From a summer arts camp in Interlochen to stalled real estate deals in Detroit, new Department of Justice records reveal just how far Jeffrey Epstein’s reach extended into Michigan.
MICHIGAN—The latest batch of federal records tied to pedophile Jeffrey Epstein is sprawling, messy, and disturbing. And Michigan shows up in the files more than you might expect.
From a Northern Michigan arts camp to downtown Detroit and the University of Michigan, Epstein’s orbit intersects with the state in ways that are documented, verifiable, and sometimes surprising. Here’s what we know, based on what reporters have uncovered in the files so far:
1. Epstein and Maxwell used Interlochen as a recruiting ground.
Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell leveraged their donor status and access at Interlochen Center for the Arts in the 1990s to target students, NPR reports. According to US Department of Justice records reviewed by reporters, Epstein funded a lodge on campus, established a scholarship, and used that access to spend time with students at the prestigious arts camp.
Two women later said they were approached there as teenagers and groomed after initial encounters on campus. Former administrators told NPR that the campus was far more open at the time, making it difficult to enforce policies about donor access to students. Interlochen has since cut all ties with Epstein, removed his donor recognitions, and tightened security protocols.
2. Epstein’s first known victim was at Interlochen.
Court documents included in the DOJ release describe Epstein meeting a 13-year-old at Interlochen Arts Camp in 1994 and later grooming her, WZZM reports.
The documents outline how Epstein and Maxwell allegedly approached the student between classes, obtained her mother’s contact information, and later invited the family to Epstein’s Florida property. The lawsuit describes a years-long grooming relationship that escalated into sexual abuse. And the records position Interlochen as the place where that relationship began.
3. There’s an allegation involving Trump and a Lake Michigan yacht.
A 2020 online tip to the FBI—now included in the DOJ document dump—alleges Epstein was involved in sex trafficking connected to yachts operating on Lake Michigan near Muskegon in the 1980s, the Detroit Free Press reports. According to the report, the woman told the FBI that she gave birth to a baby girl, and her uncle killed and “disposed of the body in Lake Michigan.”
In the report, she also names President Donald Trump as a witness, alleging “he participated regularly in paying money to force me to (redacted) with him and he was present when my uncle murdered my newborn child and disposed of the body in Lake Michigan.”
It’s unclear whether the FBI followed up on the report. Federal officials have since cautioned that not all claims contained in the files have been verified or investigated.
4. A letter linking Epstein to Larry Nassar was found to be fake.
Among the documents circulating after the DOJ release was a letter that appeared to show correspondence between Jeffrey Epstein and former USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar, who was convicted of sexually abusing young athletes at Michigan State University.
But the US Department of Justice has said the letter was fraudulent. Officials cited handwriting inconsistencies, a questionable postmark, and the absence of required inmate identifiers.
5. Michigan schools paused Lifetouch photos over Epstein.
Multiple Metro Detroit school districts have now moved to suspend or review relationships with school photography vendor Lifetouch following concerns over its parent company’s ownership structure and former executives who were tied to Epstein, the Detroit News reports.
Redford Union Schools suspended picture days. Wyandotte Public Schools terminated its relationship. Dearborn Public Schools paused sessions pending review.
Lifetouch is not named in the Epstein files and has said there is no evidence of student photos being misused. Districts have emphasized there were no confirmed data breaches.
6. Emails show parents asked Epstein to help get students into U-M.
At least two families sought Epstein’s help in 2013 and 2014 to try to get their children admitted to the University of Michigan, according to the Detroit Free Press.
Emails show Epstein offering to review application materials and suggesting he could help. One parent even proposed a discount on private jet upgrades in exchange for assistance.
Both applicants were ultimately rejected. U-M officials told the Free Press they have no record of donations from Epstein and that admissions decisions are based solely on applicant merit.
7. Epstein was courted for Detroit real estate deals.
Records show Epstein was approached in 2013 by a real estate firm offering distressed properties in Detroit-area suburbs, promising high-yield rental investments as the city emerged from bankruptcy, according to the Detroit Free Press and MLive. The emails included property listings and projected returns, reflecting efforts by investors to tap into Epstein’s network.
In 2016, one of Epstein’s confidants also reached out seeking help raising $20 million to purchase and renovate the historic Buhl Building in Detroit, Crain’s Detroit Business reports. Emails show Epstein forwarded the opportunity to his contacts, but expressed little interest himself. The deal ultimately collapsed and the building was later purchased by Dan Gilbert.
Emails included in the latest release also show Epstein referring to Detroit as “bankrupt” and “desperate” and discussing the idea of using the city as a “petrie (sic) dish” for new currency concepts after it filed for Chapter 9 bankruptcy, the Detroit Free Press and MLive report.
8. Epstein was allegedly tied to a retirement scam in Detroit.
Court filings released by the DOJ show that Detroit’s General Retirement System was identified as a victim in a massive fraud scheme run by Steven Hoffenberg, Epstein’s former mentor, according to reporting by the Detroit Free Press and MLive.
Hoffenberg later claimed Epstein helped orchestrate the scheme, though Epstein was never charged. A 2016 filing indicated Detroit’s pension system considered joining litigation seeking damages from Epstein, but ultimately did not pursue the case.
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