Trump told New York Magazine in 2002 that he had known Epstein for 15 years, suggesting they met around 1987. In the profile, Trump said Epstein was a "lot of fun". He also said Epstein liked beautiful women as much as he did, and that many of them were on the "younger side".
Message pads investigators seized from Epstein's Palm Beach home indicate that Trump called Epstein twice in November 2004. In 2008, Epstein avoided a federal prosecution and served a short jail term after he signed a secret plea with Alexander Acosta, then US attorney of Florida's Southern District. In 2017, Trump chose Acosta to be his labor secretary. Epstein kept track of his friends and associates with a "black book", which included two addresses, 14 phone numbers, and an emergency contact for Trump. ...