The Wall Street Journal reveals: Trump informed about Epstein files, but no formal charges

According to the WSJ, prosecutor Pam Bondi informed Trump that his name appeared several times in files related to Jeffrey Epstein, without however indicating any illegal behaviour

The Wall Street Journal has relaunched with an exclusive report on the relationship between Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein, the financier who committed suicide in prison while on trial for sexual abuse and international child trafficking. The American newspaper reports that last May, Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, along with her deputy, informed the president at a meeting at the White House that his name appeared “several times” in the files relating to the Epstein case.

However, the WSJ points out that this information does not constitute an accusation of wrongdoing on Trump’s part. Administration sources explained that the files contained many unverified entries about several people, including the president, who had associated with Epstein in the past.

The White House’s response was immediate and blunt. Steven Cheung, director of communications for the presidency, called the news ‘another piece of fake news,’ referring also to a previous Wall Street Journal scoop that reported on an obscene birthday letter sent by Trump to Epstein in 2003.

Meanwhile, the US Congress continues to closely monitor the case. The House Oversight Committee has summoned Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s former associate, currently detained in Florida, to appear on 11 August. Committee Chairman Jamer Comer stressed the importance of monitoring the enforcement of federal sex trafficking laws and the handling of investigations involving the two defendants.

On the judicial front, however, a Florida federal judge has rejected a request to release additional grand jury documents on the investigation against Epstein, hampering the Justice Department’s efforts to respond to public pressure. Judge Robin Rosenberg explained that the disclosure was requested for reasons of “great public interest”, but not in the context of legal proceedings, thus leaving her “hands tied”.

Faced with growing criticism, including from supporters, Trump last week officially asked Attorney General Bondi to urge the release of the previously secret documents. However, the grand jury testimony that the Department intends to release represents only a fraction of the thousands of files related to the Epstein investigation.

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(Photo: © AndKronos)