Ex-police chief said Trump told him in 2006 'everyone' knew of Epstein's behaviour

February 10, 2026

A newly released FBI document from a 2019 interview reveals that former Palm Beach Police Chief Michael Reiter claims Donald Trump called him in 2006 during an Epstein investigation, stating that "everyone" knew about Epstein's criminal behavior with underage girls. This contradicts Trump's 2019 statement that he had "no idea" about Epstein's crimes and had no suspicions about him. According to Reiter's account, Trump indicated he had banned Epstein from Mar-a-Lago, identified Ghislaine Maxwell as Epstein's accomplice, and was among the first to contact police about the investigation.

Who is affected

Donald Trump (current U.S. President)
Michael Reiter (former Palm Beach Police Chief)
Jeffrey Epstein (deceased, was under investigation)
Ghislaine Maxwell (convicted and serving 20-year prison sentence)
Underage girls who were victims of Epstein's sexual exploitation
Palm Beach police department and federal prosecutors involved in the original investigation
White House officials responding to the allegations

What action is being taken

No explicit ongoing actions are described in the article. The FBI document was released as part of Epstein files, but this is a disclosure of past records rather than an active investigation. Maxwell's testimony occurred in the past (Monday before the article), not as an ongoing action.

Why it matters

This revelation is significant because it directly contradicts Trump's public statements from 2019 claiming he had no knowledge or suspicions about Epstein's criminal activities. The alleged 2006 call suggests Trump may have been aware of Epstein's behavior with underage girls years before publicly acknowledging it, raising questions about the extent and timing of his knowledge. This could have legal, political, and reputational implications for the sitting president, particularly given his past social relationship with Epstein and Maxwell during the 1990s and early 2000s.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC