Donald Trump’s connections to the notorious child sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein deserve a hard look at all times, but especially now. Newly-unsealed flight records reveal that Trump was flying on Epstein’s private jet a lot more than previously disclosed. This information emerges during a period when scrutiny around Epstein’s associates is intensifying, particularly in light of Ghislaine Maxwell’s ongoing legal battles.
The flight logs show that Trump was a passenger on at least eight roundtrip flights from 1993—1996. Significantly, he flew with Epstein at a time that overlaps with what happened around charges that are likely to go down in Maxwell’s trial. In one example, Trump and Epstein were the only passengers on a flight in 1993. On yet one more flight, the only three passengers were again Trump, Epstein, and a woman whose name has been redacted and who was then-20-years-old.
Trump’s close, long-term ties to Epstein are worth examining. He brought a number of strike mates with him, including his ex-wife Marla Maples and his children Tiffany and Eric. The recently-released court documents paint a damning picture of how such relationships operated at a key moment in Epstein’s life.
In light of the renewed scrutiny surrounding Epstein’s circle, Trump recently expressed admiration for a few high-profile Democrats. He further recognized that even they have come under scrutiny for their connections to Epstein. He expressed worry for those who simply “innocently encountered” Epstein, implying that their reputations would be unjustly ruined.
“I think Bill Clinton’s a big boy, he can handle it, but you probably have pictures being exposed of other people that innocently met Jeffrey Epstein years ago and they’re highly respected bankers and lawyers and others.” – Donald Trump
Here’s why Trump’s comments about Clinton are so surprising. That’s especially the case given Trump’s own ties to Epstein and the resurfacing of photographs showing Clinton in recent weeks. In that debate, Trump confessed to having a very friendly relationship with Clinton. He said that he was frustrated at the release of such graphic images.
“I’ve always gotten along with Bill Clinton; I’ve been nice to him, he’s been nice to me … I hate to see photos come out of him but this is what the Democrats – mostly Democrats and a couple of bad Republicans – are asking for, so they’re giving their photos of me too.” – Donald Trump
Despite his longstanding ties to Epstein, Trump has been vocal about his disapproval of the pictures circulating in the media. He said, ‘I’m just personally troubled by the fact that these images of Clinton and others are released.
“But no, I don’t like the pictures of Bill Clinton being shown. I don’t like the pictures of other people being shown – I think it’s a terrible thing.” – Donald Trump
The statements above were made by the former president Tuesday, when he spoke to reporters at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida. He has previously resisted the release of documents related to his connections with Epstein, reflecting an ongoing tension between his public persona and his past associations.
As federal investigations into Epstein’s network go on, the future for those who traveled with him is unclear. Trump’s acknowledgment of his flights on Epstein’s jet and his connections to other prominent figures raise questions about accountability and the implications of such associations.