Here’s a brief overview of their friendship and falling-out, and how Trump’s political career intersected with Epstein’s prosecution.
1980s to Early 2000s: Trump and Epstein Are Friends. Trump parties with Epstein and flies on his private jet at least seven times. Trump appears in Epstein’s “little black book”, along with several of his family members (and many other famous and powerful figures).
2004: Trump-Epstein Friendship Ends. Trump and Epstein have a “falling-out,” as the president put it years later. The cause may have been a real-estate battle, but it’s not totally clear when or why they cut ties.
2006: Epstein Indicted in Florida. After Florida police investigate multiple claims of Epstein sexually abusing underage girls, he is indicted on just one count of soliciting prostitution. Florida officials are accused of giving him special treatment, and the FBI launches its own investigation.
2008: Epstein Takes Plea Deal. Epstein pleads guilty to two state charges after striking a plea deal with the U.S. Attorney in Miami, Alexander Acosta, to avoid federal prosecution (Acosta later served as Trump’s Labor secretary). Epstein serves most of his 18-month sentence in a work-release program that lets him leave jail during the day.
July 6, 2019: Feds Arrest Epstein. Epstein is arrested on federal sex-trafficking charges in New York. Acosta resigns from the Trump administration days later amid public outcry over his decision not to prosecute Epstein years earlier.
August 10, 2019: Epstein Dies. Epstein is found dead in his Manhattan jail cell. His death is ruled a suicide.
2024: Giuffre-Maxwell Documents Released. Files from a settled defamation suit Epstein accuser Virginia Giuffre brought against his accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell are released, fueling public interest in the case. On the campaign trail, Trump suggests he’ll declassify the federal government’s Epstein files if reelected.
February 2025: Bondi Says Epstein Files Are Coming. Attorney General Pam Bondi teases the release of more Epstein files, saying the “client list” is “sitting on my desk right now to review.” Days later, right-wing influencers are given binders of previously released Epstein materials.
July 7, 2025: FBI and DoJ Cancel Epstein Release. The FBI and DoJ release a memo saying that following an “exhaustive review,” they have determined that there is no “client list,” nothing in the Epstein files warrants further investigation, and there will be no further document releases.
December 2025: Congress Orders Epstein Files Release. The Epstein Files Transparency Act passes almost unanimously. (After unsuccessfully trying to stop the vote, Trump backs it at the last minute.) The DoJ posts the first batch of documents on December 19 but misses the deadline set by the law.
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