Evidence methodology
How TRP reads the Epstein Files
The archive is designed to make primary records easier to examine without confusing a name appearing in a file with an allegation, or an allegation with a proven fact.
The association firewall
Co-occurrence creates a neutral relationship record: mentioned with, contact entry, travel record, employment record or financial-record party. A wrongdoing or knowing-participation claim requires separate evidence supporting that exact proposition.
Evidence has more than one axis
Source state, assertion state, access state, exhibit/admission state and review state are tracked separately. One generic “verified” badge is not enough for complex records.
Protected people stay protected
Victims, minors and other protected people are handled with minimum-necessary identification. Public-interest review is not a license to enrich or expose identities unnecessarily.
OCR is a reading aid, not the source
Machine-extracted text may contain missing words, column-order errors, handwriting mistakes or redaction artifacts. Readers should compare important language against the original record.
Evidence ladder
Different records prove different things
This is a publication guide, not a universal ranking of truth. A flight log may establish that an entry exists while saying nothing by itself about purpose or criminal conduct.
- 1
Raw mention
A name, term or entity appears in a record. No broader conclusion is implied.
- 2
Media report
A news organization or other publisher reports a proposition.
- 3
Party assertion
A litigant, witness, lawyer, agency or other party makes a claim.
- 4
Sworn statement / testimony
A proposition is stated under oath or in testimony.
- 5
Documentary record
A source document establishes that a record, entry, transaction or event was recorded.
- 6
Judicial finding / verdict
A court or jury made a finding within the scope of a proceeding.
What TRP will say
We will state what a record fairly supports, identify who is making an allegation, distinguish corroboration from repetition, and point readers back to the source whenever possible.
What TRP will not say
We will not treat proximity, contact-book presence, travel, photographs, social association or repeated online claims as proof that a person committed or knowingly facilitated a crime.
Corrections matter in a living archive. If a source changes, a record is superseded, or our description needs correction, contact the newsroom so the public record can be updated with a visible editorial trail.
Contact the newsroom