US President Donald Trump has claimed that newly released Justice Department files related to Jeffrey Epstein clear him of any wrongdoing and has threatened legal action against journalist Michael Wolff, accusing him of conspiring with the late financier to damage him politically.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Saturday while travelling to Florida, Trump said he had been briefed on the latest batch of documents. “I was told by some very important people that not only does it absolve me, it’s the opposite of what people were hoping,” he said.
Trump went further, alleging that the documents point to misconduct by Wolff. “Well they should be, because it looked like this guy, (author Michael) Wolff, who’s a writer, was conspiring with Epstein to do harm to me. I didn’t see it myself. But, I was told by some very important people that not only does it absolve me, it’s the opposite of what people were hoping,” he added.
Wolff has previously said that he discussed Epstein’s ties with Trump during conversations with the financier in 2017. Trump has repeatedly rejected allegations Epstein is said to have made about him in those interviews.
Calling Wolff a “third-rate writer,” Trump said the journalist worked with Epstein to politically “hurt” him. “So, we’ll probably sue Wolff on it. And maybe the Epstein estate, I guess, I don’t know, but we’re certainly gonna sue him,” Trump said. Wolff has not publicly responded to the latest remarks.
The comments came after the US Department of Justice released another set of Epstein-related records. The disclosures are part of an effort to comply with a law passed in November that requires the release of all such files by December 19, 2025.
By the end of last year, the department said it still had more than five million pages left to review and had reassigned hundreds of lawyers to the task. This has drawn criticism from some lawmakers, who argue the slow pace amounts to a violation of the law.
Trump had resisted broad disclosure of the Epstein files for months. Despite his objections, the legislation advanced with support from both Democrats and Republicans. The law allows for redactions to protect victims and preserve active investigations, but many documents released so far have been heavily blacked out, frustrating members of Congress.
Trump has not been formally accused of wrongdoing in connection with Epstein and has said he was unaware of the financier’s criminal activities. Epstein was found dead in his jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges. His death was ruled a suicide, though it has fuelled years of conspiracy theories, some of which Trump echoed during his 2024 presidential campaign.
The Epstein issue remains a political challenge for Trump as he also faces declining approval ratings on matters such as the economy and immigration.
Discover the latest Business News, Sensex, and Nifty updates. Obtain Personal Finance insights, tax queries, and expert opinions on Moneycontrol or download the Moneycontrol App to stay updated!
Find the best of Al News in one place, specially curated for you every weekend.
Stay on top of the latest tech trends and biggest startup news.
