A new batch of leaked emails suggests that Jeffrey Epstein once threatened to publicly expose Donald Trump, according to documents released this week. The messages, part of a massive collection totaling more than 20,000 pages handed over by U.S. lawmakers, shed new light on Epstein’s network and the high-profile individuals connected to him.
The emails, though just a fraction of the full archive, sent shockwaves through Washington. Epstein, already infamous for sex crimes, hinted at possessing “private photos” of Trump, claiming they could be damaging. Some messages even described the images as depicting “Donald and girls in bikinis in my kitchen,” though the emails do not clarify the ages of those involved, and investigators have not confirmed whether the photos exist.
Trump and Epstein moved in overlapping social circles in the 1990s and early 2000s. Trump has acknowledged knowing Epstein socially but has repeatedly denied visiting Epstein’s island or engaging in any illegal activity. Flight logs released alongside the emails indicate that Trump flew on Epstein’s jet at least seven times between 1993 and 1997, though his team insists these were routine trips between New York and Florida.
The documents also reference other prominent figures, including Prince Andrew. Emails confirm the authenticity of a photograph showing Andrew with Virginia Giuffre, a survivor of Epstein’s trafficking network who passed away earlier this year. Giuffre had long accused Andrew of sexual assault when she was seventeen, allegations he has denied.
One particularly troubling email, dated December 2015 — months after Trump launched his presidential campaign — shows Epstein communicating with a New York Times reporter, claiming he had compromising material on Trump and suggesting he might share it. Another email mentions Trump spending time with a woman tied to Epstein’s trafficking network, though details remain unclear.
At the White House, the leak prompted an emergency meeting in the Situation Room. Press secretary Karoline Leavitt emphasized that the president had nothing to hide, describing Trump’s engagement with Congress as “a high level of transparency.” She reiterated that the emails do not prove any illegal conduct.
The timing of the leak, however, is politically sensitive. Calls for full transparency on Epstein-related files are intensifying, with lawmakers, activists, and survivors demanding that every document, flight log, and email be released. Critics argue that accountability cannot exist without public scrutiny.
For Trump, the revelation is a political headache regardless of legality. Epstein’s notoriety alone casts a shadow over anyone associated with him, and even unverified claims — like the suggestion of private photos — attract intense media and public attention.
The leaked emails have reignited questions about Epstein’s network, his access to influential figures, and who may have known about or enabled his activities. For the public and investigators alike, the central issue remains: what else is still hidden in Epstein’s files, and is anyone in power prepared to face the consequences when it comes to light?