Jeffrey Epstein
Epstein's relationship with President Trump has long drawn scrutiny. Screenshot/US Department of Justice

Newly released documents from the Epstein files show that Nick Ribis, former head of Trump Hotels and Casino Resorts, sent a significant payment to Jeffrey Epstein in 2018.

Ribis, who oversaw operations at Trump's Atlantic City casinos, reportedly used Epstein as a conduit for complex financial transactions, a pattern that appears consistent with prior dealings involving other high-profile figures. The revelations add fresh scrutiny to Trump-era associations with Epstein and the casino industry's opaque financial dealings.

Ribis Used Epstein as Financial Conduit

According to sources familiar with the matter, Ribis' payment to Epstein in 2018 was likely linked to a series of short-term financial arrangements. One expert noted that Ribis had previously attempted to restructure a casino out of bankruptcy in 2016, a deal that would have benefited investment firm Apollo. Epstein reportedly served as a bridge between Ribis and Apollo founder Leon Black in similar transactions.

'I've dug into Nick Ribis before. In 2016, Ribis was trying to orchestrate some kind of deal to get a casino out of a bankruptcy restructuring that would have been beneficial to Apollo, and Epstein was the conduit between Leon Black and Ribis,' the source said. While the exact purpose of the 2018 payment remains unclear, financial analysts suggest it followed the pattern of Ribis using Epstein as an intermediary for sensitive or high-stakes transactions.

Epstein's relationship with President Trump has long drawn scrutiny. Jack O'Donnell, who served as president of the Atlantic City Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino from 1987, told CNN that Trump frequently visited the resort with Epstein for private events.

'In my mind, it [Epstein] was his best friend, you know, from really the time I was there for four years,' O'Donnell said.

The former executive claimed that Trump once brought Epstein and a 19-year-old woman onto the casino floor during the early hours of a Sunday morning. New Jersey law prohibits anyone under 21 from gambling, and casino inspectors were reportedly waiting to intervene.

Warnings But No Fines for Trump

O'Donnell said he was required to reprimand Trump and Epstein over the incident. 'They made me call him and I had to, believe it or not, read him the Riot Act about this action because they gave him a break this time, but if this happens again, the fine is going to be substantial and it's going to be on your head,' he said. No fines were issued, highlighting the special treatment Trump reportedly received.

The incident reflects a broader pattern of leniency afforded to high-profile figures in the Trump casino network, raising questions about regulatory oversight and accountability. O'Donnell emphasised that the interaction underscored the close personal ties between Trump and Epstein.

Implications for Trump and Casino Industry

The revelation of Ribis' payment to Epstein in 2018 adds another layer to ongoing investigations into Epstein's financial networks and Trump-era connections. While Ribis' actions may have been purely transactional, the context of past interactions between Trump and Epstein fuels speculation about broader entanglements.

Financial experts note that Epstein often acted as a conduit for high-value transfers involving wealthy associates, and Ribis' payment fits this pattern.

'To get on a helicopter with a friend and three other people and fly down to Atlantic City, I mean, you can connect those dots. They were pretty good buddies,' O'Donnell said, highlighting the intertwined personal and business relationships.

Analysts say the disclosure raises important questions about oversight, the role of intermediaries like Epstein, and the influence of elite networks within the casino and financial sectors. As the Epstein files continue to surface, the connections between prominent business figures and the disgraced financier are likely to remain a subject of intense scrutiny.

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