Thu Jul 24 02:46:35 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a summary and a news article based on the provided text, focusing on the key details and angle relevant to an Indian audience, keeping in mind the “The Hindu” publication style:
**Summary:**
The Wall Street Journal reported that U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi informed President Donald Trump that his name appeared in Jeffrey Epstein’s files. This revelation has spurred Democratic calls for Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel to testify before Congress. While the Justice Department has reviewed the files and stated nothing warranted further investigation, the mere presence of Trump’s name has reignited scrutiny, despite his past association with Epstein and the lack of any accusations of wrongdoing in the released records. The White House dismisses the reports as “fake news.”
**News Article:**
**Democrats Demand Testimony After Trump’s Name Surfaces in Epstein Files**
*Washington, July 24, 2025* – U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi is facing increasing pressure from Democratic lawmakers to testify before Congress following reports that she informed President Donald Trump his name appeared in the files related to the Jeffrey Epstein sex-trafficking investigation.
The Wall Street Journal reported that Bondi had told Trump his name was among those of several high-profile figures mentioned in the files, which the Justice Department has declined to release in full. The news has reverberated across the political landscape, prompting swift calls for further inquiry.
Senator Adam Schiff, a prominent Democrat, has specifically called for Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel to appear before the Senate Judiciary Committee. “We need to bring Bondi and Patel into the Judiciary Committee to testify about this now,” Schiff stated in a video posted on X.
The Justice Department has so far declined to comment directly on the report. However, Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche issued a joint statement asserting that investigators had reviewed the records and found “nothing in the files warranted further investigation or prosecution.” The statement also confirmed that President Trump was informed of these findings as part of a routine briefing.
It’s important to note that inclusion in Epstein’s files does not automatically imply wrongdoing. Epstein, who died in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges, was known to associate with numerous prominent individuals. Records already released include a 2016 deposition where an accuser mentioned spending time with Epstein at Trump’s Atlantic City casino, but did not accuse Trump of any impropriety. Trump himself has acknowledged a past relationship with Epstein, stating he once considered him a “terrific guy” before they had a falling-out.
White House spokesman Steven Cheung dismissed the renewed scrutiny as “nothing more than a continuation of the fake news stories concocted by the Democrats and the liberal media.”
The story is being closely followed, given the sensitivity surrounding the Epstein case and its potential implications for figures across the political spectrum. The calls for testimony are likely to intensify, setting the stage for a potentially contentious debate within the U.S. Congress.
First Piper 