FBI Memo Reveals Trump Called Palm Beach Police About Epstein in 2006

Trump reportedly urged police to investigate Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell years before denying any knowledge of Epstein's crimes.

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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According to a newly released FBI memo, former President Donald Trump called the Palm Beach police chief in 2006 to raise concerns about Jeffrey Epstein's behavior, describing it as "disgusting" and urging investigators to also look into Epstein's associate Ghislaine Maxwell, whom Trump called "evil". This contradicts Trump's later statements in 2019 that he had "no idea" about Epstein's activities.

Why it matters

The revelation that Trump contacted authorities about Epstein years before denying any knowledge of his crimes raises questions about the former president's relationship with Epstein and the extent of his awareness of the disgraced financier's alleged sex trafficking activities. It also contradicts Trump's claims that he had no suspicions about Epstein and challenges the narrative that Trump had completely distanced himself from Epstein prior to the 2019 charges.

The details

According to the FBI memo, in July 2006 Trump called then-Palm Beach Police Chief Michael Reiter to express concerns about Epstein's behavior. Trump told Reiter that "everyone" in New York knew what Epstein was doing and urged the police to also investigate Epstein's associate Ghislaine Maxwell, describing her as "evil". Trump also said he had once been around Epstein when teenagers were present and had left immediately. However, this contradicts Trump's July 2019 statement that he had "no idea" about Epstein's activities.

  • In July 2006, Trump called Palm Beach Police Chief Michael Reiter to raise concerns about Jeffrey Epstein.
  • In October 2019, the FBI interviewed Reiter about his conversation with Trump.

The players

Donald Trump

The former President of the United States who reportedly called the Palm Beach police chief in 2006 to raise concerns about Jeffrey Epstein's behavior.

Michael Reiter

The former Palm Beach Police Chief who was interviewed by the FBI in 2019 about his 2006 conversation with Trump regarding Epstein.

Jeffrey Epstein

The disgraced financier who was arrested in 2006 on solicitation charges in Palm Beach County and later died in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges.

Ghislaine Maxwell

Epstein's associate who was described by Trump as "evil" and who was convicted in 2022 of conspiring with Epstein to recruit and groom young girls.

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What they’re saying

“Everyone" in New York knew what Epstein was doing and urged investigators to also look into Ghislaine Maxwell, describing her as "evil".”

— Donald Trump (FBI memo)

“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.”

— Karoline Leavitt, White House Press Secretary (palmbeachpost.com)

What’s next

The Justice Department is expected to continue releasing additional documents from its Epstein files, which may shed further light on Trump's relationship with the disgraced financier.

The takeaway

This newly revealed FBI memo contradicts Trump's previous claims of having no knowledge of Epstein's activities, raising questions about the extent of Trump's awareness and involvement. It underscores the need for continued transparency and investigation into the complex web of relationships surrounding the Epstein scandal.