Editor’s Note: This story contains discussions of rape or sexual assault that may be disturbing. Reader discretion is advised. If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, you can find help and discreet resources on the National Sexual Assault Hotline website or by calling 1-800-656-4673.
(NewsNation) — The Justice Department said Tuesday that a postcard between Jeffrey Epstein and Larry Nassar that surfaced amid the thousands of documents related to the Epstein investigation is fake.
“The FBI has confirmed this alleged letter from Jeffrey Epstein to Larry Nassar is FAKE. The fake letter was received by the jail, and flagged for the FBI at the time,” the department wrote on X.
The postcard — seemingly written by Epstein to disgraced doctor Nassar — allegedly showed Epstein reaching out to Nassar days after his suicide in 2019.
In the postcard, Epstein allegedly wrote to Nassar stating they have a shared interest in “young girls” and that he had taken a “short route” home, according to documents released Tuesday by the Justice Department.
Earlier Tuesday, the department said on X it was “looking into the validity of this alleged letter from Jeffrey Epstein to Larry Nassar and we will follow up as soon as possible.”
The handwritten postcard was included in a new Justice Department release of roughly 11,000 documents, totaling nearly 30,000 pages relating to the Epstein investigation.
It is unclear how or if Epstein and Nassar knew each other.
An attorney for Nassar did not return a request for comment by NewsNation.
Epstein postcard references love for ‘young ladies’ and Trump
The postcard allegedly sent to Nassar appears to reference President Donald Trump, who was president in 2019 when the postcard was timestamped.
“We share one thing … our love & caring for young ladies at the hope they’d reach their full potential. Our president also shares our love of young, nubile girls,” the postcard stated.
The Justice Department said the letter does not match Epstein’s handwriting, adding that the postmark on the envelope was from Virginia, not New York, where Epstein was being held. It also said the return address for the jail was wrong and failed to include his inmate number, adding that the envelope was processed three days after Epstein’s death.
“This fake letter serves as a reminder that just because a document is released by the Department of Justice does not make the allegations or claims within the document factual. Nevertheless, the DOJ will continue to release all material required by law,” the department wrote.
Both Epstein and Nassar were convicted in sex abuse proceedings involving minors.
Postcard was postmarked after Epstein’s death and appears to allude to suicide
The handwritten postcard Epstein allegedly wrote to Nassar had a postmark date of Aug. 13, 2019, three days after Epstein’s death.
“Dear L.N. as you know by now, I have taken the ‘short route’ home. Good Luck!” the postcard stated.
The reference to a “short route” appears to be alluding to suicide. Epstein died by apparent suicide at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in New York City in August 2019 while awaiting trial.
The postcard was addressed to an Arizona prison where Nassar was initially held, but was returned to the MCC after officials determined he was no longer housed at that facility.
It is unclear if Nassar has read or is aware of the note.
Who is Larry Nassar?
Nassar is a disgraced sports doctor who is serving decades in prison for convictions in state and federal courts. He admitted to sexually assaulting athletes when he worked at Michigan State University and at Indianapolis-based USA Gymnastics, which trains Olympians.
In 2015, the FBI was alerted to sexual abuse allegations against Nassar after USA Gymnastics reported complaints to its Indianapolis field office, but agents did not open a formal investigation for months.
At least 40 girls and women later said they were abused during a 14-month period while the FBI was aware of the allegations, prompting USA Gymnastics to contact FBI officials in Los Angeles in May 2016.
Nassar was arrested later that year by Michigan State University police.
A Justice Department inspector general report released in July 2021 found the FBI made “fundamental” errors and failed to treat the case with the “utmost seriousness.” More than 100 women, including Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles, later sought more than $1 billion from the federal government over the bureau’s handling of the case.
In 2022, the Michigan Supreme Court rejected Nassar’s final appeal and declined to revisit his 40-year sentence.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.