‘Used phrases such as fresh meat, untainted’: US DoJ releases missing Epstein files involving Trump

US Justice Department publishes missing Epstein files with allegations involving Trump

The U.S. Justice Department on March 5 released previously unseen FBI records summarizing interviews with an unidentified woman who made allegations against President Donald Trump related to an alleged sexual encounter with Jeffrey Epstein. The files, comprising three parts of FBI interviews, had been mistakenly withheld during an earlier review, the department said.

Background of the FBI Interviews

FBI agents interviewed the woman four times in 2019 as part of their investigation into convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The Justice Department had earlier confirmed the interviews took place but had only released a summary of one, in which she accused Epstein of molesting her as a teenager. The newly disclosed records provide summaries of additional meetings and claims involving Trump.

Allegations against Trump

According to the documents, the woman alleged she was introduced to Trump by Epstein and that he attempted to force her into sexual acts in New York or New Jersey during the 1980s, when she was between 13 and 15 years old. She recalled resisting and biting Trump during the encounter, after which he reportedly said, “Get this little bitch the hell out of here.”

The woman also claimed to have overheard conversations between Trump and Epstein about blackmail and “washing money through casinos,” and suggested tension between the two men, with Trump appearing jealous at times.

She alleged that phrases such as “fresh meat,” “untainted,” and “not jaded” were used in reference to girls, and that Epstein took Polaroid photographs of her, later allegedly using them to blackmail her mother.

DOJ and White House response

The Justice Department emphasized that some documents include “untrue and sensationalist claims made against President Trump” and that the records do not indicate verified conclusions by investigators. The White House did not immediately comment on the disclosures.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt described the allegations as “completely baseless accusations, backed by zero credible evidence.” Trump has previously denied any wrongdoing and said his association with Epstein ended in the mid-2000s, asserting he was unaware of Epstein’s sexual abuse.

Congressional scrutiny

The release comes amid scrutiny from Congress over the Justice Department’s handling of Epstein-related files. Democrats have accused the previous administration of concealing records related to Trump. In response, the Republican-led House Oversight Committee recently voted to subpoena Attorney General Pam Bondi to testify regarding the DOJ’s management of the files.

Legal context

Authorities have not accused Trump of any crimes in connection with Epstein. The documents were released under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which allows withholding of records containing victim information, child sexual abuse materials, or information that could affect ongoing investigations, but prohibits withholding due to political sensitivity or reputational concerns.

The Justice Department noted that 15 documents had been “incorrectly coded as duplicative” and were not previously released, but are now available, including for Congressional review.