A timeline of the Trump administration's shifting stance on releasing the Epstein files

News.com.au

20 hours ago

The Trump administration's shifting stances on the Jeffrey Epstein sex trafficking case have landed it in immense political trouble.
During the first six months of Donald Trump's second term, his government has gone from promising to release the so-called 'Epstein files', a collection of documents compiled by law enforcement over decades of investigations, to saying no further disclosures to the public would be appropriate.
After a public backlash, the US government is now talking to Epstein's co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell in an apparent attempt to glean new information.
Read on for a representative, but not exhaustive, timeline of Trump officials' statements on the Epstein case since he took power on January 20.
January 30
'I will do everything, if confirmed as FBI director, to make sure the public knows the full weight of what happened in the past and how we are going to countermand missing children and exploited children going forward.'
That was Mr Trump's nominee to lead the FBI during his confirmation hearing, before a panel of senators. He was responding to Republican Senator Marsha Blackburn, who had specifically asked him about the Epstein case.
'I have worked on this for years, trying to get those records of who flew on Epstein's plane and who helped him build this international human sex trafficking ring,' she said.
'I know that breaking up these trafficking rings is important to President Trump.
'So will you work with me on this issue, so we know who worked with Jeffrey Epstein in building these sex trafficking rings?'
'Absolutely, Senator,' Mr Patel replied.
February 21
'It's sitting on my desk right now to review. That's been a directive by President Trump.'
During an interview with Fox News, Attorney-General Pam Bondi was asked directly about the so-called Epstein 'client list', which the Justice Department now says doesn't exist.
'One of the things that you alluded to, and this is something Donald Trump has talked about – the Department of Justice may be releasing the list of Jeffrey Epstein's clients. Will that really happen?' asked host John Roberts.
'I'm reviewing that. I'm reviewing the JFK files, MLK files. That's all in the process of being reviewed,' Ms Bondi said after the quote above.
Noteworthy, perhaps, is that tranches of files relating to the assassinations of John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr. have indeed been released in the subsequent months.
Ms Bondi has since claimed she was referring to the Epstein files broadly, not the 'client list' specifically, when she spoke to Fox News.
February 27
'A lot of flight logs, a lot of names, a lot of information.'
About a week after Ms Bondi's interview, a group of handpicked pro-Trump influencers were invited to the White House and given binders full of Epstein-related documents.
It turned out most of them were already available to the public. The binders were essentially full of repackaged, old information.
The recipients were Chaya Raichik, who runs a handful of social media accounts that mock progressives; Rogan O'Handley, whose online name is 'DC Draino'; comedian Chad Prather; former TV host Liz Wheeler; right-wing commentator Mike Cernovich; and conspiracy theorist Jack Posobiec, best known for spreading the outlandish 'Pizzagate' theory.
The quote above is from another, different interview Ms Bondi gave to Fox News, on the eve of the documents' release.
The binders were labelled with the words 'phase one', the implication being that more phases would follow. None ever did.
'The department remains committed to transparency and intends to release the remaining documents upon review and redaction,' the Justice Department said at the time.
February 28
'We have flight logs. We have information, names. That will come out.'
Speaking to British broadcaster Piers Morgan, Mr Trump's personal lawyer turned White House counsellor Alina Habba was unequivocal in saying more files would be released.
'America needs to remember one thing: we are going to be 'promises made, promises kept',' said Ms Habba.
'I believe in accountability.'
She alluded to charges being brought against individuals other than Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell in the future, saying people would 'go through their time in court'.
March 1
'We will get everything. We will have it in our possession. We will redact it, of course, to protect grand jury information and confidential witnesses. But (the) American people have a right to know.'
Another quote from Ms Bondi, from another Fox News interview, during which she assured viewers they would eventually see the 'full Epstein files'.
March 3
'It's a new administration, and everything is going to come out to the public. The public has the right to know. Americans have the right to know.'
Same person, same place.
April 22
'100 per cent of all of these documents are being delivered.'
This one comes from Donald Trump, speaking to reporters in the Oval Office.
May 7
'There are tens of thousands of videos of Epstein with children, or child porn, and there are hundreds of victims.'
Ms Bondi was asked to respond to the concerns of Republican Congressman James Comer, who had told a podcast he thought the Justice Department 'does not have' relevant Epstein documents, and that was why 'they have not been released'.
The Attorney-General said FBI officers were still working through 'the volume' of material. She said that process was taking time and that – not reluctance – was the reason for her delay in releasing more files.
May, exact date unknown
According to The Wall Street Journal, Ms Bondi briefed Mr Trump on the files at some point in May and told him his name appeared in them multiple times.
She told the President a number of other high profile figures were mentioned too.
'Officials said it was a routine briefing that covered a number of topics, and that Trump's appearance in the documents wasn't the focus,' The Journal reported.
At this meeting, Ms Bondi also relayed the decision of senior Justice Department officials to not proceed with releasing more Epstein files to the public.
Mr Trump reportedly said he would defer to that decision.
May 18
'I'm not going to tell people what they want to hear. I'm going to tell you the truth. And whether you like it or not is up to you. If there was a big, explosive 'there' there, we would have told you.'
Mr Patel and his deputy Dan Bongino, both appointed by Mr Trump, did a joint TV interview in which they told viewers Epstein did kill himself in prison.
Both men had previously stoked conspiracy theories suggesting he was murdered.
'I have reviewed the case. Jeffrey Epstein killed himself. There's no evidence in the case file indicating otherwise,' Mr Bongino added in a social media post.
'I'm not asking you to believe me. I'm telling you what exists and what doesn't.'
May 19
