A newly disclosed handwritten letter attributed to Jeffrey Epstein has reignited scrutiny of figures linked to his social circle, after language in the document appeared to reference Donald Trump and alleged interests in "young, nubile girls," prompting a rare public disclaimer from the U.S. Department of Justice that the claim is "untrue and sensationalist" and lacks independent verification.
The letter, discovered after Epstein's death in August 2019 and addressed to fellow convicted sex offender Larry Nassar, was released as part of a broader document dump mandated by the Epstein Files Transparency Act. The DOJ cautioned alongside the release that inclusion of such materials does not imply wrongdoing by individuals named and that some allegations remain unverified.
According to reporting cited in the file release, the envelope containing the handwritten note was postmarked Aug. 13, 2019, but returned to authorities because the addressee was no longer at the listed facility. Officials noted that the return address and postmark raise questions about whether Epstein himself mailed the letter, adding uncertainty around its provenance and context.
The disclosure has revived debate over Trump's historical association with Epstein, a relationship that has been documented but remains contested in its implications. In a 2002 interview with New York Magazine, Trump said Epstein "likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side." Administration officials emphasized that no criminal charges have been brought against Trump in connection with the Epstein case.
Court filings and public records indicate that Epstein moved in elite social circles during the 1990s and early 2000s that overlapped with Trump's, including events at Mar-a-Lago. One filing recounts a witness alleging Epstein introduced a 14-year-old girl to Trump at Mar-a-Lago in the 1990s, though the plaintiff did not accuse Trump of sexual misconduct. Trump later severed ties with Epstein and has said publicly that he was not a fan of Epstein's behavior.
The newly released materials also include flight logs from Epstein's private jet, sometimes nicknamed the "Lolita Express," showing Trump listed as a passenger in the 1990s on flights that included other unidentified passengers. Legal experts note that such records, while factual, do not establish criminal conduct.
The rollout of the Epstein files has itself become a political flashpoint. Congress passed the Epstein Files Transparency Act nearly unanimously in November 2025, requiring public disclosure of unclassified DOJ records tied to Epstein and his associates. The Justice Department acknowledged delays in meeting the original deadline, citing the need to protect victim identities through redactions.
A senior DOJ official said documents containing potentially defamatory allegations must be released under the statute, even when the department believes claims lack substantiation. The official stressed that archival inclusion does not elevate a handwritten note to evidence, particularly when authored by a convicted sex offender.
