Democrats on the House Oversight Committee on Wednesday released a series of emails suggesting that former U.S. President Donald Trump was aware of Jeffrey Epstein’s sexual abuse and “knew about the girls.”
Trump has repeatedly denied any knowledge of or involvement in the disgraced financier’s sex-trafficking activities. Epstein died by suicide in federal custody in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges.
The committee said the emails “raise serious questions about Donald Trump and his knowledge of Epstein’s horrific crimes,” reviving political controversy months after the Justice Department closed its investigation, citing no new evidence.
The newly disclosed messages, exchanged between Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell — who was later convicted of sex trafficking — and author Michael Wolff, were obtained through a subpoena to Epstein’s estate earlier this year.
In one email dated January 31, 2019, Epstein allegedly wrote to Wolff: “Trump said he asked me to resign, never a member ever… of course he knew about the girls as he asked Ghislaine to stop.”
Another message from April 2011 showed Epstein telling Maxwell: “I want you to realize that that dog that hasn’t barked is Trump,” adding that one victim “spent hours at my house with him… he has never once been mentioned.” Maxwell replied: “I have been thinking about that…”
Trump has not been accused of any criminal wrongdoing in connection with Epstein or Maxwell.
In a July memo, the Justice Department reaffirmed that Epstein’s so-called “client list” did not exist and confirmed that he died by suicide. The clarification angered many Trump supporters, who had long embraced conspiracy theories alleging a “deep state” cover-up to protect political elites.
Trump’s association with Epstein dates back to the 1990s, with several photos showing them socializing at events. The two reportedly fell out in 2004 over a property dispute, after which Trump distanced himself from Epstein.
Epstein previously pleaded guilty to state prostitution charges in 2008 under a plea deal arranged by a prosecutor who later served in Trump’s cabinet — a deal widely condemned as overly lenient.
