Trump Faces Fresh Scrutiny Over Epstein Ties Ahead of Justice Department Files Deadline

As the Justice Department approaches a Friday deadline to release long-awaited files related to the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, a new investigative report has renewed scrutiny of President Donald Trump’s past relationship with Epstein.

The report, published by The New York Times, draws on interviews with more than 30 former Epstein employees, associates, and women who encountered Epstein over several decades, as well as a review of newly surfaced documents. While the investigation does not allege or present evidence that Trump participated in Epstein’s criminal activities, it describes what the newspaper calls a “far closer and more complex” relationship between the two men than the president has publicly acknowledged.

For months, Trump has sought to distance himself from Epstein, particularly after his administration backed away from earlier promises to release the full set of Epstein-related documents to supporters. Trump and members of his team have offered differing explanations over the years about how close the two men were and why their relationship ended in the mid-2000s, often shifting responsibility or blame to others.

According to the Times report, Trump and Epstein first became acquainted in the 1980s, with their relationship intensifying in the years that followed. Former employees and associates described a dynamic rooted in wealth, status, and competition, particularly involving women. The report characterizes the social circle they moved in as one where “women’s bodies were a form of currency,” with Epstein becoming a frequent presence at parties attended by Trump in New York and Florida for nearly two decades.

Epstein was described by one former employee as “arguably Trump’s most loyal companion” during that period. Several interviewees recalled the two men attending numerous social events together, visiting each other’s properties, and speaking frequently by phone. One associate claimed they spoke as often as three times a week in the mid-to-late 1990s.

Former employees told the Times that Epstein would sometimes place Trump on speakerphone in his office, recounting conversations that allegedly focused heavily on sex, models, beauty pageants, and social scenes tied to fashion and celebrity culture. One former associate said Trump appeared to enjoy recounting sexual exploits during these calls, while another recalled discussions involving models and pageants. These accounts are based on recollections from former staff and associates and are not independently verified in the report.

The investigation also examined the experiences of women connected to Epstein and his longtime associate Ghislaine Maxwell. At least six women who later accused Epstein or Maxwell of sexual assault told the Times they had encountered Trump at various points. None accused Trump of sexual misconduct. One woman said Epstein forced her to attend multiple parties at his home that Trump also attended, alleging that Epstein pressured her into sexual encounters with other men at some of those events.

Stacey Williams, a former Sports Illustrated model who previously said she dated Epstein, reiterated an earlier allegation that Trump sexually assaulted her at Trump Tower in 1993 while Epstein was present. Trump has denied this accusation. The report notes that Trump has not been accused of sexually assaulting minors.

Accounts from former employees also included claims that Trump harassed an Epstein employee on a flight in the early 1990s and that Trump sometimes sent Epstein photographs of models. These allegations are attributed to individuals interviewed by the Times and are disputed by Trump’s representatives.

The report further states that Trump visited Epstein’s Manhattan residence and that Epstein, in turn, visited properties Trump owned at the time, including the Plaza Hotel in New York and at least one casino in Atlantic City. According to former employees and women who stayed at Epstein’s homes, the two men also visited each other’s offices and residences in Florida.

Previously unpublished handwritten diaries from late 1994, kept by a former Epstein associate and reviewed by the Times, reportedly suggest that Trump was a regular presence in Epstein’s life during that period. Several interviewees also recalled the two men attending multiple social gatherings together in both New York and Florida.

One section of the report recounts an incident at Mar-a-Lago in late 1994 involving Tina Davis, then a 14-year-old model with Ford Models, who attended a party with her mother, Sandra Coleman. Coleman recalled being concerned about the presence of very young models and men at the event, saying she intervened when men approached her daughter. Coleman also claimed that Marla Maples, Trump’s wife at the time, warned her to keep her daughter away from certain men, including Trump. Maples has denied making those remarks.

The White House strongly criticized the New York Times investigation. In a statement, spokesperson Karoline Leavitt dismissed the article as “fake news” and “a tired rehashing of old, false accusations,” reiterating Trump’s claim that he banned Epstein from Mar-a-Lago because of Epstein’s behavior. Trump has also previously denied visiting Epstein’s office, though a former associate told the Times that Trump met Epstein there multiple times in the mid-1990s.

The renewed attention comes as pressure mounts on the Justice Department to release the Epstein files, a move closely watched by Trump supporters and critics alike. While the Times report does not implicate the president in Epstein’s crimes, it adds new detail and testimony that further complicate Trump’s longstanding efforts to minimize the extent of his relationship with the disgraced financier.