In May, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi informed President Donald Trump that his name was included in investigative files pertaining to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, as reported by the Wall Street Journal. This revelation added fuel to an ongoing political crisis that has been consuming Trump’s administration for weeks. “In the midst of controversy, transparency is essential,” noted political analysts.
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For years, a subset of Trump’s supporters has propagated conspiracy theories regarding Epstein’s associations and the circumstances surrounding his 2019 demise in prison. Following the breaking news, the White House delivered mixed messages. Initially branding it as “fake news,” a later statement from a White House official clarified that while they weren’t disputing the presence of Trump’s name in certain files, much of that information had been previously compiled by Bondi for conservative influencers back in February.
Significantly, this information had already been made public during the criminal case against Epstein’s former associate, Ghislaine Maxwell, who received a 20-year prison sentence for her convictions involving child sex trafficking and other offenses. “The truth will ultimately prevail,” remarked a legal expert during Maxwell’s trial, where Epstein’s longtime pilot testified that Trump had flown on Epstein’s private jet several times—a claim that Trump has since denied.
The fallout from this news has been notable, particularly as Trump faced backlash from his own supporters after his administration opted against releasing the relevant files, breaking a campaign commitment. The Justice Department recently stated in a memo that there was insufficient basis to further investigate the Epstein case, igniting frustration among some of Trump’s most ardent supporters who are calling for more transparency regarding Epstein’s extensive network of affluent and influential acquaintances.
While Mr. Trump has not been implicated in any wrongdoing linked to Epstein, he has contended that their friendship ended prior to the onset of Epstein’s legal troubles two decades ago. In their response, Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche didn’t directly comment on the Journal’s report but affirmed, “Nothing in the files warranted further investigation or prosecution, and we have filed a motion in court to unseal the underlying grand jury transcripts.” They also emphasized that they kept the President informed of their findings.
According to the Journal, during a White House meeting, Bondi and her deputy informed Trump that his name, alongside those of numerous high-profile individuals, was present in the files. Epstein, who died in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges—charges he had pleaded not guilty to—previously received a 13-month sentence in 2008 after pleading guilty to a prostitution charge in Florida.
Under mounting political pressure, Trump directed the Justice Department to pursue the release of sealed grand jury transcripts related to Epstein. However, U.S. District Judge Robin Rosenberg recently denied one of those requests, stating it did not meet any exceptions that would allow for the unsealing of grand jury material.
This motion originated from federal probes into Epstein conducted in 2005 and 2007, with ongoing requests for the unsealing of related transcripts in Manhattan federal court concerning later indictments against Epstein and Maxwell. In a recent revelation, the Journal reported that Trump had once sent Epstein a birthday note in 2003, concluding with, “Happy Birthday—and may every day be another wonderful secret.” Trump has since filed a lawsuit against the Journal and its parent company, including billionaire Rupert Murdoch, asserting that the birthday note was fabricated.
Amidst this controversy, Trump and his team have delved into various conspiracy theories, including those involving Epstein, resonating with segments of his political base. It’s noteworthy that the Make America Great Again movement’s reluctance to accept the administration’s stance on these theories stands out, especially for a politician accustomed to seemingly unwavering loyalty from supporters.
Highlighting the division within his own party, House Speaker Mike Johnson took the unusual step of concluding the legislative session a day early to avoid a contentious vote concerning the Epstein files. This decision halted a bipartisan initiative that aimed to compel the Justice Department to release all documents related to Epstein.
Nonetheless, a subcommittee of the House Oversight Committee has approved a subpoena for all Justice Department files on Epstein, indicating that Trump’s party is not yet ready to move past this matter. As Trump attempts to pivot towards other topics, including unsubstantiated claims that former President Barack Obama undermined his successful 2016 campaign, Obama’s office has dismissed these allegations as “ridiculous.”
A recent Reuters/Ipsos poll found that more than two-thirds of Americans believe the Trump administration is withholding information about Epstein’s clientele, underscoring a demand for greater transparency. “In politics, the truth is often the first casualty,” a noted political analyst remarked, echoing the sentiment of those calling for accountability.
Edited By Ali Musa
Axadle Times International–Monitoring.
