White House Declines to Confirm Whether Trump Called Palm Beach Sheriff About Epstein as Newly Released Files Surface
WASHINGTON — The White House on Tuesday refused to confirm whether Donald Trump personally called the Palm Beach County sheriff in 2006 regarding Jeffrey Epstein, following the release of a newly unsealed FBI document that references such a call. During a press briefing, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said she did not know whether the reported call took place.
“It may or may not have happened in 2006,” Leavitt told reporters.
The question stems from a newly released document contained within the broader Epstein investigative file archive. According to the memo, the Palm Beach police chief at the time told the FBI that he had received a call from Trump during the early stages of the Epstein investigation. The document states that Trump allegedly said, “Thank goodness you’re stopping him.” The memo does not include a transcript of the call, and it reflects the police chief’s account to federal investigators rather than a recording or direct statement from Trump.
Political Fallout and Competing Narratives
Even while declining to confirm the call, Leavitt argued that the reported contents would align with Trump’s longstanding public claim that he distanced himself from Epstein years before Epstein’s federal indictment.
“This call, if it did happen, corroborates exactly what President Trump has said from the beginning,” Leavitt said.
Trump has repeatedly stated that he cut ties with Epstein in the mid-2000s and has denied any wrongdoing related to Epstein’s sex trafficking crimes. The newly surfaced document adds another layer to the already sprawling political and legal legacy of Epstein, who was arrested on federal sex trafficking charges in July 2019 and later died in custody.
Clemency Questions Surrounding Maxwell
The briefing also veered into questions about whether Trump would consider clemency for Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s former associate who is currently serving a federal prison sentence after being convicted in 2021 of sex trafficking-related charges. Maxwell’s attorney has publicly indicated that she would be willing to cooperate with a House investigation if clemency were granted. When asked whether such an option was under consideration, Leavitt did not rule it out.
“This is not something I’ve discussed with the president recently, because, frankly, it’s not a priority,” she said. “He’s focused on many of the issues that the American people are dealing with.”
The refusal to close the door on clemency comes amid mounting congressional scrutiny over newly released Epstein-related materials.
Lutnick’s Testimony Adds Pressure
Tuesday’s briefing followed Senate testimony from Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, who acknowledged meeting Epstein twice after Epstein’s 2008 conviction for soliciting prostitution from a minor. That admission contradicted earlier public statements suggesting he had severed ties earlier.
Lutnick has since faced bipartisan calls for resignation, becoming the highest-profile current U.S. official entangled in renewed scrutiny over past associations with Epstein. Leavitt defended Lutnick during the briefing.
“He remains a very important member of President Trump’s team and the president fully supports the secretary,” she said.
What the Document Shows
The FBI memo referencing the alleged Trump call is part of a tranche of previously unreleased materials now being examined by lawmakers, journalists, and legal analysts. The document records what the Palm Beach police chief told investigators at the time, that Trump had expressed approval of the local effort to stop Epstein.
The file does not independently verify the call, nor does it establish context beyond the police chief’s recollection. Still, the existence of the reference inside a federal investigative file is significant, particularly as political tensions rise over how thoroughly Epstein’s network was investigated and whether powerful figures received preferential treatment.
The White House’s refusal to confirm or deny the call leaves unanswered questions about Trump’s direct involvement during the 2006 Palm Beach investigation a moment that, in hindsight, marked one of the earliest public law enforcement efforts targeting Epstein’s activities.
As additional documents continue to surface from the Epstein archive, pressure is mounting on both current and former officials to clarify their roles and relationships during the years when Epstein operated largely in plain sight.
