Jeffrey Epstein sent himself a series of emails detailing his connections to President Donald Trump, emails that one investigative reporter suspects were designed to be used as leverage should he ever end up behind bars.
Appearing with CNN’s Michael Smerconish Saturday, investigative reporter and author Barry Levine laid out why he thought Epstein had sent himself emails with information suggesting that Trump was aware of his suspected illegal activities, including sex-trafficking of minors.
“I think at the time, with Miami Herald's series 'Perversion of Justice,' Epstein knew that the feds would be closing in on him, and I think he was memorializing his connection to Donald Trump at the time,” Levine said. “I think that he might have suspected that he was going to be arrested, which he was, eventually.”
“In other words Barry, are you saying that Epstein wasn't writing it for himself, he was writing it, perhaps, for law enforcement in the future?” Smerconish asked.
“That's what I suspect Michael,” Levine confirmed, “yes.”
The email in question is dated February 1, 2019, in which Epstein wrote to himself: “[Redacted] worked at Mara Lago. Trump knew of it and came to my house many times during that period.”
The email was part of around 20,000 pages of documents released this week by the House Oversight Committee. Subpoenaed from Epstein’s estate, the emails revealed several new revelations about Trump’s past ties to Epstein, including that he may have “spent hours” with one of Epstein’s victims and that Epstein may have joined Trump for Thanksgiving while he was president.
Jeffrey Epstein "knew that the feds would be closing in on him" and wrote emails to himself about his connections to Trump as leverage should he be arrested, suspects investigative reporter Barry Levine. pic.twitter.com/qibQWVCC9h
— Alexander Willis (@ReporterWillis) November 15, 2025