In May 2025, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) informed President Donald Trump that his name appears multiple times in documents related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, The Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday.
Attorney General Pam Bondi and her deputy reportedly delivered the news during a private White House meeting, explaining that Trump was one of several public figures named in the files. They emphasized that the presence of a name in the documents does not indicate criminal wrongdoing.
Following internal discussions, the DOJ decided not to release further Epstein-related records, citing concerns over victim privacy and the sensitive nature of the material. The documents reportedly include unverified details and references to Epstein’s associates, raising legal and ethical considerations.
During the meeting, Trump, who had distanced himself from Epstein years before the financier’s death in 2019, asked Bondi to push for the unsealing of grand jury materials from the federal investigations into Epstein and his convicted associate Ghislaine Maxwell.
The decision not to disclose the remaining files drew criticism from some of Trump’s political allies and supporters, who had hoped for greater transparency in the long-running case.
Jeffrey Epstein died in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges. His connections to numerous high-profile individuals — including Britain’s Prince Andrew — have fueled public demand for the full release of evidence and testimony gathered during investigations.
The Justice Department maintains that its approach is focused on protecting victims and maintaining the integrity of ongoing legal processes.
