US President Donald Trump has repeatedly emphasized that he had no knowledge of Jeffrey Epstein’s sex crimes. Now it turns out that this is not entirely true.
Feb 10, 2026, 3:41 p.mFeb 10, 2026, 3:41 p.m
Marisa Lattemann / t-online
In July 2006, when Epstein’s sex charges became public, Trump called then-Palm Beach Police Chief Michael Reiter. As the recently released Epstein files show, Trump said in that conversation that Epstein’s activities with underage girls were well known in both New York and Palm Beach.
New FBI files suggest that Donald Trump was aware of the allegations against Jeffrey Epstein as early as 2006 – and even spoke of “underage girls”. image: imago
In a 2002 interview with New York Magazine, Trump called Epstein a “great guy” and said that Epstein “likes beautiful women as much as I do – and many of them are on the younger side.” In 2019, Epstein wrote about Trump in an email: “Of course he knew about the girls because he asked Ghislaine to stop.”
Reiter told FBI investigators that Trump disclosed that Maxwell’s role was that of an “agent” for Epstein. Trump said: “She’s evil, focus on her.” The report also states that Trump said he was once near Epstein when young people were present and “got away as quickly as possible.”
New documents contradict Trump’s Epstein account
Trump also told Reiter that he kicked Epstein out of his Mar-a-Lago club. That’s a stark contrast to what Trump told reporters in July 2019 when asked if he knew Epstein had abused girls. At the time he said: “No, I had no idea. I had no idea.”
Reiter, who retired as police chief in 2009, confirmed to the US newspaper “Miami Herald” that he was interviewed by the FBI in 2019. The conversation with Trump took place in July 2006. However, an FBI official denied that Trump called Reiter. “We are not aware of any corroborating evidence that the president contacted law enforcement 20 years ago,” the official said.
Melania Trump, then Knauss (l.), Donald Trump and Ghislaine Maxwell: They were in Epstein’s orbit for years. Image: US Justice Department
On Monday, Maxwell was scheduled to testify via video before the House Oversight and Reform Committee. She invoked her right not to testify, with her lawyer saying she was “willing to testify fully and honestly if President Trump grants her a pardon.” She could exonerate the president, said Maxwell. Trump has not yet commented on this.
Maxwell wants to exonerate Trump
When Maxwell was arrested in 2020, Trump said: “I honestly just wish her well.” The 64-year-old is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence for human trafficking in connection with her and Epstein’s sexual abuse of minors.
Epstein lived less than a mile from Mar-a-Lago. Around 2000, Maxwell recruited 16-year-old Virginia Giuffre, who worked at Mar-a-Lago’s spa. Giuffre later said Maxwell offered her a job as a masseuse for a rich man and introduced her to Epstein.
Trump later said he banned Epstein from Mar-a-Lago because he tried to poach his employees. Nevertheless, he always denied knowing about Epstein’s crimes.
In a 2002 interview with New York Magazine, Trump called Epstein a “great guy” and said that Epstein “likes beautiful women as much as I do – and many of them are on the younger side.” In 2019, Epstein wrote about Trump in an email: “Of course he knew about the girls because he asked Ghislaine to stop.”