While documents confirm US Navy Secretary Phelan’s presence on Epstein’s aircraft, no wrongdoing is alleged, and associates say the trip was a one-time business flight arranged by a third party.
BY PC Bureau
February 7, 2026: US Secretary of the Navy John Phelan, a senior appointee of President Donald Trump, has been identified in newly released Jeffrey Epstein flight records, appearing as a passenger on two transatlantic flights aboard Epstein’s private jet in 2006, according to documents unsealed by the US Department of Justice.
The records, part of a massive ongoing release of Epstein-related files, show Phelan traveling from New York to London on February 27, 2006, and returning on March 3, 2006, aboard Epstein’s Boeing 727 — the aircraft later infamously known as the “Lolita Express.”
Multiple US media outlets, including The Washington Post and CNN, have verified the manifests. The documents do not allege any wrongdoing by Phelan, but his inclusion has renewed scrutiny of political and business figures who moved within Epstein’s orbit.
U.S. Secretary of the Navy John Phelan has been named on a flight manifest found in the recent release of documents as part of the Epstein Files, showing that he flew in 2006 from London to New York on a Boeing 727-200 owned by convicted sex offender and trafficker Jeffrey… pic.twitter.com/BkvSnRV8nf
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) February 7, 2026
No Allegation of Misconduct
A source close to Phelan, speaking to CNN and The Daily Beast, confirmed his presence on the flights but stressed that the trip was a one-time occurrence.
According to the source, Phelan was invited aboard by the late Jimmy Cayne, the former CEO of Bear Stearns, and did not realize the aircraft belonged to Epstein until boarding. The interaction between Phelan and Epstein was described as minimal, with no ongoing relationship before or after the trip.
Phelan’s office has not issued a public statement. However, associates maintain that he had no business, social, or personal ties to Epstein beyond this single encounter.
Other Passengers on the Flight
The flight manifest lists 12 other passengers, including Epstein himself and Jean-Luc Brunel, a French modeling agent and longtime Epstein associate who later faced charges of sexual assault and rape of a minor before being found dead in a French prison cell in 2022. Six names on the passenger list remain redacted by the US Justice Department. The records show the aircraft departed London for New York on the afternoon of March 3, 2006.
There is no indication that the flights involving Phelan were connected to Epstein’s illicit activities or his private island in the US Virgin Islands. The routes were standard transatlantic business flights, according to the records.
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Who Is John Phelan?
John Cartwright Phelan, 62, is a billionaire investor, political donor, and prominent art collector who has served as US Secretary of the Navy since March 25, 2025.
A major Republican fundraiser, Phelan raised more than $12 million for Donald Trump’s campaigns and hosted high-profile fundraisers at his Palm Beach residence ahead of the 2024 election. Trump nominated him to the Navy post in November 2024, and the Senate confirmed him in a bipartisan 62–30 vote.
As Navy Secretary, Phelan oversees more than $200 billion in annual defense spending and leads both the US Navy and Marine Corps, with a focus on fleet modernization, cybersecurity, and recruitment challenges amid rising global tensions.
Broader Epstein File Release
Phelan’s appearance comes amid the staggered public release of more than 3 million pages of Epstein-related records by the Department of Justice, a process that began in late 2025.
The files contain thousands of names of politicians, celebrities, financiers, and royalty, many of whom had social or professional contact with Epstein, without any implication of criminal conduct. The disclosures have nonetheless reignited public interest and political debate.
Epstein, a convicted sex offender, died by suicide in federal custody in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.
Political Fallout
Phelan now joins a list of Trump-era officials whose names have surfaced in Epstein-related documents, including Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Ben Black, head of the US International Development Finance Corporation.
Democratic lawmakers have raised questions about vetting procedures, though no investigation has been announced into Phelan’s conduct. Supporters argue that appearance in decades-old flight logs does not imply misconduct.
The White House has declined to comment directly on Phelan’s inclusion, reiterating that historical associations do not reflect present policy or governance.
As further DOJ disclosures are expected, more political and public scrutiny is anticipated.
