A tranche of documents released by the House oversight committee on Wednesday revealed that Jeffrey Epstein\u2019s staff kept him apprised of Donald Trump\u2019s air travel as it related to his own transportation \u2013 and that the late sex trafficker kept up with news about his former friend years after their relationship soured.<\/p>\n
This disclosure of about 20,000 pages from Republican members of the committee related to Epstein comes as Trump continues to battle with the political fallout related to their past friendship \u2013 and his justice department\u2019s failure to release documents as he had long promised on the campaign trail.<\/p>\n
Most of the discussions reviewed by the Guardian surrounding Trump\u2019s location appeared to relate to flight logistics, as he and Epstein often used the same airports.<\/p>\n
On 25 November 2016, just weeks after Trump won the presidential election<\/a>, Epstein\u2019s pilot, Larry Visoski, wrote: \u201cTrump is still scheduled to depart Sunday between 4 and 6 pm,, Let me know if we are firm for wheels up Saturday at 6pm still?\u201d Epstein replied: \u201cwill let you know tomorrow morning.\u201d<\/p>\n But other emails tracked Trump\u2019s movements more generally. Epstein received a heads-up on 2 December 2017: \u201cTrump in our neighborhood today. Looks like he is going to 740 Park for a fundraiser.\u201d The sender\u2019s name was redacted in the email release, but it was signed by Richard Kahn, Epstein\u2019s accountant.<\/p>\n One visitor waiting outside Epstein\u2019s home made a joke about Trump while waiting to get inside. \u201c[I\u2019m] at the door but i will wait for my time. . i dont want to come early to find trump in your house,\u201d they wrote, adding two smiling emojis. Their name was redacted in the email.<\/p>\n The cache of filings also indicates Epstein\u2019s associates forwarded numerous news articles related to Trump, including reports that involved controversies surrounding the president. The news coverage included a January 2019 story on Trump ally Roger Stone\u2019s arrest, and an article on Michael Cohen\u2019s discussions with prosecutors.<\/p>\n Email exchanges with friends and associates showed Epstein disparaging Trump. In one December 2018 correspondence, Epstein told former treasury secretary Larry Summers that \u201ctrump \u2013 borderline insane. dersh, a few feet further from the border but not by much\u201d \u2013 apparently referencing his one-time attorney, Alan Dershowitz.<\/p>\n Summers asked: \u201cWill trump crack into insanity?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThis is not a new phenomenon for him. in the past he was told not to come out of his apt. thats how he got through near personal bankruptcy. is strength is remarkable. he is pounded 24\/7,\u201d Epstein replied. \u201cI hope someone close to him gets indicted, but not sure, otherwise the pressure of the unknown will force him to do crazy things.\u201d<\/p>\n In another exchange in March 2018, Landon Thomas Jr, then a reporter at the New York Times, sent Epstein an article from the Daily Beast<\/a> that mused on whether Trump was close to a \u201cpsychiatric breakdown\u201d. Epstein replied: \u201che feels alone, and is nuts !!! , I told everyone from day one. evil beyond belief mad, and most thought i was speaking metaphorically, its obvious he could crack. stormy daniels. ? lies after lies after lies.\u201d<\/p>\n Asked for comment on the emails, White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson said: \u201cThese emails prove literally nothing.\u201d A representative for Summers did not immediately respond to a request for comment.<\/p>\n Epstein received multiple updates from his pilot about Trump\u2019s movements during the years covered by the release. \u201cUpdated President Elect schedule: Trump Plane to arrive Orlando at 5 pm friday for event,, then arrive Palm Beach estimate 10 pm, . He usually runs late, so 11pm could be realistic time for his PBI Arrival,\u201d Visoski wrote in December 2016, also noting that the airport would shut down for 20 minutes before and after Trump\u2019s arrival.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll keep you posted if time changes,\u201d he also said. Visoksi\u2019s emails about Trump\u2019s flights appeared to be in response to Epstein emailing him \u201cwont leave until 8 pm tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n Visoski had more information on Trump on 30 September 2017. \u201cI hear Pres Trump arrives in St Thomas on Tuesday FYI,\u201d he wrote.<\/p>\n In November of that year, Epstein discussed an apparent planned trip to Little St James, an island in the US Virgin Islands where he abused teenage girls.<\/p>\n \u201cAt the moment we will go to [Little St James] on Sunday the 26th early then to New York where I will stay the week,\u201d Epstein told his pilot, Visoski. \u201cTrump is in town that week.\u201d There is nothing in the email suggesting Epstein planned on meeting with Trump.<\/p>\n Visoski responded with Trump\u2019s arrival and departure times and said in a following email that it \u201cshouldn\u2019t be to bad if we are leaving early and Trump is not scheduled to depart until 3pm on Sunday\u201d, adding: \u201cThe departure will be similar to a DCA departure with customs.\u201d<\/p>\n In another email that month, Visoski wrote: \u201cWhile Trump is in PBI, TSA only allows arrival and departures between 8am and 5pm for General Aviation.\u201d<\/p>\n A few months later, in March 2018, Visoski gave Epstein another update about Trump related to air travel. \u201cThx 3pm Wednesday to Teterboro confirmed,, Friday Trump arrives in PBI, I\u2019ll confirm time, Thx.\u201d<\/p>\n Later that year, in December, in another email, Visoski wrote: \u201cSince Pres Trump didn\u2019t come to PBI yet\u201d \u2013 seemingly referring to Palm Beach international airport \u2013 \u201cfor you departure to Ls3 on Dec 26, should Darren and Dave pick you up in PBI? Or do you prefer Boca for departure, at this time no TSA issue in PBI.\u201d<\/p>\n Several months before his arrest on sex-trafficking charges<\/a>, Epstein provided information to his staff. \u201cPresident trump is going to be at our neighbors on thurs, so dont be surprised if secret service check in.\u201d The employee responded: \u201cThank you for the heads up sir.\u201d<\/p>\n Trump was not the only high-profile figure whose travels were discussed by Epstein. The documents also show that in September 2012, an assistant of Epstein\u2019s was told to inform Epstein that \u201cVice-President Joe Biden is in West Palm Beach and is scheduled to depart between 5pm and 6pm today\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cHe parks at the Galaxy ramp also in Palm Beach,\u201d the email added. \u201cThe airport will be closed between 5pm and 6pm. We\u2019ll need to wheels up at 4pm or 2pm.\u201d<\/p>\n The newly released documents were published shortly after House Democrats on the oversight committee released three separate previously unseen email exchanges sent by Epstein in 2011, 2015 and 2019<\/a>, where the disgraced financier described Trump as the \u201cdog that hasn\u2019t barked\u201d and alleged Trump had \u201cspent hours\u201d at Epstein\u2019s home with one of Epstein\u2019s victims, and claimed that \u201cof course\u201d Trump \u201cknew about the girls\u201d.<\/p>\n The release of those email exchanges reignited<\/a> the Epstein controversy that has plagued Trump for months and has revived public scrutiny of his past ties to Epstein.<\/a><\/p>\n In a post to his Truth Social platform, <\/a>Trump accused Democrats of \u201ctrying to bring up the Jeffrey Epstein Hoax again because they\u2019ll do anything at all to deflect on how badly they\u2019ve done on the Shutdown, and so many other subjects\u201d.<\/p>\n In a statement, the White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, said Democrats had \u201cselectively leaked emails to the liberal media to create a fake narrative to smear President Trump\u201d. She added that the unnamed victim referenced in the emails was the late Virginia Giuffre<\/a>, whom she said \u201crepeatedly said President Trump was not involved in any wrongdoing whatsoever\u201d.<\/p>\n