Trump, Jeffrey Epstein and Pam Bondi
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President Donald Trump's name was mentioned nine times across the hundreds of pages in the “phase one" release of the Epstein files.
Trump previously had a relationship with the late disgraced financier, who died in a jail cell in 2019 as he awaited a trial on sex trafficking charges.
Calls for transparency on Epstein came from several Republicans on Capitol Hill on Wednesday. And Trump's own former vice president, Mike Pence, called for the administration to "release all of the files" regarding the Epstein investigation.
A year ago, we scrubbed the public record. Here are our updated findings. “It’s all been a hoax that’s perpetrated by the Democrats. And some stupid Republicans and foolish Republicans fall into the net.”
Leavitt had to navigate a tough room of reporters demanding answers on Thursday about the Trump administration’s handling of Epstein’s case. When asked what part of the Epstein situation was a “hoax,” Leavitt blamed Democrats and the media for the outcry over the documents.
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How did the case start in Palm Beach County? Did Trump know him then? Why is it an endless source of fascination?
The big question on the tips of many political watchers’ tongues right now is whether the Trump administration’s botched handling of the Epstein files will do what virtually nothing has yet: turn President Donald Trump’s devoted base against him.