Trump Informed About Epstein Files
Recently, it was reported that former President Donald Trump was informed by the Department of Justice (DOJ) in May that his name appeared multiple times in the Jeffrey Epstein files. This information came to light during a meeting with Attorney General Pam Bondi and her deputy at the White House, according to reports.
Sources close to the administration indicated that the meeting, which was part of a routine briefing, confirmed that many notable figures, including Trump, were mentioned in the Epstein files, which reportedly contain numerous names. During the meeting, Bondi and her deputy suggested that the files included what they described as unverified claims about various individuals, including Trump.
When questioned last week about whether he had been informed of his name’s inclusion, Trump denied knowing anything about it. However, in response to the report highlighting the discrepancy, White House communications director Steven Cheung labeled it as “another fake news story.”
Additionally, Kash Patel, the FBI director, reportedly informed certain government officials that Trump’s name was also present in the files. It was further noted that the DOJ had decided against releasing more information due to the sensitive nature of the materials, which included child pornography and personal details about victims. Trump appeared to accept this decision, stating he would “defer to the Justice Department.”
In another context, Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche clarified in a statement that there was nothing more requiring investigation in the files, emphasizing that the briefing was meant to keep the President informed.
On July 7, the DOJ issued a memo indicating they would not release further documents concerning the Epstein case, claiming there was no evidence that Epstein maintained a client list or engaged in blackmail.
Trump has had ties to Epstein for years but claimed their friendship ended long before Epstein faced legal trouble back in 2006. Following Epstein’s arrest in 2019, Trump asserted they hadn’t spoken for over a decade.
Recently, Trump initiated legal action against a news outlet for $20 billion, disputing a claim that he had sent Epstein a birthday card with inappropriate content, which he dismissed as fake news.
The mention of the Epstein files continues to be a contentious issue, drawing criticism from all sides regarding Trump’s administration’s management of the situation, particularly given his prior promises to release more information about Epstein and his associates during his 2024 campaign.
In a recent development, Blanche stated that he would be reaching out to the legal team of Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s former associate who is currently serving time for trafficking charges, with hopes of arranging a meeting soon.
