Welcome to The Beat. I'm Melissa Murray in for Ari Melbur, and we start tonight with Donald Trump's Epstein

turmoil. The Department of Justice has released their final tranche of three million files related to Jeffrey Epstein,

revealing more details about his cozy relationships with powerful people.

The files include thousands of new text messages between Epstein and Trump ally Steve Bannon,

suggesting that their known friendship was, quote, deeper, chummier, and more expansive than previously known. In the text, the two frequently discussed foreign affairs and the Trump

White House. Also included in the files are about two hours of never-before-seen interview footage

of Epstein, all conducted by Steve Bannon. And we know that Bannon filmed Epstein for over

15 hours sometime in the years leading up to

Epstein's conviction and death, an attempt to rehab Epstein's reputation.

Here's Epstein talking about his first time in jail back in 2008 on charges of soliciting

prostitution.

I was in a place, it was called the special housing unit, which is for the roughest, toughest,

meanest people. Did it strike you at the time of the mess you had made of your life and

put you in a position? Are you had put yourself in that position? No. You cannot tell me sometime during that day,

you did not have that conversation with yourself

of how did I do this to myself?

Did I find it amazing that I was there?

That's a better thing.

I don't want to say it's not funny.

I wasn't funny.

Right.

Not amazing.

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