Trump grip on GOP tested amid Epstein scandal
Happy Thursday. Tennis star Venus Williams is playing at the Mubadala Citi DC Open tonight!! 🎾 She gave a hilarious interview the other day after winning her match. Keep scrolling for my favorite quote.
In today's issue:
DOJ interviews Epstein's accomplice
House panel votes to subpoena files
Hulk Hogan dies at age 71
Laura Trump passes on Senate bid
Trump's controversial document dump
📃 THE EPSTEIN SAGA
The Ghislaine Maxwell interview is happening today:
A top Department of Justice (DOJ) official is interviewing Jeffrey Epstein's longtime associate and accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell in Tallahassee, Fla., today, according to ABC News.
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche reportedly arrived at the courthouse around 9 a.m. Maxwell's attorneys were also seen at the courthouse. 📸 Scroll down for the photos
Maxwell is serving a 20-year sentence after being convicted of sex trafficking and other charges.
Keep in mind: 'Ghislaine Maxwell did not testify during her 2021 trial and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, who is set to meet with Maxwell, said earlier this week that no government official had attempted to contact Maxwell for information until the Trump administration.' (The Hill)
🗨️
Meanwhile in DC — a House panel dropped a little grenade and left:
The House left town early and won't return until September. Republican leaders canceled today's session to avoid messy, high-risk votes related to the Epstein scandal. But a House panel dropped a little grenade on its way out, exposing deep divisions within the GOP.
A House Oversight and Government Reform subcommittee voted to issue several subpoenas, including demanding the Justice Department turn over files related to the investigation surrounding Epstein.
The vote: Democrats and Republicans on the committee teamed up, voting 8-2. Republican Reps. Nancy Mace (S.C.), Scott Perry (Pa.) and Brian Jack (Ga.) joined Democrats in voting 'yes' to the subpoenas.
Which former GOP officials were subpoenaed to testify?: Former Attorney General Bill Barr and former Attorney General Jeff Sessions, who both served in Trump's first term, and former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, who served under former President George W. Bush.
But to soften the blow: They also issued subpoenas for several high-profile Democratic officials, including former President Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, among others. The list includes several other familiar names:
Former FBI Director James Comey
Former Attorney General Loretta Lynch
Former Attorney General Eric Holder
Former Attorney General Merrick Garland
Former FBI Director and special counsel Robert Mueller
💡 This has put Trump in a bind: While the president maintains a strong grip on congressional Republicans, the Epstein scandal is exposing some cracks. Lawmakers face enormous pressure from the base to make good on years-long promises for transparency surrounding the disgraced financier and sex offender. Trump has struggled to contain the controversy and has pressed his party to drop it. Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and House GOP leadership have tried to honor that wish by grinding the House to a halt to avoid those sticky votes. But Johnson could only do so much.
How does the Senate feel about all of this?: Senators are pretty angry with how House conservatives have handled this. GOP senators argue this matter should be left to Trump and his administration, reports The Hill's Alexander Bolton. Instead, in the eyes of some senators, conservatives have hijacked the congressional agenda, wasting two weeks while they could have been focused on September's government funding deadline.
➤ TRUMP KNOWS HIS NAME IS MENTIONED IN THE FILES:
The Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday that when Attorney General Pam Bondi and her team reviewed the documents related to Epstein, they discovered that President Trump 's name was mentioned several times. She informed Trump about this in May.
'They also told Trump that senior Justice Department officials didn't plan to release any more documents related to the investigation of the convicted sex offender because the material contained child pornography and victims' personal information, the officials said. Trump said at the meeting he would defer to the Justice Department's decision to not release any further files.'
This is important: Trump's name being mentioned does not equate to any wrongdoing. The documents contained hundreds of other names, per the Journal.
Why this is particularly newsy: Trump 'previously denied that Ms. Bondi had told him that he is in the files. The week of June 7, the White House received an inquiry from ABC News about the May briefing, according to administration officials. A week later, an ABC journalist asked Mr. Trump during a quick gaggle with reporters if Ms. Bondi had told him his name appeared in the files. He replied, 'No, no,' and said she had told him about the 'credibility' of various things in the files. He went on to claim that they contained material manufactured by Democrats.' (The New York Times)
What the White House is saying: The White House has brushed off the report, calling it 'fake news' and noting Trump kicked Epstein out of his Mar-a-Lago club 'for being a creep.'
