By Khaleda Rahman
National Correspondent
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President Donald Trump's name has surfaced repeatedly when it comes to the case of Jeffrey Epstein.
On Thursday, billionaire Elon Musk suggested Trump is mentioned in still-secret Justice Department files related to the late financier and convicted sex offender and that it is "the real reason they have not been made public." Musk provided no support for the claim which emerged in a high-profile public feud with the president. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt has called Musk's claim "an unfortunate episode."
While Trump is mentioned in some of the previously released court documents on Epstein, he has not been accused of wrongdoing. There is no evidence to suggest he is mentioned in any unreleased files related to Epstein.
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Why It Matters
Thousands of pages of records that named people with ties to Epstein, who died while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges in 2019, have been released over the years.
But Musk's claim taps into suspicions among conspiracy theorists and online sleuths that incriminating and sensitive files that the government possesses about Epstein's case have yet to be released.
Trump had said on the campaign trail that he would release more government files on Epstein. Attorney General Pam Bondi fueled speculation in February when she hyped the release of records related to the case, but much of what was later distributed has been in the public domain for years.
Trump and Epstein were reportedly friends. Trump once said he thought Epstein was a "terrific guy," but after Epstein's arrest in 2019, Trump said they had fallen out 15 years earlier.
Is Donald Trump Mentioned in Epstein Files?
Trump's name is among those that appears in flight logs for Epstein's private plane. Trump flew on Epstein's private jet several times in the 1990s, mostly between Palm Beach, Florida and New York City, according to flight logs that were released as evidence in the trial of Ghislaine Maxwell, who was convicted on sex trafficking charges for helping Epstein abuse underage girls.
Individuals named in the documents are not necessarily accused of wrongdoing and Trump has not been linked to any offenses committed by Epstein or Maxwell.
Epstein's former pilot, Lawrence Visoski Jr, testified in 2021 that Trump, along with other powerful men, flew aboard Epstein's private plane on various occasions.
Visoski testified that he never saw evidence of sexual activity or sexual acts with underage girls on the flights.
Trump is also mentioned in a 2016 deposition by Epstein accuser Johanna Sjoberg. She recalled spending several hours with Epstein at Trump's Atlantic City casino. She did not say if she actually met Trump and did not accuse him of any wrongdoing.
A Trump spokesperson told Newsweek in January 2024 that any claims regarding Trump's relationship with Epstein were "thoroughly debunked" by the release of documents.
What People Are Saying
Elon Musk wrote on X on Thursday: "Time to drop the really big bomb:@realDonaldTrump is in the Epstein files. That is the real reason they have not been made public. Have a nice day, DJT!"
In another post, he added: "Mark this post for the future. The truth will come out."
White House press secretary Karolina Leavitt told Newsweek on Thursday: "This is an unfortunate episode from Elon, who is unhappy with the One Big Beautiful Bill because it does not include the policies he wanted. The President is focused on passing this historic piece of legislation and making our country great again."
President Donald Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform on Thursday: "Elon was 'wearing thin,' I asked him to leave, I took away his EV Mandate that forced everyone to buy Electric Cars that nobody else wanted (that he knew for months I was going to do!), and he just went CRAZY!"
The Democrats account on X wrote in a post alongside a picture of Trump with Epstein: "What is Trump hiding? Release the Epstein files."
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What's Next
The Trump administration is likely to face increased scrutiny about the release of the Epstein files.
The administration has said that more Epstein documents will be released after the first batch in February, with Bondi addressing concerns about the delay in another release by saying the FBI is reviewing a huge amount of evidence.
Democratic Representatives Stephen Lynch and Robert Garcia have already sent a letter, first reported by Axios, to Bondi and FBI director Kash Patel asking that they "immediately clarify" if Musk's allegation Is true.
Lynch and Garcia asked for a timeline of the DOJ's declassification and public release of all remaining documents, an explanation for why no new documents had been released since February and a description of Trump's role in reviewing the files. The Democratic reps also requested a list of personnel involved in the release of the documents and an explanation for why files previously released contained "significant redactions."
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