regarding Epstein, the Department of Justice and the FBI are determined that no further disclosure is appropriate or warranted.”
Privacy and victim protection concerns were cited as the reason for withholding additional documents, a decision that drew bipartisan criticism and renewed scrutiny of the handling of the files.
Trump said he believed former President Barack Obama and other members of his administration had been added to the files.
Trump And Epstein’s Relationship Explained
Trump and Epstein, both New Yorkers, met in the late 1980s. Several of their encounters were documented in the years that followed, including at Mar-a-Lago and in New York City.
They were friends for about 15 years, according to Trump. In 2002, he told New York magazine that Epstein was a “great guy.”
The president said he fell out with Epstein afterward and did not speak to him for more than a decade, before the financier’s arrest in 2019. Epstein, convicted of sexual assault, committed suicide in prison that year while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.
What Happened On Epstein’s Island?
Epstein owned a private island in the U.S. Virgin Islands, where he hosted lavish parties. He also allegedly sexually abused young girls.
In 2020, prosecutors alleged that a crime had been committed on the island: Epstein transported minors and young women there for sexual exploitation by his associates. Some of the victims were as young as 11.
In 2022, Epstein’s estate reached a $105 million settlement with the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Did Trump Visit Epstein’s Island?
Documents show that Trump used Epstein’s private jet for at least eight trips between 1993 and 1997, but only between New York and Florida.
The Epstein affair has raised new questions about whether Trump went further and visited Epstein’s island.
On Monday, Trump told reporters that he “never” had the opportunity to visit the island and that he had declined Epstein’s invitation.
What People Are Saying
President Donald Trump told reporters earlier this week: “This is all a hoax. They stole the files. I was running against someone who leaked them. If they had anything, they would have released it.”
Rep. Robert Garcia, D-California, said Friday on MSNBC: “After years of campaigning, promising to release the files and making it a central message of his presidential campaign, Donald Trump has backtracked. He’s clearly hiding something.”
What Happens Next
As Trump seeks to distance himself from the case, questions continue to mount from all sides of the political spectrum about the unreleased files.