Trump team pushes back over claims he is named in Epstein files
The Wall Street Journal reported that Pam Bondi, the attorney-general, had told the president in May that his name and those of other high-profile figures were in the Epstein files during a routine briefing. Being mentioned in the records is not a sign of wrongdoing.
Steven Cheung, the White House spokesman, dismissed the report as a 'fake news story'.
'[The report is] nothing more than a continuation of the fake news stories concocted by the Democrats and the liberal media, just like the Obama Russia-gate scandal, which President Trump was right about,' Cheung said.
It is unclear what those documents were or in what context Trump's name was allegedly mentioned. The Wall Street Journal reported that the president had been told the files contained what officials felt was 'unverified hearsay'.
Pressure has been mounting on the Trump administration from both Democrats and Republicans to make good on campaign promises to disclose more files relating to the disgraced financier. The Department of Justice declared in a joint memo with the FBI this month that it would not be pursuing further charges related to Epstein, effectively closing his case, which caused a backlash among Trump supporters.
The nature of Epstein's death in a New York prison cell in 2019 has long been the subject of conspiracy theories. Epstein killed himself as he awaited his trial on sex trafficking charges in 2019.
Trump asked Bondi last week to unseal 'pertinent testimony' related to Epstein's trial in response to the pressure, prompting the justice department to ask courts in Florida and New York to unseal files related to cases in both jurisdictions.
• Trump base wants attorney-general fired over Epstein 'conspiracy'
'Based on the ridiculous amount of publicity given to Jeffrey Epstein, I have asked Attorney General Pam Bondi to produce any and all pertinent Grand Jury testimony, subject to Court approval,' Trump wrote on Truth Social. 'This SCAM, perpetuated by the Democrats, should end, right now!'
On Wednesday a judge in Florida denied the request to unseal court files on Epstein that relate to his prosecution in the state, citing state guidelines on grand jury secrecy. Epstein was charged with soliciting a minor for prostitution in 2006 in Florida.
'The court's hands are tied,' Judge Robin Rosenberg said.
Epstein's former girlfriend, Ghislaine Maxwell, was subpoenaed to testify to the House oversight committee from prison on August 11. The subpoena was sent by the Republican representative for Kentucky and the committee's chair, James Comer.
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