The denial comes amid renewed public and political attention on Epstein's past and his connections, as a U.S. judge recently blocked a Justice Department effort to unseal Florida court files concerning Epstein's case. Trump, who had promised during his campaign to make the files public, has been under pressure to follow through.
According to reports, Trump's name appeared several times in the documents, along with other well-known individuals. However, the presence of his name does not indicate any criminal wrongdoing, and he has not been accused of any offences related to Epstein.
Briefings, Court Rulings, and Growing Tensions
In a White House briefing in February, Attorney General Pam Bondi informed President Trump that the records contained unverified claims about various individuals, including Trump, who had previously socialised with Epstein. She also noted that the materials included sensitive content such as child pornography and victim statements that should not be disclosed.
Despite the White House's efforts to downplay the matter, a White House official acknowledged that Trump's name appears in documents already made public earlier this year. Those included contact details for several of Trump's family members and were distributed to conservative figures in February.
Trump directed Bondi to pursue the release of all grand jury materials, prompting the Justice Department to request the unsealing of documents from cases in Florida and New York. However, Judge Robin Rosenberg ruled that releasing Epstein's Florida case records would breach state laws protecting grand jury secrecy, stating, "The court's hands are tied."
The documents in question relate to Florida's 2006 investigation into Epstein, which led to charges for soliciting a minor for prostitution. Judge Rosenberg also refused to move the case to New York, where two other judges are still considering whether to release records from Epstein's 2019 federal case.
Focus Shifts to Maxwell as Subpoena Looms
Attention has also turned to Ghislaine Maxwell, the British socialite convicted of aiding Epstein's abuse. Currently serving a 20-year sentence, Maxwell is expected to meet with a senior Justice Department official. Her lawyer confirmed that she is cooperating but has not yet decided whether she will testify before Congress or invoke her right to remain silent.
The House Oversight Committee has summoned Maxwell to testify remotely on 11 August. Her attorney said she would testify truthfully if she chooses to appear. House Speaker Mike Johnson warned against relying on her testimony, citing her criminal background and the seriousness of her past offences.
Earlier this month, Bondi stated that there is no "incriminating client list" in the Epstein files and reaffirmed that Epstein died by suicide in 2019, despite ongoing conspiracy theories.
Bondi had previously hinted at major revelations in the case, including "a lot of names" and "a lot of flight logs." Her later retraction sparked backlash from Trump supporters, some of whom have demanded her resignation.
Political tensions remain high, with Democrats accusing the Trump administration of covering up information. On Tuesday, House Speaker Johnson ended congressional voting early for summer break, appearing to delay efforts to force the release of Epstein-related documents.
Still, a bipartisan push continues. On Wednesday, members of a House Oversight Subcommittee, including Republicans Nancy Mace, Scott Perry, and Brian Jack, joined five Democrats to vote in favour of a subpoena for the Justice Department. However, Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer must sign off on the decision for the subpoena to be enforced.
