Newly released FBI documents have shed light on a 2006 phone conversation between then-citizen Donald Trump and the Palm Beach police chief concerning the criminal investigation of Jeffrey Epstein. During a press briefing on Tuesday, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt addressed the contents of these documents, which were made public by the Department of Justice.
The information from the 2019 FBI interview with former Palm Beach Police Chief Michael Reiter was reported by Resist the Mainstream. According to the document, during the investigation into Epstein, Trump contacted Reiter and expressed his relief that Epstein's actions were being addressed, reportedly saying, "thank goodness you’re stopping him, everyone has known he’s been doing this." Trump also referred to Ghislaine Maxwell as "evil" and suggested that investigative efforts focus on her.
The former police chief's recollection includes Trump's statement that he had banned Epstein from his Mar-a-Lago club, a detail that had been previously reported. The document also highlights that Trump was among the first to reach out once the investigation into Epstein became public knowledge.
Leavitt, in her briefing, addressed uncertainties surrounding the authenticity of the call but emphasized the significance of its implications if it indeed took place. She stated, "Look, it was a phone call that may or may not have happened in 2006. I don’t know the answer to that question. What I’m telling you is that what President Trump has always said is that he kicked Jeffrey Epstein out of his Mar-a-Lago club because Jeffrey Epstein was a creep."
The press secretary connected the alleged call with Trump's previous public statements regarding his relationship with Epstein. She claimed the FBI document supports the president's consistent narrative about distancing himself from Epstein.
Furthermore, Leavitt criticized the press corps for their coverage of the Trump-Epstein relationship, suggesting that the FBI report contradicted certain media narratives. She implied that upon reviewing the FBI document, reporters would likely reconsider their previous reporting on the matter.
The Department of Justice's release of the 2019 interview document has brought renewed scrutiny to the timeline of Trump's separation from Epstein. The interview took place years after the initial criminal investigation in Palm Beach, where Reiter's department was involved before federal authorities prosecuted Epstein.
The court documents further detail Trump's interactions with Epstein, including a statement that Trump had expelled Epstein from his club and had informed the Palm Beach Police Department (PBPD) of the action.
As the story unfolds, the White House's response to these documents has become a focal point in the ongoing examination of Trump's past associations and the steps he took to distance himself from Epstein.
