WASHINGTON – Former U.S. President Donald Trump was quietly informed earlier this year that his name had surfaced in confidential documents related to disgraced financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein—a revelation that has since thrown the White House into damage control.
According to a report first published by The Wall Street Journal, Trump was briefed in February by Attorney General Pam Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche during a private session at the White House. The documents reportedly contain “unverified hearsay” implicating several high-profile individuals, including Trump, though no criminal accusations have been directed at him.
Major American outlets like CNN and The New York Times have echoed the report, but details surrounding the nature and context of Trump’s mention remain under wraps. Still, the mere inclusion of his name in the so-called Epstein files has ignited a fresh wave of political controversy and revived long-standing public demands for transparency.
White House Responds with Denial and Deflection
Facing mounting scrutiny, the White House launched a swift counter-narrative. Communications Director Steven Cheung dismissed the reports as politically motivated “fake news,” reiterating that Trump had severed ties with Epstein years ago and even banned him from his Mar-a-Lago resort for “being a creep.”
Cheung further accused media outlets and Democratic opponents of weaponizing the Epstein saga to derail Trump’s political momentum. “This is just the latest chapter in a smear campaign orchestrated by the liberal media and Democrats,” he said.
Yet, behind closed doors, officials have stopped short of denying that Trump’s name is indeed in the files. A senior White House figure, speaking to Reuters on condition of anonymity, noted that previously released Justice Department documents—shared with certain right-wing influencers earlier this year—had already included Trump’s name, along with contact details linked to some family members.
The episode has left the administration walking a tightrope, especially given Trump’s earlier campaign promise to fully declassify all Epstein-related records—an undertaking that remains unfulfilled.
Court Blocks Efforts to Unseal Records
Adding fuel to the fire, a federal judge in Florida on Wednesday rejected the Justice Department’s request to unseal grand jury documents tied to Epstein’s 2006 case in Palm Beach. In a detailed 12-page ruling, Judge Robin Rosenberg said state laws restrict the public release of such records, leaving her “hands tied.”
She also refused to transfer the matter to New York, where other judges are currently reviewing requests to unseal related testimony from Epstein’s 2019 sex-trafficking case.
The ruling has only heightened concerns among lawmakers about continued opacity in the Epstein investigation. Senator Adam Schiff, a Democrat from California, called on Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel to appear before the Senate Judiciary Committee.
“We need answers now,” Schiff said in a video posted on X (formerly Twitter). “This lack of transparency cannot continue.”
Republican Rift Widens
The developments have stirred tensions within the Republican Party, too. Hardline Trump loyalists voiced outrage over Bondi’s reported claim that the documents lacked grounds for further investigation. Several conservative figures even began pushing for her resignation.
On Tuesday, House Speaker Mike Johnson unexpectedly halted congressional voting before the summer recess—a move widely interpreted as an attempt to quell growing bipartisan calls for full disclosure of the Epstein files.
But by Wednesday, pressure boiled over. A bipartisan group in the House Oversight Subcommittee voted to subpoena the Justice Department for the documents. Notably, Republicans Nancy Mace, Scott Perry, and Brian Jack joined Democrats in backing the move, although enforcement still hinges on approval from Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer.
Ghislaine Maxwell May Testify
Meanwhile, attention has shifted to Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s former associate currently serving a 20-year sentence for sex trafficking. Her legal team confirmed she is in ongoing discussions with U.S. authorities and may testify remotely before Congress on August 11.
“If she waives her Fifth Amendment rights, she will testify truthfully,” said her lawyer David Oscar Markus, speaking to the BBC.
Speaker Johnson, however, advised caution. “Let’s not forget the crimes she’s been convicted of. Her credibility is highly questionable.”
Old Questions, New Suspicion
Attorney General Bondi also attempted to stamp out lingering conspiracy theories surrounding Epstein’s 2019 jailhouse death, reiterating that all investigations have pointed to suicide, and that no secret “client list” was ever discovered.
Still, skepticism continues to simmer. The opacity surrounding the case—and Trump’s unexpected mention in the files—has stirred fresh speculation. Political analysts warn that the White House’s strategy of flat-out denial, without committing to full disclosure, could backfire—particularly among Trump’s MAGA base, which had been promised full transparency from day one.
With more names likely to surface and Congressional pressure mounting, this is a storm that shows no signs of calming anytime soon.
