The White House refutes reports that President Donald Trump's name appears in Justice Department documents related to Jeffrey Epstein. A White House spokesman dismissed the claims as "fake news stories concocted by the Democrats and the liberal media." The Wall Street Journal initially reported Trump's name appeared multiple times in the documents, alongside other high-profile figures. Attorney General Pam Bondi informed Trump in February that the files contained hearsay about individuals who socialized with Epstein, including Trump, and included sensitive information that shouldn't be disclosed. While the White House denies the core allegation, an unnamed official acknowledged that Trump's name was in files previously released to conservative influencers. A US judge denied the Justice Department's request to unseal Florida court files on Epstein, citing state grand jury secrecy guidelines.

Separately, the Justice Department plans to meet with convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell, who is serving 20 years for her role in Epstein's crimes. Maxwell's attorney stated she would testify truthfully if she chooses to, while House Speaker Mike Johnson expressed distrust in her testimony. Republicans on the House Oversight Committee issued a subpoena for Maxwell to appear remotely on August 11th. Internal Republican disagreements over releasing the Epstein-related documents led to a vote by a House Oversight Subcommittee to subpoena the Justice Department, despite the House Speaker's attempt to stall the effort.

Impact Statement: The ongoing dispute over the release of Epstein-related documents and the conflicting statements from the White House and Republican officials highlight deep partisan divisions and raise questions about transparency and accountability.