DOJ Told Trump That He Appeared in Epstein Files Multiple Times Before Choosing to Halt Their Release: Report

The Department of Justice reportedly informed former President Donald Trump that he appeared in the Jeffrey Epstein files multiple times before deciding not to release further details about the case. According to The Wall Street Journal, Trump was briefed on this information during a meeting in May with Attorney General Pam Bondi and her deputy.

Senior administration officials revealed that during the meeting at the White House, Bondi and her deputy disclosed to Trump that his name was among the prominent individuals listed in the Epstein files, which were said to contain hundreds of names. While the briefing was described as routine and not specifically convened to discuss Trump’s involvement in the files, officials stated that Bondi and her deputy shared that the files contained unsubstantiated rumours about many individuals, including the president.

Contrary to earlier reports, when questioned by a journalist last week about whether he had been informed about his inclusion in the files, Trump denied receiving such information. In response to The Wall Street Journal’s report challenging Trump’s statement, White House communications director Steven Cheung dismissed the claims as “fake news.”

Sources close to the administration also revealed that Kash Patel, FBI director, privately asserted that Trump’s name was indeed mentioned in the Epstein files. Bondi and her deputy informed Trump during the meeting that the Justice Department had opted not to release further details about the Epstein case due to the presence of sensitive information such as child pornography and victims’ personal data. Trump respected the Justice Department’s decision not to disclose additional files.

The Justice Department announced on July 7 that it would not be making any more documents related to the Epstein case public, stating that they had not found any evidence suggesting Epstein maintained a client list or blackmailed associates. Trump had a long-standing association with Epstein, but both parties claimed to have severed ties years before Epstein’s 2006 indictment for soliciting prostitution. Following Epstein’s arrest in 2019, Trump asserted that they had not communicated in 15 years.

The fallout resulting from the Epstein files has had repercussions on Trump’s presidency, with critics and supporters alike scrutinising his administration’s handling of the situation. Despite Trump’s campaign promise to release further information about Epstein and his associates, concerns have arisen regarding the lack of transparency following the recent developments surrounding the case.

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche has expressed intentions to meet with Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s former girlfriend currently serving time for child sex trafficking charges. Blanche’s outreach to Maxwell’s legal team signifies ongoing efforts to address the complexities surrounding the Epstein scandal. Stay updated with PEOPLE for the latest news and engaging human interest stories.