Newly Released FBI Documents Reveal Trump Called Police Chief in 2006 Regarding Jeffrey Epstein Investigation
Newly released documents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation reveal that former President Donald Trump contacted the Palm Beach police chief in 2006 to express support for the investigation into financier Jeffrey Epstein. According to the records, which summarize a 2019 FBI interview with former Palm Beach Police Chief Michael Reiter, Trump told the police chief, “Thank goodness you’re stopping him,” referring to the sex trafficking activities of Epstein.
The document, part of a broader release of files related to the Department of Justice’s review of the Epstein case, indicates that Trump initiated the call to Reiter as news of the investigation began to circulate. During the conversation, Trump reportedly stated that “everyone has known he’s been doing this,” suggesting that rumors of Epstein’s conduct with underage girls were widespread in social circles long before his arrest.
In addition to commenting on Epstein, the FBI summary notes that Trump directed the police chief’s attention toward Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s longtime associate. Trump reportedly described Maxwell as “evil” and labeled her as Epstein’s “operative,” advising law enforcement to “focus on her.” He also recounted a specific instance where he was in Epstein’s presence while teenagers were nearby, claiming he “got the hell out of there” because the situation made him uncomfortable.
Michael Reiter, who served as the police chief during the initial probe into Epstein, has since confirmed the accuracy of the account detailed in the FBI files to the Miami Herald. The interview was conducted in October 2019, shortly after Epstein died in federal custody while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.
The contents of the call present a complex picture of Trump’s relationship with Epstein. While Trump has publicly stated in recent years that he “had no idea” about the extent of Epstein’s crimes, this 2006 conversation suggests he was aware of the allegations at the time of the initial investigation. Trump has previously noted that he severed ties with Epstein years prior to the 2006 investigation, citing a dispute over a real estate transaction and an incident where Epstein reportedly made inappropriate advances toward an employee at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club.
In response to inquiries regarding the newly surfaced document, the Trump transition team has reiterated that the former president banned Epstein from Mar-a-Lago and was honest about ending their association. A spokesperson stated that Trump had “no tolerance” for Epstein’s behavior, describing the disgraced financier as a “creep.”
The release of these documents follows years of legal battles and public demand for transparency regarding how federal prosecutors handled the original case against Epstein, which resulted in a controversial non-prosecution agreement in 2008. The files continue to be scrutinized by journalists and legal experts for further details regarding the knowledge and involvement of high-profile associates.
* forbes.com
* nationaltoday.com
* straitstimes.com
* triblive.com
* denvergazette.com
* theguardian.com
* forbes.com
* time.com
