Unsealed court documents relating to late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein have named several famous faces, including former President Donald Trump.
The documents released on Wednesday night revealed the names of several prominent celebrities and politicians. However, Trump was scarcely mentioned and there was no reference to any illicit behavior on his part.
After the release, conservatives suggested that Trump's name had been cleared following the redactions, citing a section of witness testimony.
The Claim
A January 4, 2024, post on X, formerly Twitter, by conspiracy theorist Jack Posobiec included a screenshot from the unsealed court papers, in which witness Johanna Sjöberg replied in a deposition that Trump had not asked her for any sexual favors and she did not massage him.
Posobiec commented: "EPSTEIN DOCS EXONERATE TRUMP YET AGAIN."
EPSTEIN DOCS EXONERATE TRUMP YET AGAIN pic.twitter.com/4jYRuu8zqq
— Jack Poso 🇺🇸 (@JackPosobiec) January 4, 2024
The Facts
Trump flew on Epstein's jet four times in 1993, as well as once in 1994, 1995, and 1997. The flights were between Palm Beach, Florida, and New York City airports, with the 1994 flight stopping at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
Trump and Epstein had a reported friendship, with the Republican telling New York magazine in 2002 that he'd known Epstein for 15 years and that he was a "terrific guy." However, he distanced himself from his comments following Epstein's arrest and said they had not spoken in years.
Some had speculated that the unsealing of court documents, related to a lawsuit by Virginia Giuffre against Ghislaine Maxwell, would reveal new information about Trump and Epstein.
However, the document revealed no wrongdoing. Trump's spokesperson Steven Cheung stated in response to the documents' release that any claims regarding Trump's relationship with Epstein were "thoroughly debunked."
Newsweek has contacted a spokesman for Trump for further comment.
However, there were no allegations concerning Trump's association with Epstein, so he did not need exoneration.
The section of the document that's been quoted online is part of a deposition by Johanna Sjöberg, who is alleged to have been recruited by Maxwell to perform massages and sexual acts for Epstein. She claimed she traveled from Florida to Atlantic City with Epstein and went to one of Trump's casinos.
"Jeffrey said, 'Great, we'll call up Trump and we'll go to'—I don't recall the name of the casino, but—'we'll go to the casino,'" Sjöberg said, according to her testimony.
While in Atlantic City, they visited one of Trump's casinos, according to Sjöberg, who said Giuffre was not allowed in because she was underage.
Later, when asked if she ever massaged Trump, Sjöberg twice responded that she never had. Trump has not been linked to any wrongdoing in the papers and has not been linked to Epstein or Maxwell's crimes.
The court documents mention nothing else about Trump beyond Sjöberg's testimony. There is no ruling on whether Trump did or did not visit Epstein Island, nor on the extent of his associations with Jeffrey Epstein.
Crucially, claiming that Trump has been "exonerated" misleads about what these unsealed papers say. Trump did not face allegations to be exonerated of.
The hundreds of pages of documents released this week contain emails and transcripts of depositions regarding the now-settled case brought by Virginia Roberts Giuffre, who alleged that Epstein sexually abused her as a minor. She also alleged that Ghislaine Maxwell, his girlfriend who is currently serving a 20-year sentence for her role, aided in the abuse.
The Ruling
False.
The unsealed court papers include the testimony of Johanna Sjöberg, allegedly recruited by Ghislaine Maxwell to perform massages and sexual acts for Epstein. The deposition mentions Trump; Sjöberg said she visited one of his casinos with Epstein and said she did not massage or perform sexual favors for Trump.
The notion that Trump has been exonerated, and the use of that word, is misleading. It suggests Trump faced tangible allegations beforehand regarding his relationship with Epstein, which he did not.
FACT CHECK BY Newsweek's Fact Check team
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
