Attorney General Pam Bondi briefed Trump and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche at the White House in May….reports Asian Lite News
US President Donald Trump was informed earlier this year that his name appeared in documents related to the Justice Department’s review of the Jeffrey Epstein case, though the White House insists there is no evidence implicating the President in any misconduct.
According to a CNN report citing sources familiar with the matter, Attorney General Pam Bondi briefed Trump and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche at the White House in May. The President was told that his name appeared in materials related to the high-profile investigation, which also mentioned several other prominent figures. The Justice Department has reportedly concluded that there is no credible evidence linking Trump or any of those named to criminal wrongdoing.
“This was part of a routine briefing, and the inclusion of Trump’s name was not a central focus,” said a senior White House official. “It’s not surprising. His name has appeared in previously released documents as well. This isn’t new or groundbreaking.”
While the White House downplayed the significance of the revelation, the renewed attention has revived public scrutiny over Trump’s past associations with Epstein—a convicted sex offender who died in custody in 2019—and prompted calls from both Republican and Democratic lawmakers for greater transparency.
Familiar names, no charges
Bondi reportedly told the President that investigators found no client list nor any indication that Epstein’s death was anything other than suicide, as previously concluded by the Justice Department. CNN reported that many of the claims in the files were “unsubstantiated” and “not credible,” including those referencing Trump.
The context in which Trump’s name appeared in the documents remains unclear. He was known to have socialised with Epstein in the 1990s, a time when Epstein cultivated ties with celebrities and influential figures. Trump has previously acknowledged knowing Epstein but claimed their relationship soured years before Epstein’s legal troubles became public.
White House Communications Director Steven Cheung issued a pointed rebuttal: “The President kicked him out of his club for being a creep. This is just another smear campaign by the liberal media, just like the Russia hoax.”
Legal and political fallout
CNN noted that the Wall Street Journal was the first to report that Trump had been briefed by Bondi in May. The Journal also published claims that a 2003 birthday gift to Epstein included a letter bearing Trump’s name alongside an outline of a nude woman. Trump has denied authoring the letter and has filed a lawsuit against the newspaper.
The controversy has grown further after the administration decided not to release additional Epstein-related documents, a move that has drawn sharp criticism, even from within Trump’s own support base. According to CNN, White House aides were particularly frustrated that Bondi did not redact Trump’s name from the materials shared with conservative influencers earlier this year, calling it a “longstanding point of contention.”
In a joint statement on Wednesday, Bondi and Blanche confirmed the Justice Department and FBI had reviewed the so-called “Epstein Files” and found no grounds for further investigation or prosecution. “Nothing in the files warranted further action,” they stated, adding that they had filed a motion to unseal underlying grand jury transcripts.
Calls for transparency
Despite the White House’s efforts to shut down speculation, pressure is mounting on the administration to come clean. On Wednesday, a House Oversight subcommittee voted to subpoena the DOJ to release all remaining documents related to the Epstein investigation. The unexpected move forced Republican leadership to abruptly end the day’s legislative session to prevent further votes.
Though the administration continues to characterise the backlash as politically motivated, bipartisan voices are growing louder in demanding clarity.
“This isn’t about conspiracy theories. This is about public trust,” said one Democratic lawmaker. “The American people deserve to know what’s in those files.”
