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Epstein files: Trump told ex-police chief 'everyone' knew about Epstein's behaviour, FBI document says

A newly uncovered FBI document suggests Donald Trump told police about Jeffrey Epstein's behaviour in 2006.

The document, released in the latest batch of Epstein files, is a written record of a 2019 FBI interview with an ex-cop from Palm Beach, Florida, who says Mr Trump called him in relation to an investigation into the financier.

"Thank goodness you're stopping him, everyone has known he's been doing this," Mr Trump apparently said.

Epstein files: See the latest revelations

The name of the officer has been redacted from the file, however, Michael Reiter - who retired from his role as police chief in 2009 - told the Miami Herald he had taken the call.

Mr Trump has consistently denied any wrongdoing in relation to Epstein.

The document would appear to contradict previous claims by the president that he "had no idea" about his crimes.

When asked by reporters following the disgraced financier's arrest for sex trafficking in 2019 if he had "any suspicions" about him, Mr Trump said: "No, I had no idea. I had no idea. I haven't spoken to him in many, many years."

What else does FBI file say?

According to the FBI summary of the interview, Mr Trump told police in July 2006 that "people in New York knew Epstein was disgusting" and that he had thrown Epstein out of his Mar-a-Lago club.

Mr Trump allegedly told authorities he was once around Epstein when he was with teenagers and that he "got the hell out of there".

The summary also claims Mr Trump told the police chief that Ghislaine Maxwell - who is currently serving a 20-year federal prison sentence for sex trafficking, and has this week refused to answer questions at a congressional hearing - was Epstein's "operative" and "she is evil and to focus on her".

According to the newly revealed document, Mr Trump was "one of the very first people to call" the police when he found out they were investigating Epstein.

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The investigation into Epstein began in Florida in 2006 over his alleged sexual exploitation of underage girls.

Epstein agreed to a plea deal with prosecutors in 2008 that meant he avoided more serious federal charges.

A Department of Justice official told NBC News, the US sister network of Sky News, that "we are not aware of any corroborating evidence that the president contacted law enforcement 20 years ago".

What has the White House said?

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, when asked on Tuesday about the alleged call Mr Trump made to police, said it "may or may not have happened in 2006. I don't know the answer".

She added: "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.

"And that remains true in this call. If it did happen it corroborates exactly what President Trump has said from the beginning."

Mr Reiter declined comment to NBC News, writing that he is "not participating in interviews at this time".

Sky News

(c) Sky News 2026: Epstein files: Trump told ex-police chief 'everyone' knew about Epstein's behaviour, FBI doc

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