Mark Epstein allegedly told the FBI that Donald Trump “authorized” Jeffrey Epstein’s murder; DOJ released files but ruled the claim false and unverified.
Mark Epstein allegedly told the FBI that Donald Trump “authorized” Jeffrey Epstein’s murder [Photo: X]
A newly released tranche of previously secret documents connected to Jeffrey Epstein’s investigations has put a spotlight on an extraordinary allegation from Mark Epstein, the convicted sex offender’s brother.
In an online tip submitted to the FBI National Threat Operations Centre (NTOC) in February 2023, Mark claimed that 'US President Donald Trump “authorized” the murder of Jeffrey Epstein while he was in a New York jail, just days before federal authorities ruled Epstein’s death a suicide.'
Although the FBI and the US Department of Justice (DOJ) have classified the tip as false and found no evidence to support it, the claim has reignited debates about Epstein’s death and the unresolved questions in the sprawling archive of Epstein files released under the Epstein Files Transparency Act.
Mark Epstein is the younger brother of Jeffrey Epstein and the person who formally identified the financier’s body after he died in a New York jail in August 2019. Unlike his brother, Mark Epstein has largely stayed away from Epstein’s financial and criminal activities and has consistently presented himself as an outsider to Jeffrey Epstein’s inner circle.
Since 2019, Mark Epstein has repeatedly challenged the official finding that his brother died by suicide. He has publicly claimed that Jeffrey Epstein was murdered and has accused authorities of failing to conduct a thorough investigation. Mark has said that neither the FBI nor any other law enforcement agency meaningfully followed up with him despite his repeated statements alleging foul play.
In pursuit of an independent review, Mark Epstein hired former New York City chief medical examiner Dr Michael Baden, who questioned the suicide ruling and suggested the injuries were more consistent with homicide. Mark has continued to speak to media outlets, lawmakers and investigators, insisting that powerful interests wanted his brother silenced.
His allegation naming Donald Trump appears in a tip he submitted to the FBI in 2023, which was later categorised by authorities as false.
According to files disclosed in recent weeks, Mark Epstein submitted an online tip to the FBI on February 22, 2023, asserting that his brother did not die by suicide in his cell at the Metropolitan Correctional Centre in New York in August 2019. Instead, Mark wrote:
“Jeffrey Epstein was murdered in his jail cell. I have reason to believe he was killed because he was about to name names. I believe President (sic) Trump authorized is (sic) murder.”
The tip was recorded by an FBI Threat Intake Examiner and forwarded to an unnamed special agent. Mark included his contact details, but law enforcement officials have since said they did not follow up with him after receiving the claim.
Upon the release of millions of pages of documents related to the Epstein case, the DOJ stressed that the materials include all tips and submissions sent to the FBI, verified or not. A department statement noted that some files contain “untrue and sensationalist claims against President Trump that were submitted to the FBI”, adding that if any of those claims had weight, they “certainly would have been weaponized against President Trump already”.
The release followed the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which mandated public disclosure of large numbers of investigative records. However, the DOJ also emphasised that inclusion in the files does not imply credibility or validation of any specific allegation.
Jeffrey Epstein was found unresponsive in his cell early on August 10, 2019, while awaiting trial on federal sex-trafficking charges. New York City’s chief medical examiner ruled his death a suicide by hanging, and both the DOJ and the FBI have confirmed that they found no evidence of foul play in formal reviews.
Despite the official conclusions, Mark Epstein has repeatedly challenged the suicide ruling and has publicly stated his belief that his brother was killed to prevent him from revealing damaging information about powerful people.
The explosive claim about Trump’s involvement surfaced only after the latest wave of document releases by the Justice Department — part of efforts to comply with federal transparency requirements. Many of the disclosed materials consist of tips, comments and submissions from the public, some of which are known to contain errors or unverified assertions.
The DOJ has clarified that it included even unverified tips in the public release to meet legal obligations, prompting warnings from officials that not every claim in the files should be interpreted as fact.
The release of Epstein files has also fuelled a wave of online conspiracy theories, including claims that Epstein might still be alive based on a Fortnite account linked to his name. Game developer Epic Games has dismissed these claims as a hoax, confirming the username tie-in was coincidental and unrelated to Epstein.
Other unverified rumours circulated on social media and message boards further complicated public understanding of the files, but none of these theories has independent evidence.
Despite the massive document release, which contains millions of pages, thousands of videos and images, investigators and lawmakers say many critical questions remain. Critics argue that significant portions of Epstein’s networks and associations have yet to be fully disclosed or explained, partly due to redactions and withheld materials aimed at protecting privacy or ongoing probes.
While the Trump-linked allegation has grabbed headlines, law enforcement officials maintain that there is no verified evidence connecting any political figure to Epstein’s death.
