The day after Elon Musk alleged that former President Donald Trump was mentioned in the Epstein files, one of Jeffrey Epstein’s former attorneys, David Schoen, responded to the claim.
“I was hired to lead Jeffrey Epstein’s defense as his criminal lawyer 9 days before he died,” said Schoen on X Friday. “He sought my advice for months before that.
“I can say authoritatively, unequivocally, and definitely that he had no information to hurt President Trump. I specifically asked that!”
The remarks of Schoen, who was hired to represent Epstein shortly before his death, followed a post made by Elon Musk on X Thursday, in which Musk made a bold accusation against former President Trump amid growing tensions between the two over Trump’s “big beautiful bill.”
This combination photo shows President Donald Trump at a campaign event in New York, Sept. 5, 2024, left, and Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk at the European Jewish Association's conference in Krakow, Poland, Jan. 22, 2024. (AP Photo)AP
“Time to drop the really big bomb: (Donald Trump) is in the Epstein files,” Musk wrote on X, which was later deleted. “That is the real reason they have not been made public.
“Have a nice day, DJT.”
Musk later added, “Mark this post for the future. The truth will come out.”
At this time, there is no evidence connecting Trump to any criminal conduct involving Epstein.
However, Trump was mentioned in “The Epstein Files: Phase 1″ — his name appearing in the flight logs seven times — a document made public by the Department of Justice earlier this year.
The general public can view documents of “The Epstein Files: Phase 1” online, which contain various records related to Epstein, the convicted sex offender.
The Trump and Elon Musk partnership started off strong but seriously blew up on Thursday, with Trump threatening to take away Musk’s government deals.
Musk fired back, like his Space X rocket, saying (without showing any evidence) that Trump’s team is hiding Epstein files because Trump’s name might be in them.
The messy, public fallout between Trump and the world’s wealthiest man (Musk is worth close to $394 billion) unfolded across their social media accounts, sparked by Trump being questioned during a White House meeting with Germany’s new leader on June 5 about Musk’s comments on his recent spending bill.
This all happened just days after the two had a low-key farewell at the White House on May 30, where Trump thanked Musk for his short stint in government service with a symbolic, non-working golden key.
Elon Musk speaks during a news conference with President Donald Trump, right, as Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, from left, and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, listen in the Oval Office of the White House, Friday, May 30, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)AP
Musk publicly backed Trump shortly after an attempted assassination at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, last July. Just days later, it was revealed that Musk had launched a political action committee aimed at supporting Trump’s campaign.
Their relationship quickly intensified. Musk became a prominent adviser and frequent presence at Trump’s side — even famously jumping in the air behind him during a rally in October.
After Trump won the presidency, Musk was often seen alongside him: attending the inauguration, riding Air Force One to Mar-a-Lago on weekends, staying in the Lincoln Bedroom, and even sitting in on Cabinet meetings wearing a MAGA hat — sometimes two at once.
Roughly three months ago, in a very public show of support for Musk’s company amid growing criticism, Trump purchased a red Tesla from him right in the White House driveway.
President Donald Trump and Tesla CEO Elon Musk speak to reporters in front of a red Model S Tesla vehicle on the South Lawn of the White House Tuesday, March 11, 2025, in Washington. (Pool via AP)AP