Trump Mentioned in Newly Released Epstein Emails/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Newly released emails from Jeffrey Epstein’s estate mention Donald Trump and revive longstanding questions about his awareness of Epstein’s activities. Though Trump denies wrongdoing, the correspondence suggests deeper ties than previously disclosed. House Democrats and Republicans now battle over full public release of Epstein’s files.
Epstein Emails and Trump Connections: Quick Looks
- House Democrats release Epstein emails that mention Trump
- Emails suggest Trump knew of Maxwell’s recruitment at Mar-a-Lago
- Epstein references Trump’s connection with Virginia Giuffre
- Trump denies wrongdoing, calls disclosures a political trap
- Emails imply Epstein and Maxwell saw Trump info as leverage
- Trump Justice Department previously leaned on Maxwell for favorable testimony
- Emails contradict Maxwell’s sworn claims about Trump-Epstein distance
- Discharge petition to release Epstein files gains momentum
- Trump allies push GOP to avoid involvement in file release
- Public scrutiny builds as new evidence surfaces
Trump Mentioned in Newly Released Epstein Emails
Deep Look
WASHINGTON — A fresh round of emails tied to Jeffrey Epstein’s estate has resurfaced questions about former President Donald Trump’s ties to the disgraced financier and convicted sex offender. Released this week by Democrats on the House Oversight Committee, the emails include direct references to Trump and his interactions with Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, casting doubt on previous denials and raising new suspicions.
One of the most notable revelations comes from a 2011 email in which Epstein refers to Trump as the “dog that hasn’t barked.” He notes that a woman, now identified by Republicans as Virginia Giuffre—a prominent Epstein survivor who died by suicide earlier this year—“spent hours at my house with him.” The implication suggests not only familiarity between Trump and Giuffre, but that their time together may have been more significant than previously acknowledged.
A separate 2019 email goes further. Epstein writes that Trump asked Maxwell to stop recruiting employees from Mar-a-Lago.
He adds, “Of course he knew about the girls,” implying Trump’s awareness of the nature of the recruitment activity. Maxwell was later convicted for her role in Epstein’s trafficking operation.
While Trump has never been charged or officially accused of wrongdoing in relation to Epstein, the emails suggest he may have known more than he has publicly admitted.
In a 2002 interview, Trump referred to Epstein as someone who “likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side.” Additional comments from Trump’s former associates—such as Roger Stone—have also alluded to Epstein’s questionable activities being known within certain social circles.
The emails contradict elements of Maxwell’s own court testimony. In August, she downplayed the Trump-Epstein relationship, claiming she had never seen Trump at Epstein’s residence and denying knowledge of any wrongdoing. However, the 2011 exchange shows Maxwell responding to Epstein’s comments about Trump with, “I have been thinking about that,” suggesting she was aware of or considering the significance of the information.
Epstein and author Michael Wolff also discussed Trump in multiple emails. In one 2015 exchange, they strategize how Trump, then a presidential candidate, should handle questions about his Epstein connection.
Wolff suggests that Trump should be allowed to deny everything on air, saying, “Let him hang himself.”
Further emails hint that Epstein believed he possessed damaging knowledge about Trump.
In one 2018 message, he writes, “I know how dirty Donald is,” and references Michael Cohen flipping on Trump during the Mueller investigation.
In another, Epstein claims he gave a 20-year-old girlfriend to Trump in the mid-1990s and suggests he had photos of Trump with girls in bikinis in his kitchen.
These revelations come as Trump and his allies attempt to downplay the significance of the disclosures. The former president lashed out on Truth Social, labeling the email release a “trap” designed by Democrats to distract from other political issues.
“Only a very bad, or stupid, Republican would fall into that trap,” he wrote, urging GOP lawmakers to avoid engaging with the emerging scandal.
‘Behind the scenes, however, Trump has been making efforts to curb momentum for full transparency. CNN reports that Trump held a private Situation Room meeting with Colorado Rep. Lauren Boebert, one of four Republicans supporting a discharge petition to force a House vote on releasing all Epstein case files. The petition reached its critical 218th signature Wednesday with the swearing-in of a new Democratic lawmaker.
South Carolina Rep. Nancy Mace, another signatory, said in a statement, “I will NEVER abandon other survivors,” underscoring divisions within the Republican Party over how to handle the issue.
The White House’s response to the emails has been to accuse Democrats of “selective leaks” and political theater. Officials argue that the content proves nothing new and that Trump was never involved in Epstein’s crimes. But critics say the administration’s resistance to transparency and internal lobbying efforts only heighten suspicions of a cover-up.
Adding another layer of intrigue, some emails suggest that Epstein and Maxwell viewed their knowledge of Trump as potential leverage.
The phrase “dog that hasn’t barked,” borrowed from a Sherlock Holmes story, implies that Epstein expected public revelations about Trump—but they never came. Why those disclosures didn’t surface earlier remains a mystery.
The emails are especially significant in context. The 2011 message about Giuffre and Trump came as media scrutiny on Epstein’s ties to Prince Andrew intensified. The 2019 email about Maxwell’s recruitment coincided with growing calls to reopen the Epstein case, following major investigative reporting on his plea deal.
For now, there is no direct evidence linking Trump to Epstein’s criminal actions. But the newly released correspondence deepens the mystery, casts doubt on earlier denials, and may pressure Congress into expanding its investigation. Whether additional emails or documents will reveal more—and whether Republicans will support a full release—remains an open question.
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