Keep Factually independent

Whether you agree or disagree with our analysis, these conversations matter for democracy. We don't take money from political groups - even a $5 donation helps us keep it that way.

Loading...Goal: 1,000 supporters
Loading...

Which prominent politicians appear in Jeffrey Epstein's flight logs?

Checked on November 15, 2025
Disclaimer: Factually can make mistakes. Please verify important info or breaking news. Learn more.

Executive summary

Flight logs and related “Epstein files” released in phases show a mix of prominent politicians, royals and public figures appearing as passengers or contacts; notably, Bill Clinton and Donald Trump are repeatedly reported in flight logs (eg. Clinton and Trump entries across multiple releases) [1][2][3]. Available sources do not provide a single, definitive master list tying names to wrongdoing — publishers and officials stress that presence on a log does not by itself prove criminal conduct [2].

1. What the records actually are — and what was released

The materials publicized as the “Epstein files” include flight logs, a redacted contact book, witness transcripts and other estate documents; the Department of Justice and congressional releases in 2025 and related court exhibits make up much of what reporters have used to identify names [4][5]. Axios summarized a DOJ release that included more than 100 pages of those documents, specifically noting flight logs and a redacted contact book as part of the package [5].

2. Which politicians are repeatedly named in reporting

Multiple outlets and document batches cite former President Bill Clinton and former President Donald Trump as appearing in Epstein’s flight logs. Clinton is reported as a passenger on flights with Epstein (including flights documented in 2002 and other years), while Trump’s name appears in flight logs from the 1990s and in Epstein’s contact book; press coverage counts several flights for each man in the available releases [1][2][3].

3. Other high-profile names that appear in logs and releases

Beyond Clinton and Trump, reporting and earlier unsealed exhibits have identified other public figures on various logs or contact lists — for example Prince Andrew, Naomi Campbell, Kevin Spacey and prominent financiers and advisers have been named across different document sets and pilot testimony introduced in trials or releases [6][7][8]. Congressional releases and committee statements have also referenced mentions of Elon Musk, Peter Thiel and Steve Bannon in broader estate documents, though not all mentions are the same as appearing as airplane passengers [9].

4. What appearing in a flight log does — and does not — mean

Reporting and DOJ material explicitly warn that a name in a log or contact book is not proof of criminal behavior; People Magazine and other outlets note that most listed individuals were “presumably on Epstein’s plane for legitimate business, political, or social reasons” [2]. The Palm Beach Post coverage likewise notes many flights date to the 1990s and that logs do not explain the purpose of trips [1].

5. Sources, redactions and limits to public evidence

The documents released have extensive redactions and have been shared in phases; some batches were described by news outlets as largely duplicative of previously public material and by others as incomplete [3][5]. Congressional releases later in 2025 contained more pages but still redacted victim names and certain details as investigators continued analysis [9]. As a result, available reporting can identify appearances but cannot always establish context, companions, or purpose for each entry [5][9].

6. Conflicting interpretations and political framing

Interpretation of the logs has been politicized: some lawmakers demanded full public disclosure as evidence of wrongdoing or compromise, while others and some news outlets cautioned against assuming guilt from presence alone [10][2]. Media summaries note disappointment among some who sought “bombshell” revelations because many of the released pages reiterated previously known material [6][3]. Readers should therefore separate the documentary fact of a name appearing from the contested narratives built around it [6][10].

7. How investigators and journalists are proceeding

Oversight committees and prosecutors have continued to review and selectively release estate materials; Democrats on the House Oversight Committee later published additional batches that included flight manifests and schedules while continuing to redact victim information pending review [9]. News organizations have cross-checked pilot testimony, court filings and the DOJ releases to report names and flight counts, but they also note gaps that prevent definitive conclusions about the nature of many encounters [7][5].

8. Bottom line for readers

Documented appearances of prominent politicians — especially Bill Clinton and Donald Trump — in Epstein-related flight logs are supported in the released records and reporting, but inclusion on a manifest is not evidence of criminal conduct by itself; the public record is partial, redacted and has been released in stages, leaving many contextual questions unresolved [1][2][5]. Available sources do not mention a comprehensive, unredacted list that definitively ties named passengers to criminal activity beyond what prosecutors and court records have already established [4].

Want to dive deeper?
Which U.S. presidents or presidential candidates appear in Jeffrey Epstein's flight logs?
How reliable are the published versions of Jeffrey Epstein's flight logs and who compiled them?
Have any politicians faced legal consequences based on appearances in Epstein's flight logs?
What patterns emerge from repeated politician entries in Epstein's flight logs (dates, destinations, associates)?
How have media outlets verified and reported politicians' connections to Jeffrey Epstein over time?