Schiff calls for Bondi, Patel to testify over Trump, Epstein files report
'Now we know in May, Pam Bondi informed Trump that his name was in those files. Bondi knew. Patel knew,' Schiff said Wednesday in a video posted to social platform X.
'But in July, as recently as just a week or two ago, Trump denied being informed that his name was in those files, even though we have now learned Bondi told him,' he continued. 'We need to bring Bondi and Patel into the Judiciary Committee to testify about this now.'
Officials told the Journal the information was disclosed as part of a routine White House briefing for the president. They noted that during the meeting, Trump was informed that no additional Epstein files would be released due to the heinous nature of the material.
Last week, Trump sued the Journal for publishing a story detailing a birthday letter reportedly bearing his signature on a page with the silhouette of a naked woman. The outlet said he sent the correspondence to Epstein in 2003.
'A pal is a wonderful thing. Happy Birthday — and may every day be another wonderful secret,' the final line reads, the Journal reported.
The president has attempted to distance himself from Epstein's dealings, denying visiting the financier's office and the friendship outlined in his letter to the wealthy businessman.
'It's not my language. It's not my words,' Trump told the Journal.
Some of his MAGA supporters and Republicans have lamented over the scandal, criticizing the leader for not making good on his campaign promise to release the Epstein files in full. Many Republicans in Congress are backing a measure that supports the delivery of more documents — though the House adjourned for August recess before taking up votes, angering some of their Senate GOP counterparts.
'People are frustrated. We want to know if there's more information,' Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) told NewsNation.
Schiff, and other Democrats, echoed their concerns and called for Trump administration officials to step forward with more transparency around their findings and disclosures.
'Trump told the press he was not informed that his name was in the Epstein files. Now we learn that this was a lie. He was told by Bondi, his former criminal defense lawyer and now the AG,' Schiff wrote in a post on X.
'Time to end the Trump/Epstein cover-up. Release the files,' he added.
Controversy around the convicted sex offender's case was sparked once again last week after the FBI and Justice Department issued a joint memo concluding Epstein did not keep a 'client list' and that his 2019 death was ruled a suicide.
Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein's charged co-conspirator in the case, is expected to meet with DOJ officials in the coming days. The House is also looking into issuing a subpoena to Maxwell, who was sentenced to 20 years in prison for her involvement in the alleged sex trafficking operation of underage girls.
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