Justice Department Withheld Epstein Files Related to Trump, NPR Investigation Finds

An NPR investigation has revealed that the Justice Department withheld some files related to allegations that President Trump sexually abused a minor, despite a law mandating their release. The investigation also found that some documents were removed from the public database where accusations against Jeffrey Epstein also mention Trump.

Details of the Withheld Files

The withheld files include what appears to be more than 50 pages of FBI interviews and notes from conversations with a woman who accused Trump of sexual abuse decades ago when she was a minor. An FBI email from July 2025, reviewed by NPR, lists various claims and tips received about Trump, including a report accusing him of sexually abusing a minor around 1983, the same time Epstein allegedly abused her. The FBI interviewed the accuser four times, but only one of those interviews has been made public and does not mention Trump.

DOJ Response and Previous Releases

The Justice Department declined to answer NPR’s questions on the record about these specific files, what they contain and why they are not published. This follows a series of releases of Epstein-related documents, initiated by the Epstein Files Transparency Act. In December 2025, the Department of Justice released another batch of files, including documents that mention Donald Trump in connection with Epstein’s private jet flight records [CNBC]. The DOJ stated that some of the documents contain “untrue and sensationalist claims” about President Trump, which they claim were submitted to the FBI right before the 2020 election, and characterized these claims as unfounded and false.

Broader Context of the Epstein Files

The release of these files has been under intense scrutiny from congressional lawmakers and victims. The DOJ was legally required to release all the files by December 19, 2025, but extended the release through the end of the year. The Epstein Files Transparency Act mandated the release of these documents [U.S. Department of Justice]. The files contain descriptions of sexual assault and may not be appropriate for all readers.

Trump’s Connection to Epstein

Donald Trump was a friend of Jeffrey Epstein and has consistently denied any wrongdoing related to the disgraced financier. The New York Times reported that the Justice Department previously looked into sexual misconduct allegations against President Trump in connection with Epstein but did not find credible information to merit further investigation [The New York Times].