Donald Trump Could Be ‘Doe 174’ in the Newly Released Jeffrey Epstein Documents: Report

In a significant development on January 3, 2024, a trove of court documents linked to the notorious late financier and convicted sex criminal Jeffrey Epstein was released to the public. Among the approximately 170 individuals mentioned in these documents–a mix of Epstein's wealthy associates, victims, and other individuals tangentially connected–one prominent figure stands out: former President Donald Trump.

The previously sealed or redacted documents were made public by US District Judge Loretta Preska after weighing the privacy rights of the individuals, referred to as 'Does,' against the public's right to access judicial records. Trump was implied to be Doe 174, a person whose "association with Epstein and Maxwell has been widely reported in the media already, and his or her name came up during Maxwell's public criminal trial," according to Preska's list, as reported by Business Insider.

The long-debated connection between the 45th president of the US and Epstein, the convicted sex criminal, takes a more concrete turn with recent revelations. Trump, known for his extensive history with Epstein, drew attention when he previously publicly extended his wishes to Ghislaine Maxwell upon her indictment on sex trafficking charges, saying, "I wish her well." During Maxwell's trial, the businessman-turned-politician's name emerged multiple times. Testimony from a former Mar-a-Lago employee highlighted an Epstein victim who worked at the Trump-owned Mar-a-Lago estate as well. 

It's worth noting that the former POTUS did not appear to have objected to keeping his identity sealed, as the judge's notes on lack of objection were absent in his case. Preska, however, stated that "no interests that outweigh the presumption of access have been identified with specificity," leading to the decision to unseal the documents 'in full.' It remains unclear whether Trump actively sought to keep his identity concealed in the documents, as three of the unsealed documents were not fully unredacted at the time of publication.

Nevertheless, the context of the available information places the founder of the Trump organization in the same orbit as Epstein and Maxwell. However, in a firm rebuttal against unfounded accusations, Trump recently utilized Truth Social to dismiss claims that he had ever been aboard Epstein's plane or visited his controversial island. The response was prompted by actor Mark Ruffalo inadvertently sharing AI-generated images depicting Trump on Epstein's private jet with young girls.

Expressing apprehension about the potential misuse of artificial intelligence to disseminate misleading information, Trump stated on Truth Social, "This is the Democrats' tactic against their Republican opponent, who is leading by a significant margin in the polls. The use of A.I. poses a serious threat to our country! Additionally, I categorically deny ever being on Epstein's plane or at his 'foolish' island. Robust laws must be enacted to address the dangers of A.I., as it will undoubtedly become a major and perilous issue in the future." Newsweek also reported the account of Epstein's victim, Virginia Giuffre: "I don't think Donald Trump participated in anything. That would have to be another assumption."