In a recent interview, David Schoen, a former attorney for the late financier Jeffrey Epstein, has publicly disputed the long-rumored existence of a so-called “client list” associated with his one-time client. Schoen’s comments come amid ongoing public speculation and political debate regarding the handling of documents related to Epstein’s activities.
Schoen characterized the management of the Epstein files as “quite clumsily” handled, suggesting authorities acted prematurely. “I think they jumped the gun,” he stated. “They spoke before they knew what they had.” He further pointed to what he described as a level of hypocrisy, noting that multiple parties, including the current presidential administration, have had access to the same records. He also highlighted that Epstein’s associate, Ghislaine Maxwell, was prosecuted by officials who had reviewed the materials.
Addressing widespread conspiracy theories, Schoen firmly rejected the idea that Epstein was engaged in blackmail or was an operative for any intelligence agency. “I don’t believe Jeffrey Epstein planned to blackmail anyone,” Schoen elaborated, dismissing what he called “crazy theories” circulating in some media circles.
A significant portion of the public intrigue has focused on potential connections between Epstein and high-profile figures, including former President Donald Trump. Schoen addressed this directly, recounting a conversation with Epstein in 2019. He stated that he specifically asked Epstein if he had compromising information on Trump, with whom Epstein had been publicly associated in the past before a falling out. According to Schoen, Epstein replied, “Absolutely not.”
Schoen emphasized that at that time, facing serious charges, it would have been in Epstein’s interest to implicate others in his defense. The attorney asserted it was “important” to Epstein that people not be wrongly associated with his criminal activities simply due to social connections. “The fact that they might appear in an address book doesn’t mean that they did anything nefarious with him,” Schoen added.
The debate over the documents has drawn commentary from other public figures. Former CNN anchor Jim Acosta recently suggested that Trump appears to be “freaking out” over the backlash related to the Epstein files, contrasting Trump’s calls for transparency in other historical cases with his stance on this matter. “It begs the question, what gives?” Acosta remarked.
The discourse continues as legal experts and commentators weigh in on the procedural handling of the case and the persistent questions surrounding Epstein’s network.
