Secretary of the Navy John Phelan has been identified on a flight manifest linked to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, which has surfaced in the extensive document releases regarding Epstein’s activities. The manifest reveals that Phelan was among 13 passengers who traveled from London to New York aboard Epstein’s private plane on March 3, 2006.
Among those listed is Epstein himself and Jean-Luc Brunel, a French modeling agent and associate of Epstein. Notably, Brunel, who faced serious charges, was found dead in his prison cell in 2022. The manifest contains six redacted names, presumably to protect the privacy of individuals involved.
Interestingly, a close friend of Phelan confirmed his presence on the flight but asserted that it was the only occasion he interacted with Epstein. According to this friend, Phelan was invited to join the flight by Jimmy Cayne, the former CEO of Bear Stearns, and had no prior knowledge that they would be flying on Epstein’s aircraft. During the journey, Epstein attempted to promote a tax concept to the financiers on board, a topic Phelan reportedly found uninteresting, leading to a lack of interaction thereafter.
At the time of the flight, Phelan was a businessman within the financial sector and had not yet entered military service. Notably, when he was confirmed as Secretary of the Navy in March 2025, he had founded and led Rugger Management LLC, a private investment firm established in 2022.
The recent document dump that revealed the flight manifest is part of an ongoing effort by the House Oversight Committee to disclose records related to Epstein’s activities. In total, approximately three million documents have been released, with redactions primarily aimed at safeguarding the identities of potential victims.
Phelan and his wife have also been known for their involvement in fundraising efforts for political campaigns, including significant contributions to President Donald Trump’s campaign. Trump has praised Phelan, stating that he is committed to putting the interests of the U.S. Navy first and leading with a strong vision for America.
Moreover, the latest release of documents has revealed the names of other former Trump administration officials, including Trump himself, without any accusations of wrongdoing directed at them. As this story continues to unfold, a clear message emerges about the need for accountability and transparency in all levels of government.