In May, Attorney General Pam Bondy notified President Trump that his name had appeared several times in documents linked to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, according to a report released by the Wall Street Journal.
Bondy and her deputy indicated that officials from the Department of Justice (DOJ) reviewed what she termed Epstein’s “Truck on Truck” document and found Trump’s name mentioned multiple times. This information was shared with senior administration figures.
During their conversation, Bondy reassured Trump that many other prominent individuals were also listed in the document, which isn’t necessarily indicative of wrongdoing. Sources familiar with the file noted that it includes hundreds of names.
At the meeting, Trump was informed that the DOJ had no plans to make additional files on Epstein public. The material reportedly contained sensitive information regarding Epstein’s victims and child sex abuse cases. Bondy mentioned to Trump that the document also included unverified claims about him and others.
According to sources, this information came to light during a regular briefing at the White House, and the Epstein Files weren’t the main topic of discussion.
Sources confirmed to Hill’s Sister Network News Nation that Bondy made Trump aware of his name’s inclusion in the files.
Back in February, Bondy had stated that Epstein’s suspected client list was under review.
On July 7, the Justice Department issued a memo asserting there was no definitive “client list” and announced that no additional files would be shared. This decision sparked considerable discontent among Trump’s supporters who had been eagerly waiting for the release of documents about Epstein; Democrats also seized the moment to critique the president further.
Trump expressed frustration over the persistent focus on the Epstein saga, urging his party to redirect their attention. However, this led to divisions within the GOP, resulting in Mike Johnson (R-La.) canceling a scheduled House vote to preempt any efforts to release the documents.
Bondi and Associate Attorney General Todd Blanche responded to the journal’s report with the memo issued in July.
“The DOJ and the FBI reviewed the Epstein file and concluded, as noted in the July 6 memo. The file does not imply a guarantee of further investigation or prosecution,” they stated. Their remarks were part of a regular briefing where the President acknowledged their joint statement.
The memo from July 6 aligns with an extensive review carried out by the DOJ and the FBI. Trump has alleged that there are efforts from leakers and the media to undermine him with false narratives.
While Trump and Epstein were known to socialize in similar circles, reports suggest they had distanced themselves in recent years.
“Ultimately, the president distanced himself from Epstein due to his unsavory behavior, which seems to be just another instance of misinformation propagated by Democrats and the liberal media,” he stated.
