Newly released Epstein documents and leaked emails have revived unproven allegations involving Donald Trump’s former aide Madeleine Westerhout, reigniting debate over power, proximity and political optics inside the White House.
The political landscape in the United States has been shaken since January 30, 2026, when the US Department of Justice released more than three million pages of Jeffrey Epstein related documents, along with 2,000 videos and approximately 180,000 images. The disclosure triggered intense scrutiny across political and media circles, reviving old associations and fueling new controversy.
Among the material drawing attention is a leaked 2019 email from author Michael Wolff to Jeffrey Epstein. The message has pulled Donald Trump’s former personal assistant, Madeleine Westerhout, back into public discussion. The email allegedly referenced rumors of a White House affair during the 2018 government shutdown, though no verified evidence has emerged to substantiate the claims.
Westerhout, now 35, built a rapid career within Republican politics. A graduate of the College of Charleston, she worked for the Republican National Committee and Mitt Romney’s 2012 campaign. During the 2016 presidential transition, she greeted visitors at Trump Tower and soon became Trump’s personal secretary in the White House. By 2019, she had risen to Director of Oval Office Operations, managing the President’s schedule and handling sensitive documents. Insiders frequently described her as one of his most trusted aides.
The alleged scandal stems from Wolff’s draft email, reportedly linked to material for an unpublished book. According to reports in The Mirror and Raw Story, Wolff claimed Trump told friends he remained at the White House during the holidays while his family traveled to Mar-a-Lago because he was “banging” his then 28 year old assistant. The email further alleged that Trump received documents from Westerhout while in his underwear.
Additional attention came from newly released 2019 texts between Epstein and Steve Bannon. Epstein reportedly joked that Trump’s absence from family festivities was “for Madeline,” to which Bannon replied, “She has a way about her!!!!” The White House dismissed the exchange as referencing a “salacious and false rumour.”
Westerhout’s departure from the administration came in August 2019 after an off the record dinner with reporters. She allegedly claimed to have a closer relationship with Trump than his daughters and said he avoided photos with Tiffany Trump due to concerns about her appearance. Trump called the remarks “hurtful” but described Westerhout as a “very good person.”
Through her attorney and in a November 2025 statement to The Mirror, Westerhout categorically denied any affair, calling the allegations “absurd,” “defamatory,” and “unhinged from reality.” No independent corroboration has surfaced beyond the Wolff email and related gossip.
Jeffrey Epstein, a financier and convicted sex offender, died in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges. His case exposed a network of powerful connections, continuing to cast a long shadow over American politics.
