A new report from Bloomberg News claims that former President Donald Trump’s name appears multiple times in government documents related to the Jeffrey Epstein investigation, though it was redacted prior to potential public release.
According to Bloomberg’s Jason Leopold, unnamed sources said FBI personnel identified references to Trump in documents reviewed as part of the Epstein probe. However, his name — along with those of other prominent individuals — was blacked out using standard privacy redactions.
The report states that Trump’s name was redacted under two specific Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) exemptions:
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Exemption 6, which protects against “a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy.”
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Exemption 7(C), which protects personal information in law enforcement files when its disclosure could be considered an invasion of privacy.
These exemptions are commonly used in federal document reviews, including for public figures who were private citizens at the time an investigation began.
Bloomberg’s report notes that the presence of Trump’s name does not indicate any criminal activity or suggest wrongdoing. The story also does not claim that Trump was under investigation or implicated in any illegal behavior related to Epstein.
This is not the first time news outlets have reported on Trump’s possible appearance in sealed or redacted Epstein-related documents. The Wall Street Journal also reported that Trump was mentioned in the case files, citing anonymous sources. Following that report, the Department of Justice issued a public statement rejecting some of the coverage as inaccurate and based on unverified information.
Trump has previously acknowledged knowing Epstein socially but said the two had a falling out. He has also stated that he banned Epstein from his Mar-a-Lago club years before Epstein’s arrest.
No formal allegations have been brought against Trump in connection with Epstein or his criminal case.
Background on Redactions
Federal agencies often redact the names of private citizens and others from documents released under FOIA in order to comply with privacy laws. This can include well-known public figures when the materials relate to periods before they held public office.
Bloomberg’s article emphasizes that the redactions are not an indication of misconduct but rather part of routine procedures.
The report follows recent developments in the Epstein case, including renewed interest in sealed documents and a lengthy interview conducted last week by Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche with Ghislaine Maxwell, who is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence for her role in Epstein’s sex trafficking network.
