For months, US President Donald Trump has been in hot water over his possible links to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. No matter how much he tries to move past it, the shadow of Epstein continues to hang over him. His troubles related to the case are far from over.
Trump is once again under the scanner as reports claim that his name appeared repeatedly in Epstein files. According to The Wall Street Journal, he was personally informed his name appears multiple times in the secret files connected to Jeffrey Epstein.
The WSJ report alleged that US Attorney General Pam Bondi told President Donald Trump in May that his name was found multiple times in investigative files related to Jeffrey Epstein, the convicted sex offender.
WHITE HOUSE REACTS TO REPORT
After the story broke, the White House called the report “fake news.” However, a White House official later told news agency Reuters that the administration did not deny Trump’s name appeared in some files. They noted that Trump’s name was already part of materials that Bondi had shared with conservative influencers earlier in the year.
Trump was known to be friendly with Epstein during the 1990s and early 2000s. Records show Trump’s name appears several times on flight logs for Epstein’s private plane from that time. Trump and his family members also appear in Epstein’s contact book, which lists many other individuals.
Much of the information was released during the criminal case against Epstein’s former associate, Ghislaine Maxwell. Maxwell was sentenced to 20 years in prison for child sex trafficking and other crimes.
During Maxwell’s trial, Epstein’s pilot testified that Trump flew on Epstein’s plane multiple times. However, Trump has denied ever being on the plane.
DOJ UNDER FIRE FOR WITHHOLDING EPSTEIN RECORDS
Trump is facing criticism from his own supporters after his administration reversed a campaign promise to release Epstein-related files. Earlier this month, the Justice Department said there was no reason to continue investigating the Epstein case. This decision upset many Trump supporters who wanted more information about powerful people connected to Epstein.
Trump himself has not been accused of any crime related to Epstein. He has said their friendship ended long before Epstein’s legal problems began two decades ago.
Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche issued a joint statement that did not directly confirm the report. They said, “Nothing in the files warranted further investigation or prosecution, and we have filed a motion in court to unseal the underlying grand jury transcripts. As part of our routine briefing, we made the President aware of the findings.”
MULTIPLE HIGH-PROFILE NAMES IN FILES
The WSJ reported that Bondi and her deputy informed Trump at a White House meeting that his name, along with those of many other well-known individuals, appeared in the files.
Jeffrey Epstein died by suicide in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. In 2008, Epstein pleaded guilty to a prostitution charge in Florida and served 13 months in jail.
Under pressure last week, Trump ordered the Justice Department to request the release of sealed grand jury transcripts connected to Epstein. However, US District Judge Robin Rosenberg rejected one of those requests, saying it did not meet the exceptions for unsealing such material.
The transcripts in question come from federal investigations in 2005 and 2007. The Justice Department has also asked for transcripts related to later indictments against Epstein and Maxwell in Manhattan federal court.
Earlier, The Wall Street Journal reported that Trump had sent Epstein a birthday note in 2003, which ended with the line: “Happy Birthday — and may every day be another wonderful secret.”
Trump has sued the Wall Street Journal and its owners — including media billionaire Rupert Murdoch — saying the birthday note is fake.
TRUMP’S SUPPORTERS PUSH BACK
Trump and his supporter have promoted conspiracy theories about Epstein, which many in his political base support. The strong refusal to accept the official explanations is unusual for a politician who typically commands loyal followers.
Epstein’s death was ruled a suicide by the New York City chief medical examiner. But his connections to wealthy and powerful figures have fuelled speculation that he was murdered. The Justice Department stated this month that Epstein did die by suicide.
The Epstein issue has caused trouble for Trump and Republicans. US House Speaker Mike Johnson recently sent lawmakers home, a day early to avoid a fight over a vote on releasing Epstein files.
Trump, frustrated by the attention to Epstein, has tried to shift focus to other issues, including false claims that former President Barack Obama worked against Trump’s 2016 campaign. Obama’s office called these accusations “ridiculous.”
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With inputs from Reuters
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