➤ RELATED READS:
The Atlantic: Trump's Epstein Denials Are Ever So Slightly Unconvincing
The Hill: Epstein 'birthday book': Victims' lawyer calls on Congress to subpoena estate
Time: How Trump's Supporters Are Reacting to the News of His Name in the Epstein Files
Politico: South Park skewers Trump over Epstein files, depicts him in bed with Satan
National Review: Why Does Ghislaine Maxwell Think She's Going to Get a Presidential Pardon?
The Hill: Massie says he assumes some of 'Trump's friends' are in Epstein files
🎤 IN THE WHITE HOUSE
Obama, Powell, Clinton: Trump attacks familiar foes
Trump and top administration officials have waged a broad effort this week targeting a series of familiar foes for the president in what some have panned as an attempt to distract from the Epstein saga.
Here are three ways the White House is hoping to shift the narrative:
1) DOCUMENTS DUMP: The Trump administration has been releasing a series of documents from controversial past investigations.
Last week: 'Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard released 114 pages of documents related to the investigation into Russia's efforts to influence the 2016 election.'
On Monday: 'Attorney General Pam Bondi released an Office of Inspector General review into Hillary Clinton's private email server, sharing it with Congress.'
Oh, and then: 'Bondi and Gabbard released 230,000 pages related to the investigation into the assassination of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.'
On Wednesday: Gabbard released another previously classified House Intelligence Committee report on the 2016 election, a move sharply criticized by Democrats.
The Hill's Rebecca Beitsch reports the apparent move to change public discussion has not gone unnoticed: 'Trump document dumps raise questions of distraction'
2) POWELL SCRUTINY: The president is trying to put the focus back on his archnemesis, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. Trump will tour the Federal Reserve this afternoon to see the multibillion-dollar renovation. The White House has been very critical of the $2.5 billion renovation.
3) COLUMBIA SETTLEMENT: Columbia University said Wednesday it agreed to pay the Trump administration a $221 million settlement in order to restore its federal funding. Keep in mind the funding was stripped amid the federal government's antisemitism probe.
➤ JUST IN:
GOP Sens. Lindsey Graham (S.C.) and John Cornyn (Texas) are calling for a special counsel in the Obama case. More from The Hill's Al Weaver
🗳️ ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL
Lara Trump passes on NC Senate bid:
President Trump's daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, won't be running for Senate in North Carolina, Politico first reported on Thursday.
Instead, Republican National Committee chair Michael Whatley will run for the seat with the president's blessing, a source confirmed to The Hill.
This will be a big race to watch: This is the race to succeed retiring Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), who butted heads with Trump during the 'big, beautiful bill' negotiations. 'Whatley's candidacy tees up one of the marquee Senate races of the midterms, as former Gov. Roy Cooper (D) reportedly plans to jump in next week. The Cook Political Report currently rates the seat as a 'toss up.''
🕊️ OTHER NEWS
Hulk Hogan dies:
Professional wrestling legend Hulk Hogan has died at the age of 71.
His death was first reported by TMZ.
From WWE: 'WWE is saddened to learn WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan has passed away. One of pop culture's most recognizable figures, Hogan helped WWE achieve global recognition in the 1980s. WWE extends its condolences to Hogan's family, friends, and fans.'
Early reaction: 'We all have fond memories of @HulkHogan,' Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) posted with photos of the wrestler with himself and Trump. 'From my childhood in the '80s, to campaigning with him last year, I always saw him as a giant in stature and in life. May he rest in peace.'
'R.I.P to a legend,' wrote Donald Trump Jr.
Throwback: Hogan made a surprise appearance at last year's Republican National Convention to support Trump's White House bid, memorably tearing his shirt on stage to reveal a 'Trump/Vance' shirt underneath.
Coming Up
The Senate is in. The House has left town for its August recess. 😎 President Trump is in Washington. (All times EST)
1:45 p.m. Two Senate votes. 📆 Today's agenda
3 p.m. Trump signs executive orders and congressional bills in the Oval Office. This is closed to press.
4 p.m. Trump visits the Federal Reserve.
🐝 INTERNET BUZZ
🍋 Celebrate: Today is National Tequila Day.
🎾 LOL, this is so real: Tennis star Venus Williams played her first WTA Tour tennis match since March 2024 — and chose Washington, D.C., for her return! She was asked why she returned to tennis. 'I had to come back for the insurance because they informed me earlier this year I'm on COBRA,' she said. 'And let me tell you, I'm always at the doctor's [office], so I need this insurance.' 📹 Watch the interview — it's a pretty entertaining interview.
👋 AND FINALLY…
Let's all take a moment to recognize this dog's struggle. I don't want to be the one to have to explain why he can't rest his head on the water.
