Newly Declassified Epstein Files Revive Decades-Old Assault Allegation Against Donald Trump – White House Denounces as “Fabricated Smear”
WASHINGTON, D.C. / NEW YORK, 9 March 2026 – A long-sealed FBI memo from the Jeffrey Epstein investigations has resurfaced in the latest wave of declassified documents, detailing a woman’s graphic accusation that Donald Trump sexually assaulted her when she was 13 years old in 1994. The claim, which first emerged anonymously in a 2016 civil lawsuit before being dropped, is now part of the public record, igniting a firestorm of outrage, legal scrutiny, and fierce denials from the White House.
The memo, dated 2016 and based on interviews conducted by FBI agents as part of the broader Epstein probe, recounts the woman’s testimony in stark detail. She alleged that Trump “forced himself” on her during an encounter at Epstein’s Manhattan townhouse, describing the incident as violent and non-consensual. The document notes her claim that she was introduced to Trump through Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, who allegedly facilitated the meeting as part of a broader pattern of trafficking underage girls to powerful men. The memo includes her descriptions of the room, the clothing involved, and subsequent threats she said she received to remain silent.
The declassification is part of the ongoing phased release of millions of Epstein-related pages under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, enacted in 2024. This batch, unsealed last week by the U.S. Department of Justice following congressional pressure, includes over 5,000 references to Trump across emails, flight logs, and witness statements—though none directly corroborate this specific accusation. The woman’s identity remains redacted in the memo, cited as “Witness 1,” but cross-references to the 2016 lawsuit suggest it aligns with the claims made by “Katie Johnson,” a pseudonym used in that case, which was withdrawn amid threats and lack of evidence.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt issued an immediate and vehement denial, calling the allegation “completely baseless, fabricated, and a recycled smear designed to distract from real issues.” In a statement, she emphasized that Trump has “repeatedly denied any knowledge of Epstein’s crimes” and noted that the 2016 lawsuit was dismissed without merit. “This is political warfare at its ugliest,” Leavitt said, adding that the timing—amid Trump’s second-term policy pushes—suggests orchestration by opponents.
Legal experts are divided on the memo’s impact. No criminal charges have ever been filed against Trump related to Epstein, and statutes of limitations for such allegations have long expired in New York. However, victim-rights attorneys argue the document could bolster ongoing civil suits or prompt congressional subpoenas for unredacted versions. “This isn’t just hearsay—it’s an FBI interview under oath,” said Lisa Bloom, a lawyer representing several Epstein survivors. “The public deserves the full context, including any corroborating evidence still sealed.”
The release has amplified calls for complete transparency. House Democrats, led by Rep. Jamie Raskin, have demanded the DOJ expedite the remaining redactions, citing the memo as evidence of “systemic protection for powerful figures.” Republicans, including Oversight Committee Chair James Comer, have countered that the focus should remain on current administration ties to Epstein associates, such as Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.
Public reaction has been swift and polarized. Social media platforms saw #EpsteinFiles and #TrumpAllegation trend globally within hours, with over 2.1 billion impressions. Supporters of Trump dismissed the claim as “fake news” recycled from 2016 election smears, while critics pointed to Epstein’s known recruitment of underage girls and Trump’s documented 26 flights on Epstein’s jet as circumstantial red flags.
The woman’s original 2016 lawsuit, filed in California and New York, was dropped just days before the election amid death threats and questions about her identity. She has not come forward publicly since, and efforts to contact her through attorneys listed in the memo were unsuccessful.
As more Epstein documents are slated for release in coming months, this accusation—buried for nearly a decade—has reopened a wound many thought had scarred over. Whether it leads to new investigations or fades amid denials remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: the shadows of Epstein’s network continue to reach into the highest echelons of power.
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