Sometime in May, exact date unknown, Attorney General Pam Bondi tells Trump that his name appears multiple times on the Epstein files; at the meeting, Bondi also briefs Trump on the various high-profile names included in the list.
Two months later, on July 6, the Department of Justice releases a statement claiming that Jeffrey Epstein had no client list and concludes that, due to recent review of the Epstein files, the DOJ found no evidence or reason to further engage in an investigation.
Weeks later, on July 23, a Wall Street Journal article states Trump was told at the May meeting that the Epstein documents contained “what officials felt was unverified hearsay about many people, including Trump.” A joint statement released on the same day by Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche on X states:
“The DOJ and FBI reviewed the Epstein files and reached the conclusion set out in the July 6 memo. Nothing in the files warranted further investigation or prosecution.”
The Trump administration has been fighting since early July against releasing the Epstein files, going as far as shutting down the House of Representatives early on July 22 to prevent being forced to vote on the release of the documents.
