As the latest trove of Trump-era Justice Department Epstein files hits the public domain, award-winning Miami Herald journalist Julie K. Brown—the fearless reporter whose 2018 “Perversion of Justice” series single-handedly revived the case against Jeffrey Epstein—makes a chilling discovery buried in the documents: her own 2019 American Airlines flight records, complete with maiden name and booking details from July, the very month Epstein was arrested. Brown, who expected mentions of her groundbreaking work but never personal travel logs attached to a grand jury subpoena, publicly demands answers: “Why was the DOJ monitoring me?” The revelation sparks immediate outrage over potential surveillance of a journalist pursuing truth amid powerful interests, especially as one explanation emerges—that she may have booked a flight for a victim—yet raises deeper fears about intimidation in the hunt for accountability. With over a million more files pending, what else might these records reveal about who was watching whom?
In the latest wave of declassified Jeffrey Epstein documents released by the U.S. Department of Justice in December 2025, Miami Herald investigative journalist Julie K. Brown—widely credited with reigniting the federal case against the late sex trafficker—made a startling personal discovery. Buried among thousands of pages, including flight records attached to a grand jury subpoena, were her own American Airlines booking details from July 2019, complete with her full name and maiden name.
Brown, whose groundbreaking 2018 series “Perversion of Justice” exposed Epstein’s lenient 2008 plea deal and interviewed dozens of victims, publicly questioned the inclusion on December 28, 2025. Posting on X and her Substack, she wrote: “Does somebody at the DOJ want to tell me why my American Airlines booking information and flights in July 2019 are part of the Epstein files? … Why was the DOJ monitoring me?”
The flights coincided with Epstein’s July 6, 2019, arrest by federal authorities in New York—a case prosecutors in the Southern District of New York pursued shortly after Brown’s reporting pressured the justice system into action. Brown expected references to her work in the files but was stunned by the personal travel logs.
The revelation sparked immediate outrage, particularly from Democrats on the House Oversight Committee, who demanded explanations, citing concerns over potential journalist surveillance during the Trump administration. Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) called Brown a tireless truth-seeker and insisted the DOJ respond.
A DOJ official provided context to outlets like The Daily Beast: The records stemmed from subpoenas for victim travel data, as investigators mapped movements unrelated to Epstein’s private jet (the infamous “Lolita Express”). Brown had arranged and booked a commercial flight for accuser Annie Farmer around that time, as detailed in her 2020 book Perversion of Justice. The subpoena to American Airlines captured those bookings incidentally.
Brown acknowledged booking the flights but maintained the lack of prior notification raised valid questions about transparency and press freedom. No evidence suggests targeted monitoring of Brown herself; rather, it appears routine in verifying victim timelines.
The incident unfolded amid broader controversy over the Epstein Files Transparency Act, signed by President Trump in November 2025. Initial releases on December 19 included thousands of photos and documents, followed by more on December 23. Critics decried heavy redactions, incomplete context, and selective timing, while the DOJ announced over a million additional documents pending review into 2026.
Brown’s reporting not only led to Epstein’s 2019 charges—he died by suicide in jail awaiting trial—but also contributed to Ghislaine Maxwell’s conviction and the resignation of Labor Secretary Alex Acosta over the 2008 deal. Her findings underscore ongoing tensions: while associations with powerful figures (including frequent Trump mentions) surface, no new allegations of wrongdoing against non-perpetrators have emerged.
As phased releases continue, survivors and journalists like Brown push for unredacted truth, wary of protections for elites amid calls for full accountability.
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