In a shocking late-night move that sent Washington reeling, Democratic lawmakers have released a new batch of emails connected to Jeffrey Epstein — and several of them directly reference former President Donald Trump in language that investigators are calling “deeply troubling.”
The emails, made public by the House Oversight Committee following months of political standoffs over transparency, include exchanges between Epstein’s longtime associates and individuals with ties to multiple public figures. In several messages dated between 2000 and 2007, Epstein’s assistant appears to reference “DJT” and “Mar-a-Lago” in connection with scheduling meetings and guest lists for private events.
“DJT confirmed — wants ‘the usual discretion,’” one message reads, according to documents reviewed by NBC News. Another refers to “travel arrangements for the Palm Beach circle” — a phrase that investigators say may refer to Epstein’s now-infamous mansion just miles from Trump’s Florida estate.
“These are communications that appear to tie Epstein’s social network directly into the orbit of high-level figures in business and politics,” said Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD), who led the document release. “No one is above accountability — not billionaires, not presidents.”
“House Democrats release new batch of Epstein emails — several directly mention Trump, Mar-a-Lago, and ‘private dinners.’” @Reuters
The emails are part of a trove of roughly 2,000 communications obtained from a hard drive belonging to Epstein’s former house manager, which was seized by federal investigators years ago but only recently declassified. Democrats say the timing of the release is tied to what they call “a pattern of interference” by the Republican-led Judiciary Committee, which has reportedly blocked prior attempts to make the material public.
Among the most disturbing details are references to “dinner guests from the club” and “arrivals before sunset,” language that investigators believe could refer to the exclusive private gatherings Epstein was known to host at his New York and Florida properties. “There are repeated mentions of recognizable initials,” noted journalist David Smith. “Some are easily identifiable — others are less clear, but the context raises serious questions.”
In one exchange from March 2002, an assistant writes: “DJT is in town. Should I reserve the south cabana again?” A separate email from that same thread contains an attachment titled “guest_photos.pdf,” which House staffers say has been forwarded to the Department of Justice for forensic review.
Trump, who has previously acknowledged knowing Epstein but denied any wrongdoing, has yet to comment publicly on the release. His campaign spokesperson told Politico that “the President had no involvement with Jeffrey Epstein and any implication otherwise is false.”
“Trump campaign calls new Epstein emails a ‘partisan stunt,’ while Democrats say the evidence ‘speaks for itself.’” @nytimes
Democrats, however, insist the evidence is too significant to ignore. “We are not alleging criminal conduct,” said Rep. Raskin. “But these communications raise important ethical and national security questions about who was influencing whom during that era — and what access was being exchanged for power.”
Several of the released messages also include scheduling notes about “travel to the island,” presumed to reference Epstein’s private Caribbean retreat. One dated July 2003 reads: “Flight confirmed for VIP + DJT + 2 guests.” Democrats say they have not confirmed the authenticity of the flight manifest referenced but are requesting additional verification from the Federal Aviation Administration.
The release has sparked an online firestorm, with hashtags like #EpsteinEmails and #TrumpEpstein trending worldwide. “This is the transparency the public was promised,” one user posted on X. “The truth doesn’t need spin — it just needs sunlight.”
Epstein’s connection to Trump has long been the subject of public speculation, particularly after the release of footage in 2019 showing the two men laughing together at a Mar-a-Lago party in 1992. Trump has since said the two “had a falling out” years before Epstein’s 2008 conviction for sex crimes involving minors.
“Remember when Trump said Epstein was a ‘terrific guy’? Those words are haunting him again tonight.” @MeidasTouch
The emails’ release also renewed questions about Epstein’s extensive political connections, which include figures from both parties, as well as celebrities and business leaders. Democrats have been careful to note that the correspondence mentions “multiple high-profile individuals,” not only Trump.
“We’re not cherry-picking,” said Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. “Every name deserves scrutiny. This is about transparency, not partisanship.”
But Republicans fired back, accusing Democrats of weaponizing the Epstein scandal to smear Trump ahead of the 2026 election cycle. “It’s a witch hunt wrapped in a sex scandal,” said Rep. Jim Jordan. “They’re using a dead man’s crimes to score political points.”
Still, the emails themselves speak to something much darker — the web of influence Epstein wielded over the powerful. One message includes the line: “Tell DJT the painting arrived safely. He’ll love it.” Investigators are reportedly cross-referencing the statement with inventory logs seized from Epstein’s Manhattan townhouse, which famously contained bizarre art and photographs featuring world leaders.
“There’s a chilling consistency to how Epstein cultivated relationships,” said investigative reporter Vicky Ward, who has covered the scandal for years. “He leveraged charm, wealth, and access — and he kept receipts.”
“The new emails suggest Epstein saw proximity to Trump as social currency — and he used it.” @guardian
Some of the newly released messages include brief but startling mentions of “Mar-a-Lago staff” and “special invitations,” which Democratic aides say are now being examined for authenticity. “These were not random CCs,” one aide told BBC News. “They show deliberate contact and coordination, at least at the social level.”
Public reaction has been intense and polarized. Supporters of the former president dismissed the revelations as “old gossip dressed up as scandal,” while critics called the emails “a piece of the puzzle America has waited too long to see.”
“It’s not about guilt or innocence,” wrote journalist Philip Rucker. “It’s about power — who had it, who abused it, and who looked the other way.”
As of Friday morning, the Justice Department has not commented on whether the new material will reopen any elements of the Epstein investigation. However, multiple congressional aides confirmed that additional documents “will be made public in phases” over the coming weeks.
“We’re just getting started,” one Oversight staffer told HuffPost. “The American people deserve to see every name and every email. No exceptions.”
Whether the revelations lead to legal consequences remains to be seen, but one thing is clear — the Epstein story, thought long buried with its infamous namesake, is far from over. And now, once again, Donald Trump finds himself squarely in its shadow.
