Trump Reportedly Described Maxwell as 'Evil' and Praised Police Over Epstein Investigation in 2006
A newly disclosed FBI transcript indicates that former President Donald Trump was cognizant of Jeffrey Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell's activities involving teenage girls and young women prior to the 2006 state charges against the disgraced financier. This revelation appears to directly contradict Trump's subsequent public assertions that he possessed little to no knowledge of Epstein's criminal behaviour before the legal proceedings commenced.
FBI Interview Details Trump's Alleged 2006 Communications
According to the transcript from a 2019 FBI interview, former Palm Beach Police Department chief Michael Reiter informed federal investigators that Trump was among the initial individuals to contact the police department to express gratitude for their investigation into Epstein. Trump reportedly urged authorities to scrutinise Ghislaine Maxwell, whom he characterised as "evil." The transcript quotes Trump as stating, "thank goodness you're stopping him, everyone has known he's been doing this."
Trump allegedly further elaborated to Reiter that "people in New York knew Epstein was disgusting" and recounted an incident where he was in Epstein's company when teenagers were present, prompting him to "get the hell out of there." These statements, if accurate, suggest a prior awareness that starkly contrasts with Trump's later denials.
Contradictions with Trump's Public Statements
The transcript's contents stand in opposition to Trump's repeated claims of ignorance regarding Epstein's crimes. In July 2019, when queried about any knowledge of Epstein molesting underage women, Trump unequivocally told reporters, "No, I had no idea. I had no idea." Subsequently, in July 2025, reporters pressed Trump on whether he understood why Epstein had recruited female staffers from Mar-a-Lago, to which he responded, "No, I don't know really why."
These public disavowals now face scrutiny in light of the alleged 2006 communication, which implies Trump not only knew of Epstein's predatory behaviour but actively commended law enforcement for their intervention.
Confirmation and Official Responses
Although Reiter's name is redacted within the transcript, he confirmed to the Miami Herald that the FBI interviewed him in October 2019 concerning his department's investigation. Reiter asserted that Trump contacted him in July 2006, corroborating the timeline presented in the FBI document.
However, an FBI official informed the Miami Herald that the agency lacked "corroborating evidence" to substantiate the claim that Trump had called Reiter. The official stated, "We are not aware of any corroborating evidence that the President contacted law enforcement 20 years ago," introducing an element of uncertainty regarding the verification of these allegations.
The White House, when approached for comment by The Independent, directed inquiries to the Justice Department. The Independent has subsequently requested a statement from the Justice Department, but no official response has been provided at this time. This developing story continues to unfold as further details emerge from the Epstein files and related investigations.
