The Justice Department has released additional Jeffrey Epstein investigation files that were accidentally withheld, containing unsubstantiated allegations against President Trump. The documents detail FBI interviews with a woman who made claims that agents could not verify, adding to ongoing controversy over the department's handling of the Epstein file releases.
WASHINGTON — Federal officials on Thursday made public previously unreleased documents from the Jeffrey Epstein investigation that contain unverified allegations against President Donald Trump, which the Justice Department says were accidentally excluded from earlier document releases.
Last week, the department announced it was reviewing whether any records had been improperly held back after multiple media outlets noted that certain FBI interview summaries from 2019 were missing from the large collection of documents already released to the public.
Federal agents had conducted four separate interviews with a woman making accusations against Trump, but only one interview summary had appeared in the initially published files.
Thursday’s release revealed these missing documents had been “incorrectly coded as duplicative,” leading to their unintentional omission from the investigative materials concerning the disgraced financier, who took his own life in 2019 while facing sex trafficking charges.
“As we have consistently done, if any member of the public reported concerns with information in the library, the Department would review, make any corrections, and republish online,” the department stated on X.
Trump has repeatedly rejected any misconduct related to Epstein. The Justice Department previously stated in January that certain documents include “untrue and sensationalist claims against President Trump that were submitted to the FBI right before the 2020 election.”
These latest revelations emerge amid continued controversy surrounding Attorney General Pam Bondi’s oversight of the file releases mandated by congressional legislation. On Wednesday, five House Oversight Committee Republicans joined Democratic colleagues in voting to subpoena Bondi for sworn testimony, reflecting growing dissatisfaction within the president’s own party.
The Trump administration has encountered persistent political challenges since document releases began in December, with opponents claiming the department has concealed certain files, applied excessive redactions, or in other instances, failed to adequately protect sensitive information. The department accidentally published unredacted nude photographs showing victims’ faces along with names, email addresses and other identifying details.
Justice Department representatives have stood by their document handling procedures, emphasizing their efforts to comply with legal requirements for rapid release while safeguarding victims. Officials have acknowledged that mistakes were unavoidable considering the massive volume of materials, the numerous attorneys reviewing documents, and the mandated timeline for publication. The department maintains its authority to withhold records that could expose abuse victims, duplicate materials, legally privileged communications, or information tied to active criminal cases.
Among Thursday’s newly released documents were records involving a woman who reached out to federal agents following Epstein’s 2019 arrest. She alleged that a man called “Jeff” residing in Hilton Head, South Carolina, had sexually assaulted her there during the 1980s when she was approximately 13 years old. The woman explained to investigators that she was unaware of the perpetrator’s identity at the time, but years later determined he was Jeffrey Epstein after a friend sent her his photograph from a news article.
During a subsequent interview one month later, the woman made additional allegations, claiming Epstein had orchestrated her mother’s imprisonment, physically abused her, facilitated sexual encounters with other men, and once transported her to New Jersey or New York, where she alleged biting Donald Trump during an attempted sexual assault.
Federal investigators interviewed the woman twice more, requesting additional details about her claimed encounters with Trump, but noted she refused to provide further information and ceased communication. No evidence exists that Epstein maintained residence in South Carolina, and it remains uncertain whether Trump and Epstein had any relationship during the alleged timeframe.
This woman’s account represents one of numerous unsubstantiated and sometimes bizarre reports that federal authorities received from citizens alleging improper conduct by Trump and other prominent figures following Epstein’s arrest.