A former Florida police chief says Donald Trump told him in July 2006 that “everyone” knew about Jeffrey Epstein’s conduct—an account in FBI records that contradicts Trump’s later public statements about his former acquaintance.
Michael Reiter, who resigned as Palm Beach police chief in 2009, confirmed to the Miami Herald that he was the individual whose name was redacted in the FBI file. Reiter recounted the interaction during an October 2019 FBI interview related to the Epstein sexual abuse investigations.
The FBI report notes that Trump called Reiter in July 2006 and said: “Thank goodness you’re stopping him; everyone has known he’s been doing this.” The call occurred as allegations against Epstein were mounting in Palm Beach, where police had interviewed multiple underage victims throughout 2005 and 2006.
The FBI summary states that Trump told Reiter that everyone was aware of Epstein’s behavior. This clashes with Trump’s July 2019 comments, made after Epstein’s arrest, when he said he knew nothing about Epstein’s exploitation of teenage girls.
The Department of Justice said it had no further evidence supporting Trump’s 2006 phone call. The statement followed questions raised about the FBI document capturing Reiter’s version of events.
Reiter’s FBI interview also mentioned additional details from the July 2006 call. According to the record, Trump remarked that “he got the hell out when teenagers were present.” Trump also described Ghislaine Maxwell as Epstein’s operative and called her evil, urging Reiter to focus on her.
Maxwell was arrested in July 2020 and later convicted for aiding Epstein. She was found guilty of recruiting, grooming, and abusing underage girls.
The revelations about Trump’s 2006 statements complicate the timeline of what he knew. After Maxwell’s 2020 arrest, Trump publicly wished her well and acknowledged meeting her several times, especially due to their shared presence in Palm Beach.
These comments contrast with how Trump described Maxwell in 2006, based on Reiter’s account. His earlier portrayal of her as evil differs from his later, more reserved remarks.
Epstein’s case concluded with a controversial 2008 plea deal that shielded him from federal charges. Despite efforts by Palm Beach police, the FBI, and federal prosecutors between 2005 and 2006, Epstein received a lenient agreement, pleading to state prostitution charges instead of facing federal prosecution.
Epstein died by suicide in jail in August 2019 while awaiting trial on new federal sex trafficking charges. His death renewed scrutiny of his relationships with powerful people in politics, business, and entertainment.
The late Virginia Giuffre, who died in 2024, emerged as one of the most vocal survivors. She said Epstein abused her and trafficked her to prominent men, including former Prince Andrew, who has denied any wrongdoing.
Trump’s ties to Epstein became a recurring issue in his political campaigns, during which he vowed to release the Epstein files—a pledge that resonated with supporters seeking transparency about Epstein’s influential network.
The president signed the Epstein Files Transparency Act, requiring the Department of Justice to release all investigative materials. Trump continued to call the matter a hoax even though records indicate he and Epstein were close before distancing themselves.
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, formerly Trump’s personal attorney, interviewed Maxwell over two days in July 2025 while she was in prison. Soon afterward, in August, she was transferred to a minimum-security facility.
The transfer drew criticism from Democrats, who expressed concerns about potential witness tampering.
Maxwell invoked the Fifth Amendment during a House Oversight Committee deposition on Monday, February 9. Her attorney said she would testify in exchange for clemency, claiming she could exonerate both Trump and Bill Clinton.
The Department of Justice released three million Epstein-related documents, providing new insight into the scale of his criminal network and his relationships with prominent individuals.
The House Oversight Committee released additional materials that further challenged Trump’s narrative regarding Epstein. The White House responded by reaffirming that Trump removed Epstein from Mar-a-Lago years earlier for inappropriate conduct toward female staff.
Palm Beach police, under Reiter’s leadership, were instrumental in building the initial case against Epstein.
The case remains a public focus as more DOJ documents continue to be released, continuing to illuminate the powerful individuals within Epstein’s circle and raising questions about what they knew about his crimes against young women and girls.