Trump Called Palm Beach Police About Epstein, Bashed Maxwell as "Evil"

Former police chief says Trump was among the first to contact him about the Epstein investigation in 2006.

Feb. 9, 2026 at 8:39pm

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According to an FBI document, former President Donald Trump called the Palm Beach police chief in 2006 to express his disapproval of Jeffrey Epstein, calling him "disgusting" and Epstein's associate Ghislaine Maxwell "evil". Trump also told the police chief that he had kicked Epstein out of his Mar-a-Lago club for his behavior towards female employees.

Why it matters

This revelation provides further insight into Trump's relationship with Epstein and Maxwell, and raises questions about what Trump may have known about their alleged sex trafficking activities. It also highlights the high-profile nature of the Epstein investigation, with even the future president taking an interest.

The details

The FBI document, known as a 302, summarizes an interview the bureau conducted in 2019 with the former Palm Beach police chief, Michael Reiter. Reiter told the FBI that Trump called him in 2006, shortly after the police department's investigation into Epstein became public, to express his disapproval of Epstein. Trump told Reiter that he had kicked Epstein out of Mar-a-Lago for his behavior towards female employees, and that "people in New York knew Epstein was disgusting." Trump also said that Maxwell was Epstein's "operative" and that she was "evil" and Reiter should "focus on her."

  • Trump called Palm Beach police chief Michael Reiter in 2006, shortly after the Epstein investigation became public.

The players

Donald Trump

The former president of the United States, who called the Palm Beach police chief to express his disapproval of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell.

Michael Reiter

The former police chief of Palm Beach, Florida, who was interviewed by the FBI in 2019 about his interactions with Trump regarding the Epstein investigation.

Jeffrey Epstein

The financier who was accused of sex trafficking minors and later died by suicide in a New York jail.

Ghislaine Maxwell

Epstein's associate who was convicted of sex trafficking and is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence.

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What they’re saying

“Trump told him [Reiter] people in New York knew Epstein was disgusting.”

— Donald Trump

“Trump said Maxwell was Epstein's operative, 'she is evil and to focus on her.'”

— Donald Trump

The takeaway

This revelation about Trump's early awareness and disapproval of Epstein's activities raises further questions about the former president's relationship with the disgraced financier and his associates, and what Trump may have known about the alleged sex trafficking ring.