Trump Briefed on His Name Appearing in Epstein Files, WSJ Reports

Epstein Files and Presidential Briefing

• 📰 The Wall Street Journal reported that Attorney General Pam Bondi and her deputy Todd Blanch informed President Trump in May that his name appears multiple times in the Jeffrey Epstein files.
• ⚠️ Bondi and Blanch reportedly told Trump they did not plan to release the files due to their sensitive nature, including child pornography and personal victim information.
• 🗣️ According to the Journal, President Trump stated he would defer to their decision regarding the release of the files.

Trump's Shifting Statements

• ❌ Last week, when questioned by ABC's Katherine Folders, Trump denied that Bondi had informed him about his name being in the Epstein files.
• ❓ The Journal also reported that Trump was told other high-profile names were present in the documents, with the caveat that appearing in the files is not evidence of wrongdoing.

Attorney General's Statement and Past Relationship

• ✅ The attorney general stated that nothing in the files warranted further investigation or prosecution, and that the president was made aware of the findings as part of a routine briefing.
• 🤝 Trump and Epstein were reportedly friendly for over a decade, socializing in New York and Palm Beach.
• ⚖️ In a 2010 deposition, Epstein invoked his Fifth Amendment right when asked about socializing with Trump in the presence of females under 18.

Legal Developments

• 🚫 Trump instructed the attorney general to request the release of grand jury testimony in the Epstein case, but a Florida judge denied this request due to insufficient justification from the DOJ.
• 🏛️ The judge stated that the court's hands were tied regarding the release of the sensitive testimony.