The U.S. Department of Justice released another tranche of documents from the Jeffrey Epstein investigation on January 19, 2026, as required under the Epstein Files Transparency Act. Among the newly disclosed materials are references to former President Donald Trump, including several mentions connected to flight records involving Epstein’s private plane, the “Lolita Express.”
According to the documents, Trump appears in flight logs and related correspondence from the 1990s and early 2000s. These include at least eight documented flights on Epstein’s aircraft, some of which also listed Ghislaine Maxwell and other passengers. The records do not indicate the purpose of the flights, nor do they contain any evidence of criminal activity by Trump. Authorities have reiterated that Trump has not been accused of any wrongdoing related to Epstein’s crimes, and his name appears in the context of social and business associations that were common among many high-profile figures during that period.
Trump and Epstein were known to have socialized in the late 1990s and early 2000s, particularly in Palm Beach, Florida, where both maintained residences. Trump has previously acknowledged knowing Epstein, famously describing him in a 2002 New York Magazine interview as a “terrific guy” who liked “beautiful women… on the younger side.” Trump later stated he distanced himself from Epstein around 2004 or 2005, and banned him from Mar-a-Lago after reports of inappropriate behavior surfaced.
The latest release continues to draw criticism for heavy redactions. While some flight logs and contact lists were made public, key sections—including large portions of grand jury materials, certain witness statements, and financial records—remain heavily censored. Advocates and lawmakers, including members of the bipartisan coalition behind the Transparency Act, argue that these redactions continue to shield potentially relevant information from full public view.
This batch of documents follows months of pressure for complete disclosure, including Giuffre family lawsuits, stalled unredacted file releases, and ongoing bipartisan contempt threats. The Epstein case has remained one of the most scrutinized and divisive scandals in modern American history, with survivors, advocates, and lawmakers continuing to demand full transparency.
The DOJ maintains that redactions are necessary to protect victim privacy and ongoing investigations. However, public frustration continues to grow, with many questioning whether the slow pace and selective disclosure serve justice or protection of the powerful.
The truth remains incomplete. The files are still coming. And the public continues to ask: how much longer will the full story stay hidden?
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