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EPSTEIN SAGA LATEST: Even halfway around the world, Trump hasn't escaped questions about the Jeffrey Epstein drama that has consumed Washington in recent weeks. Asked at his Scotland presser about an incident where Trump reportedly threw the late financier out of Mar-a-Lago, he told reporters: 'For years I wouldn't talk to Jeffrey Epstein. He did something that was inappropriate. He hired help and I said 'Don't ever do that again.' He stole people that worked for me and I said 'Don't ever do that again.' And he did it again and I threw him out of the place … and that was it. I'm glad I did.' And back in Washington: Trump's legal team asked a U.S. court today to order a deposition for billionaire WSJ owner Rupert Murdoch in his defamation lawsuit against the outlet's July 17 report detailing a 2003 birthday greeting from Trump to Epstein, Reuters' Luc Cohen reports. In the new filing, Trump's attorneys say the president 'told Murdoch before the article was published that the letter referenced in the story was fake, and Murdoch told Trump he would 'take care of it.'' Murdoch's 'direct involvement further underscores Defendants' actual malice,' Trump's lawyers wrote. Meanwhile: Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein's convicted co-conspirator, is appealing to the Supreme Court to get her conviction overturned 'on the grounds that she was unlawfully prosecuted for sex trafficking minors,' Axios' Marc Caputo reports. The filing comes days after Maxwell met with a top DOJ official to reportedly reexamine the case.2. RUSSIA-UKRAINE LATEST: Trump also told reporters ahead of this morning's meeting with Starmer that he would shorten the 50-day deadline he recently gave Russian President Vladimir Putin to reach a peace deal with Ukraine to '10-20 days from today.' 'There's no reason in waiting,' Trump added, per Bloomberg. Trump noted earlier he was 'disappointed' in the Russian leader for refusing to come to the negotiating table. 'We thought we had that settled numerous times … And then President Putin goes out and starts launching rockets into some city … bodies lying all over the street,' he said, per WSJ's Max Colchester and Tarini Parti. Trump has repeatedly threatened to hike up sanctions on the Kremlin in the past month, though nothing has come of the threats yet. Still, some Ukrainian officials were quick to laud him for the shortened deadline, NYT's Marc Santora reports. 'Andriy Yermak, chief of staff for [Ukrainian] President Volodymyr Zelensky wrote on oline that Trump's comments showed he was committed to 'peace through strength,' adding 'Putin respects only power — and that message is loud and clear.' 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Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), with a formal announcement expected on Wednesday in Charleston, per AP's Lisa Mascaro and Meg Kinnard. … Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper officially entered the race for North Carolina's Senate seat today via a post on social media, POLITICO's Cheyanne Daniels reports. 7. GEORGIA ON MY MIND: Rep. Mike Collins (R-Ga.) formally joined a growing GOP primary field aiming to unseat Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff next year, POLITICO's Nicole Markus reports. Collins' announcement is a big blow for Gov. Brian Kemp, who desperately wanted to avoid a repeat of the GOP infighting over Trump's nomination that ultimately cost the GOP control of the Senate in 2020, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. Collins and Rep. Buddy Carter (R-Ga.) are 'both pitching themselves as unapologetic MAGA warriors,' compared with former college football coach Derek Dooley, 'a Kemp ally and political newcomer who's expected to model his imminent campaign on the governor's playbook.' Though Kemp may not have been looking for a fight, he's certainly found one. The Georgia governor had reportedly agreed with the White House and the Senate GOP's campaign arm to find an ideal candidate to counter Ossoff, but 'Kemp has been clear' that he wants Dooley, NOTUS' Reese Gorman reports. Kemp's decision to push for his own candidate is viewed by some in MAGA world as 'a slap in the face.' As one person close to Trump's political operation notes: 'People are pissed. Trumpworld is pissed.' 8. THE ROOMS OF REQUIREMENT: 'Inside the Pettiest Fight on Capitol Hill,' by NOTUS' Riley Rogerson: 'Multiple Democratic lawmakers and staffers described to NOTUS a struggle to reserve rooms on Capitol Hill for committee or caucus meetings, shadow hearings and constituent gatherings. … Whether or not Republicans are intentionally blocking the rooms or not, there's a pervasive sense of suspicion among Democrats.' TALK OF THE TOWN TRANSITION — Rachel Tripp now senior director of comms at America First Policy Institute. She previously was VP of media relations at Alliance Defending Freedom. BONUS BIRTHDAY: Kieran Lawless of Sen. Dick Durbin's (D-Ill.) office. Send Playbookers tips to playbook@ or text us on Signal here. Playbook couldn't happen without our editor Zack Stanton, deputy editor Garrett Ross and Playbook Podcast producer Callan Tansill-Suddath.
