Epstein files take darker turn with claims of toxic ‘Trumpet plants’: What is ‘Devil’s Breath’ and why its mention is disturbing

This photograph taken in Le-Perreux-sur-Marne, outside Paris on February 9, 2026 shows undated pictures provided by the US Department of Justice on January 30, 2026 as part of the Jeffrey Epstein files. US authorities on January 30, 2026, released the latest cache of files related to the investigation into the late conviceted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. (Photo by Martin BUREAU / AFP)

New Epstein files reveal he grew toxic Angel’s Trumpet plants, linked to scopolamine, a drug used for coercion. Victim claims drugging. The scandal widens, prompting resignations and ongoing scrutiny of Epstein’s network and methods.

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The Jeffrey Epstein files continue to send shockwaves across the world, with new disclosures emerging almost daily from the growing cache of documents. Just when the scandal surrounding the convicted sex offender appeared to have reached its limits, a new and deeply unsettling detail has surfaced involving toxic plants and a drug long associated with coercion and loss of free will.

According to TMZ, the latest claim suggests that Jeffrey Epstein grew “trumpet plants” in a nursery connected to him. While the reference may sound innocuous at first glance, investigators and observers have flagged it because Angel’s Trumpet plants are known to produce scopolamine, a powerful and controversial drug.

Emails raise questions about ‘trumpet plants’

One email from 2014 shows Epstein writing to an individual named Ann Rodriguez. The brief message read, “Ask Chris about my trumpet plants at nursery [SIC]?”

Another email dated January 2015 adds to the concern. Photographer Antoine Verglas reportedly sent Epstein a message titled “Scopolamine: Powerful drug growing in the forests of Colombia that eliminates free will.” The email contained forwarded articles from Daily Mail and Vice describing the effects of scopolamine.

Highlighted lines in the forwarded material included chilling descriptions such as, “You can guide them wherever you want. It’s like they’re a child.”

Victim account alleges drugging with scopolamine

A further document dated 2022 includes what is described as a “victim impact statement” from a person named Joseph Manzaro. In the statement, Manzaro recounts an incident from December 2014 in which he alleges he was drugged with scopolamine, a substance derived from several plants including Angel’s Trumpet.

Jeffrey Epstein asks about ‘zombie drug’ plants at nursery Emails show he inquired about angel’s trumpet — a toxic plant that can wipe recent memories, block clear thinking, and in extreme cases cause paralysis or death pic.twitter.com/cELjgAQuMz

— RT (@RT_com) February 17, 2026

The document does not clarify who Manzaro is or how he is directly connected to Epstein. However, the allegation has intensified scrutiny around the earlier references to trumpet plants in Epstein-linked communications.

What are Angel’s Trumpet plants?

The plants referenced in the Epstein files are believed to be Angel’s Trumpet, scientifically known as Brugmansia. The plant is a small tree commonly grown in gardens and greenhouses, prized for its large trumpet-shaped flowers and strong fragrance.

Despite its ornamental appeal, Angel’s Trumpet is extremely toxic. Inhaling, touching, or ingesting any part of the plant can cause serious side effects. According to scientific research, the plant contains scopolamine, atropine and hyoscyamine. These substances are anticholinergic compounds that block acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter essential for normal nerve function.

By interfering with the parasympathetic nervous system, these compounds can disrupt heart rate, digestion, cognition and memory.

‘Devil’s Breath’ and its criminal use

Scopolamine has legitimate medical uses. Doctors prescribe it to prevent motion sickness, reduce nausea and limit saliva production before surgery. Outside clinical settings, however, the drug has earned the nickname “Devil’s Breath” because of its association with crime.

Victims have described becoming disoriented, compliant and unable to resist or remember events. In Colombia and other parts of South America, scopolamine has been linked to robberies and sexual assaults.

Reports suggest the drug is often administered covertly. In powdered form, it is colourless, odourless and tasteless, making it difficult to detect when slipped into drinks or dispersed into the air. The drug acts quickly and typically leaves the body within about 12 hours, complicating detection through routine toxicology tests.

Medical and anthropological literature has described its effects as disturbing. The Encyclopaedia of Shamanism notes that the plant induces powerful trances with violent and unpleasant effects, while the journal Pathology has described the experience as “terrifying rather than pleasurable.”

A contrasting presence in Hindu mythology

Outside the Epstein context, Angel’s Trumpet has a long-standing place in Hindu tradition, where it is known as Datura. According to legend, the plant emerged during the churning of the cosmic ocean when deadly poison surfaced before the nectar of immortality.

Lord Shiva is believed to have consumed the poison to save the universe, holding it in his throat, which turned blue. To this day, Datura is offered in Shiva temples, particularly during Maha Shivratri, despite widespread awareness of its toxicity.

Fallout from Epstein files continues

The wider fallout from the Epstein documents continues to claim high-profile casualties. Several influential figures have stepped down or announced exits after their names surfaced in the newly released material.

Thomas Pritzker, chairman of Hyatt Hotels, announced that he would not seek re-election to the board. Recently released files showed that Pritzker and Epstein exchanged friendly emails after Epstein’s 2008 plea deal.

Kathryn Ruemmler, a former White House counsel under President Barack Obama, announced her resignation from Goldman Sachs on February 12, effective at the end of June. According to The Wall Street Journal, Ruemmler was one of three people Epstein contacted when he was arrested in July 2019. She had previously thanked Epstein for luxury gifts, referring to him as “Uncle Jeffrey.”

Former US President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton are also scheduled to give depositions to a House committee. Clinton has said he cut off contact with Epstein decades ago, while Hillary Clinton has stated that she never met him.

As more material from the Epstein files enters the public domain, scrutiny continues to widen, with each new detail deepening questions about the financier’s network, methods and the full scope of his crimes.