Pam Bondi Draws Fire After Telling Trump He Was in Epstein Files/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Attorney General Pam Bondi is under pressure to testify after reports revealed she informed President Trump that his name appeared in Jeffrey Epstein’s investigative files. Democrats, including Sen. Adam Schiff, are calling for Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel to appear before the Senate Judiciary Committee. The Justice Department says no criminal action against Trump is warranted, but the revelation renews scrutiny over transparency in the Epstein case.
Bondi-Trump-Epstein Briefing: Quick Looks
- Pam Bondi informed Trump that his name appeared in Epstein’s files
- Wall Street Journal report triggered bipartisan concern over transparency
- Sen. Adam Schiff calls for Bondi, Kash Patel to testify before Senate panel
- Justice Department statement: no grounds for charges after file review
- Trump-Epstein ties known publicly, including past social connections
- Bondi says briefing was part of “routine” updates to the president
- Trump campaign calls report a “liberal media smear tactic”
- Files withheld from release, despite pressure from public and legal activists
- Past court records show Trump’s name surfaced in non-incriminating contexts
- Renewed focus on how Justice Department handles politically sensitive cases
Deep Look: Bondi Faces Testimony Push After Telling Trump He Was in Epstein Files
WASHINGTON — Attorney General Pam Bondi is at the center of new political fallout after a report revealed she informed President Donald Trump that his name appeared in the long-scrutinized files related to Jeffrey Epstein’s sex trafficking case. The revelation, published by The Wall Street Journal on Wednesday, has prompted leading Democrats to call for Bondi to testify before Congress about her communication with the president.
Bondi’s disclosure, part of what the Justice Department labeled a “routine briefing,” was relayed to Trump earlier this month. Though her statement did not suggest wrongdoing, it confirmed that Trump’s name was among numerous prominent individuals identified in the Epstein case documentation.
Democratic Leaders Demand Accountability
California Democratic Senator Adam Schiff led the charge for accountability. Posting a video message on X (formerly Twitter), Schiff said,
“We need to bring Bondi and [FBI Director] Patel into the Judiciary Committee to testify about this now.”
Schiff and other Democrats argue that Bondi’s private briefing of Trump—while denying public access to Epstein’s files—raises serious concerns about selective transparency and potential political shielding.
DOJ: No Grounds for Action
In response to the media report, the Justice Department issued a joint statement from Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche stating that a review of Epstein’s files found no material that justified further investigation or prosecution.
“As part of our routine briefing, we made the president aware of the findings,” the statement noted, downplaying the significance of Bondi’s remarks.
Still, critics have questioned why the Justice Department chose not to release the full contents of Epstein’s files despite growing demands from the public, legal groups, and journalists.
Epstein Ties and Trump’s History
Trump’s name has long been associated with Epstein. The two were known to socialize in the early 2000s, though Trump later said the two had a falling-out. Past records, including a 2016 deposition, showed that one accuser recalled being with Epstein at a Trump-owned Atlantic City casino but did not claim to have met Trump or accuse him of any misconduct.
Over the years, Epstein’s case files have exposed ties to a wide web of influential figures across politics, business, and entertainment. While the mere presence of a name in such files is not evidence of criminal conduct, the secrecy surrounding the unreleased documents has fueled speculation.
Bondi’s comments to Trump were made privately and surfaced only through The Wall Street Journal’s reporting. With her briefing now public, legal and political analysts say it’s only a matter of time before she’s asked to explain herself under oath.
Political and Legal Tensions Rise
The latest development arrives amid an already charged political atmosphere. The Trump administration has dismissed the controversy as a politically motivated attack.
“These reports are nothing more than a continuation of the fake news stories concocted by the Democrats and the liberal media,” said White House spokesman Steven Cheung.
Nevertheless, civil liberties advocates and legal experts argue that the federal government’s handling of Epstein-related materials—especially those involving high-profile individuals—demands far more scrutiny.
Calls to release the rest of Epstein’s files have intensified, particularly from anti-trafficking groups and survivors’ advocates who argue that transparency is critical for justice and accountability.
What Comes Next
With pressure mounting, Congressional Democrats are expected to formally request Bondi’s testimony in the coming weeks. The Senate Judiciary Committee, which holds oversight over the Justice Department, may schedule hearings to explore whether proper protocol was followed in briefing the president and handling sensitive evidence.
As the Justice Department maintains its stance that no actionable evidence exists against Trump, the political firestorm surrounding the Epstein case is unlikely to fade soon—especially in a presidential election season already rife with legal drama.
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