Former Police Chief Says Trump Acknowledged Epstein Allegations in 2006 Call
An FBI interview summary cites a former Florida police chief who said Donald Trump called in 2006 acknowledging widespread awareness of Jeffrey Epstein’s conduct, raising renewed questions about what the president knew.
A newly released FBI interview summary has renewed scrutiny of Donald Trump’s past interactions with Jeffrey Epstein, citing a former Florida police chief who said the future president acknowledged awareness of Epstein’s behavior during a 2006 phone call.
The document, released by the U.S. Justice Department as part of a broader disclosure of Epstein-related materials, summarizes a 2019 FBI interview with the former Palm Beach police chief who oversaw the department’s investigation into Epstein in the mid-2000s.
According to the interview summary, the former police chief said Trump called him shortly after local authorities launched their investigation into Epstein. The officer recalled Trump expressing support for the inquiry and stating that Epstein’s conduct was widely known.
Although the FBI document redacts the officer’s name, details identifying the interview subject correspond to Michael Reiter, who led the Palm Beach Police Department during the original investigation. Reiter has publicly confirmed he was the individual referenced in the interview summary.
The document states that Trump told the officer he had previously barred Epstein from his Mar-a-Lago club and described him in strongly negative terms. The former chief also recalled Trump discussing Ghislaine Maxwell and urging investigators to focus attention on her role.
Maxwell was later convicted in federal court for her involvement in recruiting underage girls for Epstein and is currently serving a prison sentence.
The interview summary further indicates the former chief recalled Trump describing encounters in which he was present around Epstein and teenagers but distanced himself from those situations. The officer also said Trump was among the earliest individuals to contact local authorities after learning of the investigation.
In 2006, Palm Beach police were investigating allegations that Epstein sexually exploited underage girls. The case later shifted to federal prosecutors, resulting in a controversial 2008 plea agreement that limited Epstein’s criminal exposure.
The White House has stated there is no corroborating evidence confirming that Trump contacted law enforcement at the time. Administration officials have reiterated Trump’s longstanding position that he severed ties with Epstein years before the financier’s later criminal prosecution.
Trump has repeatedly said he was unaware of Epstein’s criminal conduct prior to their falling out and has attributed the end of their relationship to disputes involving staff at his Mar-a-Lago property.
The renewed attention comes amid ongoing public and congressional scrutiny of Epstein’s network and associates following the release of additional investigative materials. While the FBI interview summary provides an account from a former law enforcement official, questions remain about corroboration and the broader context of the alleged conversation.
