Trump Abuse Claim Disputed by Epstein's Brother

Mark Epstein casts doubt on unverified allegation that Jeffrey Epstein introduced a teen to Trump on Hilton Head Island.

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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Mark Epstein, the brother of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, said his brother never spent summers on Hilton Head Island, casting doubt on an unverified allegation that Jeffrey Epstein introduced a teen there to President Donald Trump in the early 1980s. The claim was included in FBI interview notes that appear to be missing from the Epstein files released by the Justice Department.

Why it matters

More than 3 million pages of documents related to Jeffrey Epstein were released by the Justice Department under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, but some files appear to be missing, including FBI interviews with a woman who alleged Trump sexually assaulted her after being introduced by Epstein.

The details

The Guardian obtained missing FBI reports, including 25 pages of agent notes from four interviews related to the woman conducted in 2019. The documents contain claims from a woman who alleged she had been sexually abused by Jeffrey Epstein from around 1983, when she was 13 years old and living in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. However, Mark Epstein said he wasn't aware that his brother spent summers on Hilton Head, casting doubt on the allegation.

  • In 2019, the woman alleged she had been sexually abused by Jeffrey Epstein from around 1983, when she was 13 years old.
  • In 2026, the Justice Department released more than 3 million pages of documents related to Jeffrey Epstein under the Epstein Files Transparency Act.

The players

Mark Epstein

The brother of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Donald Trump

The former President of the United States, who has denied any wrongdoing related to the Epstein case.

Jeffrey Epstein

A convicted sex offender who died by suicide in a New York jail in 2019 while awaiting further charges.

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What they’re saying

“I would have known.”

— Mark Epstein (The Guardian)

“Just as President Trump has said, he's been totally exonerated on anything relating to Epstein. And by releasing thousands of pages of documents, cooperating with the House Oversight Committee's subpoena request, signing the Epstein Files Transparency Act, and calling for more investigations into Epstein's Democrat friends, President Trump has done more for Epstein's victims than anyone before him.”

— White House spokesperson (NPR)

“We have not deleted anything, and as we have always said, all documents responsive were produced.”

— Justice Department spokesperson (CNN)

What’s next

Democrats on the House Oversight Committee will open an investigation into the allegedly missing documents from the Epstein files.

The takeaway

The release of the Epstein files has raised more questions than answers, with some key documents apparently missing, including FBI interviews with a woman who made unverified claims about President Trump. This case highlights the ongoing challenges in fully accounting for Epstein's crimes and the need for continued transparency and investigation.