Delhi, 24 July (H.S.): The White House has denied reports linking President Donald Trump to justice department documents concerning Jeffrey Epstein, labeling them as fake news from Democrats and the liberal media. This comes after a US judge declined the department's request to unseal court files related to Epstein in Florida. The Trump administration faces increasing pressure to provide transparency about Epstein, who was a well-connected sex offender. Trump previously committed to releasing relevant information during his campaign but is now facing scrutiny as his name reportedly appears multiple times in the justice department’s records.
It's important to note that being named in these documents does not imply any wrongdoing by Trump. Attorney General Pam Bondi informed Trump that the files included hearsay about various individuals connected to Epstein; some records also contained sensitive material, like child pornography and victim information, which should remain undisclosed. Trump had a prior association with Epstein, which soured in 2004, two years before Epstein's initial arrest.
When asked whether Bondi confirmed his name's presence in the files, Trump denied this. Meanwhile, Steven Cheung, a spokesman for Trump, reiterated claims that the reports were mere political tactics. FBI Director Kash Patel criticized the media for its attempts to undermine Trump. However, an unnamed White House official did not refute that Trump's name was listed in the documents, which had previously been revealed in files shared with conservative influencers.
Trump has sought the unsealing of grand jury materials in cases concerning Epstein. However, Judge Robin Rosenberg ruled against releasing Florida's grand jury documents, citing state law restrictions on grand jury secrecy. This ruling also rejected transferring the matter to New York, where other cases related to Epstein are being considered.
The focus has also shifted to Ghislaine Maxwell, recently convicted for her role in aiding Epstein, as a senior justice department official plans to meet with her. Republicans on the House Oversight Committee have summoned her to testify remotely. Despite her history, House Speaker Mike Johnson expressed skepticism about her reliability as a witness. Bondi previously stated that the investigation found no incriminating list concerning Epstein's clients, pushing back against speculation. This situation has led to political infighting within the Republican Party, as calls for transparency clash with allegations of cover-ups, culminating in a congressional vote on whether to enforce the release of Epstein-related documents.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