'I know the Attorney-General has committed to releasing those files. I would defer you to the Department of Justice on her timeline. But when she has made a promise in the past, she has kept it, and I'm certain that she will in this case as well.'
This was White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, referring to Ms Bondi.
May 29
'There is nothing in the file at this point.'
Mr Bongino again said that Epstein killed himself, and promised the government would soon release new video footage from the prison on the night he died.
'I'm just telling you what I see in the file,' he told Fox News.
'I just want to be crystal clear on this. I'm not asking anyone to believe me. I'm telling you what's there and what isn't.
'There is nothing in the file at this point, on the Epstein case, and there is going to be a disclosure on this coming shortly.
'We are working through some – there is video. That is something the public does not have.'
This video would later be released, but as minutes were missing from it, and the camera in question was not actually pointing at Epstein's cell, it was not enough to satisfy sceptics.
June 4
'On the Epstein files, listen, I know this is a hot potato for folks. I totally understand. My comments were clear. I'm not paid for my opinions anymore.'
Mr Bongino, there – again during a Fox News appearance – was alluding to his previous job as a right-wing podcaster.
Host Sean Hannity had pressed him on 'the Epstein file issue', saying his viewers wanted 'answers' on the case.
'The evidence we have in our files clearly indicates that it was, in fact, a suicide,' Mr Bongino told him.
The Deputy Director did not address the Epstein files more broadly.
June 5
'Time to drop the really big bomb: Donald Trump is in the Epstein files. That is the real reason they have not been made public.'
The billionaire Elon Musk, in the middle of an acrimonious exit from the Trump administration after his stint running the cost-cutting 'department' DOGE, sent out this inflammatory tweet.
Mr Musk, who was Mr Trump's largest political donor by far during last year's election campaign, has a rather long history of making extreme claims about those with whom he is feuding. So the credibility of his claim was hard to gauge.
He later deleted it.
June 6
'We're not going to push that s*** back out there. It's not happening, because then he wins. Not doing it. You want to hate me for it, fine.'
This was Mr Patel, on Joe Rogan's podcast. And the 'he' in question was Epstein.
The FBI Director told listeners 'we're going to give you everything we can', but was quite obviously downplaying expectations.
July 7
'No further disclosure would be appropriate or warranted.'
This was the turning point, regarding public opinion. In a memo, signed by no one, the Department of Justice and FBI announced they were essentially closing the Epstein case, and no third parties would be pursued.
'The files relating to Epstein include a large volume of images of Epstein, images and videos of victims who are either minors or appear to be minors, and over 10,000 downloaded videos and images of illegal child sex abuse material and other pornography,' the memo said.
'Teams of agents, analysts, attorneys, and privacy and civil liberties experts combed through the evidence, with the aim of providing as much information as possible to the public while simultaneously protecting victims.
'Through this review, we found no basis to revisit the disclosure of those materials, and will not permit the release of child pornography.
'The systematic review revealed no incriminating 'client list'. There was also no credible evidence found that Epstein blackmailed prominent individuals as part of his actions. We did not uncover evidence that could predicate an investigation against uncharged third parties.
'One of our highest priorities is combating child exploitation and bringing justice to victims. Perpetuating unfounded theories about Epstein serves neither of those ends.
'To that end, while we have laboured to provide the public with maximum information regarding Epstein and ensured examination of any evidence in the government's possession, it is the determination of the Department of Justice and the FBI that no further disclosure would be appropriate or warranted.'
July 8
'Are you still talking about Jeffrey Epstein? This guy's been talked about for years.'
Mr Trump was incredulous when asked about the Epstein case by reporters.
'Are people still talking about this guy? This creep? That is unbelievable,' he said.
'I mean, I can't believe you're asking a question on Epstein at a time like this.'
The remarks came during devastating floods in Texas.
July 15
'No. No. She's given us just a very quick briefing, and in terms of the credibility of the different things that they've seen.'
Mr Trump was asked, directly, whether Ms Bondi told him he was in the Epstein files. He denied it, without any qualification.
He was also asked to explain why his own supporters were still talking about Epstein.
'I don't understand it, why they would be so interested. He's dead for a long time. He was never a big factor, in terms of life,' said Mr Trump.
'I don't understand what the interest or the fascination is. I really don't.'
July 16
'Their new SCAM is what we will forever call the Jeffrey Epstein Hoax, and my PAST supporters have bought into this 'bulls***' hook, line and sinker.'
The President escalated his rhetoric the next day in a lengthy social media post, telling his fans he no longer wanted their support if they cared about the Epstein 'hoax'.
'They haven't learned their lesson, and probably never will, even after being conned by the Lunatic Left for eight long years,' said Mr Trump.
'I have had more success in six months than perhaps any President in our Country's history, and all these people want to talk about, with strong prodding by the Fake News and the success starved Dems, is the Jeffrey Epstein Hoax.
'Let these weaklings continue forward and do the Democrats work, don't even think about talking of our incredible and unprecedented success, because I don't want their support anymore!'
July 17
'Ridiculous amount of publicity.'
After The Wall Street Journal revealed a note Mr Trump wrote Epstein to mark his 50th birthday in 2003, the President instructed the Justice Department to move to unseal the grand jury transcripts from the government's prosecution of both Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell.
'Based on the ridiculous amount of publicity given to Jeffrey Epstein, I have asked Attorney-General Pam Bondi to produce any and all pertinent Grand Jury testimony, subject to Court approval,' he wrote on social media.
'This SCAM, perpetuated by the Democrats, should end, right now!'
He claimed not to have written the note to Epstein: a naked woman's body, drawn in marker pen, with Mr Trump's name signed in an imitation of her pubic hair.
The strange note ended with the line: 'May every day be another beautiful secret.'
Mr Trump also announced his intention to sue the newspaper for its reporting.
July 23