New FBI Records Reveal Trump’s Early Comments on Epstein and Maxwell
Newly released FBI documents show that Donald Trump called Palm Beach Police Chief Michael Reiter in 2006 to discuss Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. According to an FBI report from October 2019, Trump criticized Epstein and called Maxwell “evil.”
The document, known as a 302 report, notes that Trump described Maxwell as Epstein’s “operative” and told Chief Reiter to “focus on her.” Trump also claimed he once left a location where Epstein was present because teenagers were there.
Trump’s Reaction to the Investigation
The call took place shortly after the police investigation into Epstein became public. According to The Miami Herald, Trump told Reiter, “Thank goodness you’re stopping him, everyone has known he’s been doing this.”
Trump also mentioned that he had banned Epstein from his Mar-a-Lago club. He added that “people in New York knew Epstein was disgusting.”
Context of the Document Release
These records surfaced shortly after Ghislaine Maxwell’s lawyer asked Trump for executive clemency. The lawyer suggested that if granted clemency, Maxwell could speak “honestly” about Epstein’s crimes. Maxwell, 64, is currently serving a 20-year sentence for sex trafficking. She previously declined to testify before a House committee.
The Palm Beach Police Investigation
The FBI report also includes Chief Reiter’s account of the original investigation, which began in 2003. The case grew in March 2005 after a woman reported that Epstein had molested her 14-year-old stepdaughter.
Police surveillance later confirmed that underage girls were visiting Epstein’s home in Palm Beach. Reiter expressed frustration that the state attorney chose not to prosecute the case in 2006.
The 2007 Plea Deal
In 2007, federal prosecutors gave Epstein immunity as part of a plea deal. Epstein served only 13 months in a local jail, with most of that time spent on work release. Reiter told the FBI he felt “very disappointed that the system failed” in that instance.
While Trump has repeatedly denied knowing about Epstein’s illegal activities, his past comments have faced scrutiny. In a 2002 interview with New York Magazine, Trump called Epstein a “terrific guy” and remarked that Epstein liked “beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side.”
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