- Trump reportedly informed in May that Epstein files named him
- DOJ reversed promise to release documents weeks after meeting
- White House dismisses WSJ report, Trump files $10bn defamation suit
U.S. President Donald Trump was privately informed in May that his name appeared in Justice Department documents linked to Jeffrey Epstein, The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday.
Eko Hot Blog reports that the disclosure was made during a White House meeting with U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi and her deputy, Todd Blanche weeks before the Justice Department reversed its earlier pledge to release the Epstein files.
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According to the report, officials said the materials included unverified hearsay and mentions of social interactions between Epstein and several public figures, including Trump. However, being named was not considered evidence of wrongdoing.
The DOJ’s reversal sparked outrage from Trump’s core supporters, many of whom had hoped the Epstein files would expose political adversaries.
Amid the backlash, Trump reportedly instructed Bondi to seek the unsealing of grand jury transcripts connected to Epstein and his associate, Ghislaine Maxwell.
Trump’s relationship with Epstein, once friendly, reportedly ended long before Epstein’s death in 2019 while facing federal child sex trafficking charges.
Responding to the report, White House Communications Director Steven Cheung told CNBC:
“The President kicked Epstein out of Mar-a-Lago for being a creep. This is another fake news smear campaign by the Democrats.”
Bondi and Blanche, in a joint statement, confirmed Trump was briefed on the files but added,
“Nothing in the documents warranted further prosecution. We have moved to unseal the grand jury transcripts.”
When pressed by an News reporter last week, Trump denied being told his name appeared in the documents, stating,
“She’s only given us a quick briefing. These files were made up by Comey, Obama, and Biden’s people.”
The DOJ recently dismissed Manhattan prosecutor Maurene Comey daughter of former FBI Director James Comey who worked on the Epstein and Maxwell cases.
The Journal also reported Trump allegedly sent Epstein a provocative birthday letter in 2003, reportedly on Maxwell’s request. The letter allegedly featured typewritten lines within a drawing of a naked woman, with Trump’s signature placed below her waist.
Trump denied writing it, stating, “This is not me. This is a fake. I don’t draw pictures of women. It’s not my language.”
On Friday, Trump filed a $10 billion defamation lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal, News Corp, Rupert Murdoch, and the reporters who authored the story.
A spokesperson for Dow Jones, which owns the Journal, responded: “We stand by our reporting and will vigorously defend against any lawsuit.”
