Justice Department Withholds Epstein Files Referencing Donald Trump, Records Show

The United States Department of Justice has withheld portions of the Epstein files that reference Donald Trump, according to reporting based on a review of federal records.

Documents reviewed indicate that certain materials catalogued within the Epstein files database were not made publicly available, despite a court order directing the full release of records. Among the withheld materials are more than 50 pages of FBI interview records and notes connected to allegations made decades ago by a woman who accused Trump of s£xual abuse while she was a minor. Trump has not been charged in connection with these claims.

Records show that while millions of pages have been released in recent months, documents referencing Trump appear in only a limited number of internal FBI summaries and Justice Department presentation materials. These include internal FBI lists of allegations circulated in mid-2025, many of which agents marked as unverifiable or not credible. 

One allegation involving Trump was forwarded internally for follow-up, leading to multiple interviews with the accuser.

FBI logs and discovery records from the criminal case against Ghislaine Maxwell indicate that the woman who accused Trump was interviewed four times by federal investigators. However, only one of those interviews is currently available in the public Epstein files database, and that interview does not mention Trump. Additional interview notes and records appear to be missing from public release.

A comparison of serial numbers across FBI case files, discovery logs, and Justice Department records suggests that approximately 53 pages related to these interviews exist but have not been published. The discrepancy was first highlighted by independent investigative reporting and later confirmed through document analysis.

When asked about the missing materials, the Justice Department declined to provide specific answers regarding their contents or why they were not released. A spokesperson later reiterated the department’s position that any documents not published are being withheld because they are privileged, duplicative, or related to an ongoing federal investigation.

Other documents removed or withheld involve a separate woman who served as a key prosecution witness in Maxwell’s trial. Maxwell, who is serving a 20-year sentence for sex trafficking, is currently seeking clemency from Trump. Some related files were briefly removed and later restored, while others remain unavailable.

In response to questions about the missing documents and allegations, the White House said Trump “has done more for Epstein’s victims than anyone before him.”

In a statement by White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson, it reads: “Just as President Trump has said, he’s been totally exonerated on anything relating to Epstein,” 

“And by releasing thousands of pages of documents, cooperating with the House Oversight Committee’s subpoena request, signing the Epstein Files Transparency Act, and calling for more investigations into Epstein’s Democrat friends, President Trump has done more for Epstein’s victims than anyone before him. Meanwhile, Democrats like Hakeem Jeffries and Stacey Plaskett have yet to explain why they were soliciting money and meetings from Epstein after he was a convicted sex offender.”

The Justice Department has previously stated that the Epstein files include “untrue and sensationalist claims” involving public figures. In a February 14 letter to Congress, Attorney General Pam Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche asserted that no documents were withheld or redacted “on the basis of embarrassment, reputational harm, or political sensitivity, including to any government official, public figure, or foreign dignitary.”

As lawmakers continue reviewing unredacted materials, members of both political parties have criticized the handling of the Epstein files’ release, accusing the Justice Department of lacking transparency and potentially violating federal disclosure requirements.