Newly released Department of Justice documents reveal that President Donald Trump acted early to bring attention to Jeffrey Epstein’s sexual misconduct. According to an FBI 302 summary of a 2019 interview with former Palm Beach Police Chief Michael Reiter, Trump reached out in July 2006 to alert law enforcement when investigations into Epstein began.

Trump reportedly emphasized that he had removed Epstein from Mar-a-Lago and had “got the hell out of there” when he observed Epstein around teenagers. He thanked Reiter for taking action, saying, “Thank goodness you’re stopping him; everyone has known he’s been doing this.” Trump also urged authorities to focus on Epstein’s associate Ghislaine Maxwell, describing her as “evil.” Maxwell was later sentenced to 20 years in prison for sexually exploiting minors alongside Epstein.

The documents contradict previous Democratic claims suggesting Trump might have concealed his connection to Epstein. Sen. Chuck Schumer had asserted that the delayed release of the files indicated a cover-up to protect the president, but the evidence shows Trump actively supported law enforcement efforts.

Reiter confirmed that none of Epstein’s victims reported any sexual contact involving Trump. Maxwell, who cooperated with federal investigators, stated that Trump was always a “perfect gentleman” and never acted inappropriately. Trump also previously explained that he removed Epstein from Mar-a-Lago after the sex trafficker made advances toward staff members and minors.

The release of over three million documents under the Epstein Files Transparency Act further highlights Trump’s proactive stance, detailing communications between Epstein and other prominent figures but offering no evidence of wrongdoing by the former president. Republican Rep. Anna Paulina Luna praised Trump’s conduct, stating, “Trump didn’t play their game; he helped expose it. And when they couldn’t blackmail him, they tried to smear him.”

The records portray Trump as one of the first public figures to alert authorities to Epstein’s crimes and encourage prosecution of all involved, underscoring his early commitment to protecting minors and supporting law enforcement.