Missing Epstein Records Prompt Justice Department Review of Allegations Referencing Trump — NYT
Several documents related to a woman’s allegations of sexual assault involving U.S. President Donald Trump are missing from files released by the U.S. Department of Justice concerning convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, according to reporting by The New York Times. The absence of these materials has raised new questions about the completeness of the federal disclosure and prompted calls for further scrutiny.
Missing interview records
According to the published files, the FBI conducted four interviews with a woman who, in 2019, alleged that Epstein introduced her to Trump in the 1980s when she was between 13 and 15 years old. She claimed that both Epstein and Trump sexually assaulted her. However, only one summary report — focused on her allegations against Epstein — was included in the released records. Three other interview summaries and the original interview notes referenced in the case index were not made public.
The missing materials reportedly amount to more than 50 pages of investigative records tied to her claims. While similar interview notes involving other witnesses were released, these specific documents remain unavailable.
Justice Department explanation unclear
The U.S. Department of Justice stated that documents were withheld only if they were duplicates or subject to access restrictions. Officials also suggested that some materials might not have been disclosed due to ongoing federal investigations, but they did not clarify why the records related to this particular witness were absent.
In earlier statements, the department noted that some submissions to the FBI contained claims against Trump described as unsubstantiated or false, including allegations filed before the 2020 election.
Background of the allegations
The woman first contacted federal investigators shortly after Epstein’s arrest in July 2019. She said Epstein had recruited her as a teenager under the pretext of babysitting at a residence, where she alleged she was abused. She later recognized Epstein in a photograph years afterward and subsequently came forward to authorities.
She initially joined a lawsuit against Epstein’s estate but later withdrew her claim. In 2021, she was deemed ineligible for compensation from a victims’ fund established for Epstein’s survivors, though the reasons were not publicly disclosed.
Federal officials also compiled a separate summary of her allegations in 2025, including references to Trump. However, that document reportedly did not include an FBI assessment of the credibility of her claims.
Political and congressional reaction
Members of Congress who reviewed Epstein-related materials have also raised concerns about missing records. Democratic lawmakers indicated they plan to investigate the reasons for the omissions and whether the Justice Department fully complied with disclosure requirements.
Trump has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing in connection with Epstein. The White House has also maintained that he was not involved in Epstein’s criminal activities.
Broader Epstein file release
The document release follows a broader effort to disclose government records related to Epstein, who had extensive ties to prominent political and business figures. In January 2026, the Justice Department released millions of additional pages of investigative material, including videos and images, as part of ongoing transparency measures.
Epstein was arrested in 2019 on federal charges related to sex trafficking of minors and died in jail later that year while awaiting trial. His case continues to generate political and legal scrutiny, particularly regarding the handling and disclosure of investigative records.
Olha Pashchenko
Contributing writer at EUReflect.