WASHINGTON (AP) — Former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi is under mounting pressure from Democrats to testify before Congress after a report alleged she informed former President Donald Trump that his name appeared in files related to the Jeffrey Epstein sex-trafficking investigation.
Wall Street Journal Report Triggers Controversy
According to a report published Wednesday by The Wall Street Journal, Bondi told Trump that his name was among numerous high-profile individuals mentioned in the documents tied to Epstein. The Justice Department recently confirmed it would not release those records, despite growing demands from online researchers, conspiracy theorists, and Trump’s political supporters.
Trump’s Ties to Epstein Resurface
Trump’s connection to Epstein, the disgraced financier who died by suicide in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges, has been widely documented. His name has appeared in court documents and public records over the years.
The resurfacing of this issue has drawn fresh scrutiny from lawmakers. Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) responded to the report by calling for Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel to appear before the Senate Judiciary Committee.
“We need to bring Bondi and Patel into the Judiciary Committee to testify about this now,” Schiff said in a video posted on X (formerly Twitter).
DOJ Statement: No Further Action Warranted
While the Justice Department has not officially commented on the Journal’s report, it released a joint statement from Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche.
“Investigators reviewed the files and determined that nothing warranted further investigation or prosecution,” the statement read. “As part of our routine briefing, we made the president aware of the findings.”
Context: Epstein Files and Public Disclosures
It’s important to note that appearing in Epstein’s files does not necessarily indicate any wrongdoing. Epstein was known to associate with numerous celebrities, politicians, and business figures, including Trump.
Over time, thousands of pages related to Epstein have become public through lawsuits, FOIA requests, and court proceedings. One such document includes a 2016 deposition in which an accuser said she spent time with Epstein at Trump’s Atlantic City casino. However, she did not mention meeting Trump and made no allegations against him.
Trump Denies Wrongdoing, Blames Media
Trump has previously acknowledged knowing Epstein, once calling him a “terrific guy” before saying they had a falling-out years before the financier’s arrest.
In response to the renewed attention, White House spokesperson Steven Cheung dismissed the news as politically motivated.
“This is nothing more than a continuation of the fake news stories concocted by the Democrats and the liberal media,” Cheung said on Wednesday.
