"Most Trusted Man in America" Named in Newly Released Epstein Flight Logs

Walter Cronkite, the legendary broadcast journalist long revered as "the most trusted man in America," has been named in the latest batch of documents related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The newly released flight logs from the House Oversight Committee show the iconic former CBS News anchor was a passenger on Epstein's private jet in 2007.

The appearance of Cronkite's name in the logs—alongside other high-profile figures like Prince Andrew, former President Bill Clinton, and Donald Trump—does not imply complicity in or knowledge of Epstein's criminal activities. Authorities have repeatedly stressed that a formal "client list" has never been confirmed to exist, and being listed as a passenger on the jet is not an allegation of wrongdoing.

According to the logs released Friday, Cronkite, who was 90 years old at the time, flew from Newark, New Jersey, to St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands on January 12, 2007. St. Thomas is near Epstein’s private island, Little St. James. Cronkite was listed with seven other passengers, including Epstein himself, suggesting the deceased financier was likely hosting guests at his compound.

Cronkite, who died in 2009, anchored the CBS Evening News from 1962 to 1981, covering major world events from the moon landing to the Vietnam War and the Kennedy assassination. His reputation for integrity earned him the moniker "the most trusted man in America."

The flight logs are part of the growing body of so-called Epstein files being made public. They join a broad package of records, including a detailed transcript of the House Oversight Committee's interview with former U.S. Attorney Alex Acosta.

In his testimony, Acosta, who helped Epstein secure a non-prosecution agreement in 2008, defended the decision. Under that deal, Epstein avoided federal charges by pleading guilty to state charges, serving 13 months in jail, registering as a sex offender, and paying a settlement to victims.

Acosta argued that the deal was the best available option given the circumstances at the time, which included "evidentiary issues with the victims" and many victims who refused to testify.

"Our judgment in this case, based on the evidence known at the time, was that it was better to have a billionaire serve time in jail, register as a sex offender and pay his victims restitution than risk a trial with a reduced likelihood of success," Acosta stated.

The revelation of Cronkite’s travel has led to speculation that his estate or archivists may be called upon to examine personal records to shed light on his connection to Epstein. The flight log data includes names from the 1990s through 2019.

The documents, which also contain redacted information on alleged victims, are being released into the public domain amidst ongoing public scrutiny of Epstein's network.