A newly released trove of Jeffrey Epstein–related documents has renewed scrutiny of US President Donald Trump’s past association with the disgraced financier, including previously undisclosed details about Trump’s travel aboard Epstein’s private jet during the 1990s.

The documents, released on Tuesday under a federal transparency law, include an internal email from a New York prosecutor stating that Trump flew on Epstein’s aircraft eight times, a figure significantly higher than what had been publicly reported in the past. Several of those flights allegedly included Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s longtime associate who is now serving a 20-year prison sentence for her role in facilitating the sexual abuse of underage girls.

Prosecutor Email Details Trump’s Epstein Jet Flights

According to a January 7, 2020 email written by an unidentified federal prosecutor in New York, flight records indicated that Trump traveled aboard Epstein’s private jet on eight occasions during the 1990s. The email stated that at least four of those flights included Maxwell as a passenger.

The email forms part of a broader document release that sheds new light on Epstein’s network of powerful associates and the movements of individuals who had contact with him before his arrest and death in federal custody in 2019.

Maxwell was convicted in 2021 on multiple counts related to sex trafficking and sentenced to 20 years in prison for helping Epstein groom and abuse minors.

Trump Has Denied Ever Flying on Epstein’s Plane

Trump has repeatedly denied traveling on Epstein’s aircraft. In a 2024 social media post, he said he was “never on Epstein’s plane, or at his ‘stupid’ island,” a reference to Epstein’s private Caribbean property.

The prosecutor’s email does not accuse Trump of any criminal activity, nor does it allege wrongdoing during the flights. However, it directly contradicts Trump’s public statements about never having flown on Epstein’s jet.

The White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment following the release of the documents.

DOJ Pushback and Claims of ‘Unfounded’ Allegations

The US Department of Justice (DOJ) issued a statement on Tuesday asserting that some of the documents released contained “untrue and sensationalist claims” related to Trump. The DOJ said the materials had been submitted to the FBI after the 2020 presidential election, which Trump lost, but offered no additional specifics.

“To be clear: the claims are unfounded and false,” the DOJ said, adding that if they had any credibility, they would have been used against Trump earlier.

Despite this statement, the DOJ did not dispute the authenticity of the prosecutor’s email itself, nor did it address the flight record references directly.

Additional Details From the Epstein Document Release

The latest document release includes approximately 8,000 files, consisting of video recordings, audio files, and more than 30,000 pages of written records. Many names and identifying details remain heavily redacted.

Some redactions appear to go beyond protecting victims’ identities, obscuring the names of prosecutors and government officials. Critics argue this exceeds the scope of redactions permitted under the Epstein Files Transparency Law, which allows only limited withholding of information necessary to protect survivors.

One document noted that on two additional flights, women who could have been potential witnesses in the Maxwell case were listed as passengers. On another flight, the only passengers named were Trump, Epstein, and a 20-year-old woman, whose name remains redacted.

Political Fallout and Public Distrust

The Trump administration previously opposed the release of Epstein-related records and has faced criticism after earlier document drops included extensive redactions. Victims’ advocates and lawmakers from both parties have accused the administration of subverting transparency requirements.

Public skepticism remains high. A recent Reuters/Ipsos poll found that:

• 52 percent of Americans disapprove of Trump’s handling of the Epstein files
• 23 percent approve
• Nearly 70 percent believe the government is concealing information about Epstein’s ties to powerful individuals who may have participated in sex trafficking

Trump has dismissed the renewed focus on Epstein as politically motivated, claiming his opponents are using the files to distract from what he called the “tremendous success” of his administration.

Growing Calls for Full Disclosure

Pressure continues to mount from lawmakers across the political spectrum. Democratic legislators, along with some Republicans, are demanding the full, unredacted release of Epstein-related materials.

Republican Representative Thomas Massie accused Attorney General Pam Bondi of deliberately redacting and withholding documents required by law, alleging efforts to “omit and delete” records Congress mandated for disclosure.

Meanwhile, divisions have emerged within Trump’s own political base, where some supporters have expressed frustration that promised transparency on Epstein was not delivered.

Epstein’s Death and Lingering Questions

Jeffrey Epstein died in a federal detention centre in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. His death was officially ruled a suicide, but ongoing speculation and unanswered questions continue to fuel public distrust in official explanations.

The latest document release is unlikely to end those debates, instead intensifying calls for accountability and clarity regarding Epstein’s relationships with influential figures across politics, business, and media.