Camilla Jessen
Pam Bondi privately informed Donald Trump this spring that his name appears in files related to the Jeffrey Epstein investigation.
Attorney General Pam Bondi informed President Donald Trump earlier this year that his name appears in U.S. Justice Department files related to Jeffrey Epstein, The New York Times reports, citing three individuals with direct knowledge of the briefing.
The conversation took place during a broader meeting about the reopened Epstein investigation, attended by Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche.
Other High-Profile Names Mentioned
According to The Wall Street Journal, senior administration officials also confirmed that Bondi personally relayed the information to Trump in a White House meeting.
They noted that names of other prominent figures also appeared in the same documents.
Although Trump has not been accused of any wrongdoing, the news threatens to reignite political tensions and public interest around his long-speculated ties to Epstein.
White House Dismisses Report as “Fake News”
The White House dismissed the WSJ article as “fake news,” according to Reuters.
However, Bondi and Blanche later issued a joint statement that did not directly refute the reporting.
Instead, they stated, “Nothing in the records warrants further investigation or prosecution, and we have filed a motion with the court to release the grand jury transcripts.”
They confirmed briefing the president on the findings, characterizing it as part of a “routine update.”
Trump Sues WSJ
Trump, meanwhile, responded to the media firestorm by suing The Wall Street Journal and its parent company over a separate report that claimed he had once sent Epstein an obscene birthday card.
Trump labeled the card a fabrication and claimed defamation.
Trump’s Strategy Under Pressure
Throughout his political career, Trump has relied on distraction and deflection when confronted with scandal.
But this time, that playbook is being tested.
The renewed scrutiny over the administration’s handling of the Epstein files—especially after it walked back a campaign promise to fully release them—has triggered backlash from both supporters and critics.
Elon Musk Adds Fuel to the Fire
Adding fuel to the fire, a post by Elon Musk accusing Trump of Epstein ties briefly went viral before being deleted.
Musk has refrained from commenting further.
This comes just weeks after the Justice Department declared there was no justification to continue pursuing Epstein’s case, a decision that many on the far-right have sharply criticized.
Some of these voices have long championed conspiracy theories about Epstein’s alleged ties to elites—claims that Trump himself has occasionally echoed.
Fallout Extends to Congress
Despite Trump’s public claims that his relationship with Epstein ended “long before” the financier was charged, the political fallout continues to grow.
According to a recent Reuters/Ipsos poll, more than two-thirds of Americans believe the Trump administration is withholding information about Epstein’s network and client list.
Efforts in Congress to increase transparency hit a snag this week when House Speaker Mike Johnson canceled votes and sent lawmakers home early, effectively blocking a bipartisan resolution to compel the release of Epstein-related documents.
Speculation Over Epstein’s Ties and Death Lingers
Meanwhile, the Justice Department reiterated this month that Epstein died by suicide in 2019, reaffirming the findings of New York City’s medical examiner.
But that has not silenced widespread speculation about foul play, particularly given Epstein’s connections to figures across politics, business, and royalty..
