SDNY Assistant U.S. Attorney Letter Reveals Trump Flew On Epstein’s Jet Many More Times Than Previously Reported

The Department of Justice recently made public a massive trove of documents known as “Data Set 8” related to the investigation of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. This release contains thousands of pages of internal communications and evidence files that provide new details regarding the social circles and travel habits of the disgraced financier.

What do the newly released SDNY emails reveal about Donald Trump?

A central piece of evidence found within the Data Set 8 upload is an email from an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Southern District of New York (SDNY). Dated January 8, 2020, the letter notifies officials that President Donald Trump flew on Jeffrey Epstein’s private planes far more often than federal investigators or the public previously understood. (CNBC)

The full internal memo states: “For your situational awareness, wanted to let you know that the flight records we received yesterday reflect that Donald Trump traveled on Epstein’s private jet many more times than previously has been reported (or that we were aware), including during the period we would expect to charge in a Maxwell case. In particular, he is listed as a passenger on at least eight flights between 1993 and 1996, including at least four flights on which Maxwell was also present.”

“He is listed as having traveled with, among others and at various times, Marla Maples, his daughter Tiffany, and his son Eric. On one flight in 1993, he and Epstein are the only two listed passengers; on another, the only three passengers are Epstein, Trump, and then-20-year-old [REDACTED]. On two other flights, two of the passengers, respectively, were women who would be possible witnesses in a Maxwell case. We’ve just finished reviewing the full records (more than 100 pages of very small script) and didn’t want any of this to be a surprise down the road.”

How did Bill Clinton’s team respond to the document dump?

Following the unsealing of various records in the Epstein investigation, representatives for former President Bill Clinton issued statements to clarify his past association with the financier. His spokesperson emphasized that the former President had not been charged with any wrongdoing and maintained that his travels with Epstein were strictly for philanthropic purposes. According to the spokesperson, the flights occurred in the early 2000s and were related to the work of the Clinton Foundation, primarily involving trips to Europe, Asia, and Africa.

The statement further asserted that Clinton had not had contact with Epstein for over a decade prior to the financier’s 2019 arrest. Despite the frequent appearance of his name in various flight manifests and deposition transcripts from the era, his legal team continues to state that he was never made aware of Epstein’s illicit activities. The spokesperson reiterated that the former President supports the efforts of the legal system to bring justice to the victims involved in the Maxwell and Epstein cases. (ABC News)

How many flights were identified in the internal records?

According to the Assistant U.S. Attorney, the records indicate that Trump was a passenger on at least eight flights between 1993 and 1996. This timeline is significant because it overlaps with the window of time prosecutors focused on for the sex-trafficking charges against Ghislaine Maxwell.

The email notes that Ghislaine Maxwell was present on at least four of those eight flights. Furthermore, the prosecutor highlighted specific passenger manifests to show the nature of these trips:

• 1993 Flight: Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein were the only two passengers listed.

• Three-Person Flight: One trip included only Epstein, Trump, and a 20-year-old woman whose name remains redacted.

• Family Travel: Records show Trump traveled at various times with Marla Maples, his daughter Tiffany, and his son Eric.

• Potential Witnesses: Two other flights included women identified by the DOJ as “possible witnesses in a Maxwell case.”

Why was this information kept internal until now?

The email suggests that the SDNY team was bracing for the public impact of this information. The prosecutor wrote, “We’ve just finished reviewing the full records (more than 100 pages of very small script) and didn’t want any of this to be a surprise down the road.”

While Trump has previously acknowledged knowing Epstein in the 1990s, these logs provide a more granular look at the frequency of their contact. In a 2002 interview with New York Magazine, Trump famously said of Epstein, “I’ve known Jeff for fifteen years. Terrific guy. He’s a lot of fun to be with. It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side.” (New York Magazine)

What is the current status of the Epstein file releases?

The release of Data Set 8 is part of a broader effort by the Department of Justice to provide transparency regarding the investigation into Epstein’s sex-trafficking ring. These document dumps often follow court orders resulting from civil litigation or Freedom of Information Act requests. Legal experts note that while the records show frequent travel, they do not necessarily prove knowledge of or participation in Epstein’s criminal activities. However, the DOJ viewed the frequency of the flights as a critical detail for “situational awareness” during the Maxwell prosecution. (The New York Times)