Trump Told His Name Was in Epstein Files Before DOJ Withheld Docs: WSJ

Trump's Involvement with Epstein Files

In May, President Donald Trump was informed by Attorney General Pam Bondi that his name appeared multiple times in Department of Justice documents related to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. This revelation came from a report by The Wall Street Journal, which detailed the meeting between Trump and Bondi at the White House. The timing of this meeting was significant, as it occurred weeks before the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced its decision not to release the Epstein files to the public, despite earlier commitments from Bondi and others in the administration.

The DOJ stated that Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche discussed the Epstein files with Trump during a routine briefing, but they did not specify when this conversation took place. According to the Journal, Trump was also told that many other high-profile figures were named in the files, and that the documents contained unverified information about individuals, including Trump, who had socialized with Epstein in the past.

It is important to note that being mentioned in the Epstein records does not imply any wrongdoing. However, the decision not to release the files led to criticism from Trump’s supporters, who have long been involved in various conspiracy theories surrounding the Epstein case. In response to this backlash, Trump directed Bondi to seek the unsealing of grand jury transcripts related to federal investigations into Epstein and his convicted procurer, Ghislaine Maxwell.

Background on Epstein and His Connections

Trump had a long-standing relationship with Epstein, although their friendship ended before Epstein's death in August 2019. Epstein was arrested on federal child sex trafficking charges just weeks before his suicide. He was known for his connections with numerous wealthy and high-profile individuals, including Britain's Prince Andrew.

When asked about the Journal's reporting, White House Communications Director Steven Cheung responded by stating that Trump had removed Epstein from his Mar-a-Lago club for being "a creep." Cheung also accused the media of continuing to spread fake news stories, drawing comparisons to the Obama-era Russiagate scandal.

In a joint statement, Bondi and Blanche explained that the DOJ and FBI reviewed the Epstein Files and concluded that there was no basis for further investigation or prosecution. They added that they had filed a motion in court to unseal the underlying grand jury transcripts.

Trump's Denials and Legal Actions

During an interview with ABC News, Trump was asked if Bondi had informed him that his name appeared in the files. He denied this, stating that she provided only a brief briefing and questioning the credibility of the information presented. Trump went on to claim that the files were fabricated by former FBI director James Comey and the administrations of former Democratic Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden.

The DOJ recently fired Manhattan federal prosecutor Maurene Comey, the daughter of James Comey. Her past work included cases involving Epstein and Maxwell. Additionally, the Journal reported that Trump sent a "bawdy" letter to Epstein in 2003 for his 50th birthday, at the request of Ghislaine Maxwell. The letter reportedly contained typewritten text and hand-drawn images of a naked woman, with Trump's signature resembling pubic hair. Trump has strongly denied writing the letter, calling it a fake story.

In response to the article, Trump filed a defamation lawsuit against media mogul Rupert Murdoch, News Corp, its CEO Robert Thomson, Dow Jones & Co., and the two reporters who wrote the piece. The lawsuit seeks at least $10 billion in damages. A spokesperson for Dow Jones stated that they have full confidence in the accuracy of their reporting and will defend against the lawsuit vigorously.