Melania Trump exchanged emails with Ghislaine Maxwell in 2002, newly released Epstein files reveal

WASHINGTON, DC: The Justice Department released a large batch of files connected to its investigation of Jeffrey Epstein on Friday, January 30. Among the newly disclosed material was an email exchange between First Lady Melania Trump and Ghislaine Maxwell from 2002.

The correspondence surfaced as part of a long-awaited document dump containing millions of pages of investigative records. According to the DOJ, the newest release contains over 2,000 videos and 180,000 images, pushing the cumulative volume of disclosed Epstein investigation records to roughly 3.5 million pages.

Melania Trump and Ghislaine Maxwell correspondence in Epstein files

One apparent email dated October 2002 begins with Melania writing to Maxwell: “Dear G! How are you? Nice story about JE in NY mag. You look great in the picture.” That month, New York magazine published a story about Jeffrey Epstein in which President Donald Trump spoke about his longtime acquaintance:

“I’ve known Jeff for 15 years. Terrific guy. He’s a lot of fun to be with. It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side.”

The exchange between Melania and Maxwell took place more than two years before Melania became Trump’s third wife. In her message, Melania expressed excitement about visiting Maxwell in Palm Beach and tried to arrange a meeting once Maxwell returned to New York City. Both Trump and Epstein owned property in Palm Beach and New York at the time.

According to the Daily Beast, Maxwell replied by calling Melania “Sweet pea” and explained that a change of plans meant she would be in New York only briefly. Maxwell wrote, “I leave again on Fri so I still do not think I have time to see you sadly. I will try and call though.”

The emails appear to be the first known written communication between Maxwell and the future first lady, then known as Melania Knauss. The two women were known to spend time together alongside Trump and Epstein and were photographed with the men around that period.

In 2024, Trump biographer Michael Wolff alleged that Trump and Melania were first intimate aboard Epstein’s private plane. Wolff, who said Epstein had been a secret source for his reporting, claimed Melania responded by threatening a lawsuit. Wolff then filed a suit of his own and said he hopes to formally question Melania.

Jeffrey Epstein files and new document release

The Trump administration has been accused of violating the law by missing multiple deadlines to release the records. Alongside the emails between Melania and Maxwell, the files also contain multiple other emails that mention Melania by name.

One additional email included in the release was sent to Epstein by a redacted sender the day after the 2016 election. The message begins with the sender expressing surprise at the election outcome and included a noticeable line mentioning Melania.

Among the newly released records is an FBI compilation of allegations concerning Trump, many seemingly based on unverified tips. Responding to questions, the White House pointed to a Justice Department statement describing the accusations as “unfounded and false,” while Trump has consistently denied any wrongdoing related to Epstein.

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said the department has finished its review of the Epstein files and emphasized that the White House had “no oversight” over that work. He also announced that lawmakers would be able to designate individuals to examine unredacted versions of the records.

The DOJ added that it is still seeking additional materials that could be released in the future, including grand jury records from a federal case in the Southern District of New York that charged correctional officers at the facility where Epstein died with falsifying records.