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The White House is reportedly in “full-bore panic mode” as the Jeffrey Epstein scandal threatens to spin out of control—again.
Multiple senior officials within the Trump administration are said to be scrambling to contain the political fallout from what one insider called “a catastrophic mishandling” of the now-infamous Epstein files. President Trump himself is reportedly “fuming” over conflicting reports and spiraling conspiracy theories, as both the Department of Justice and the FBI face mounting public pressure—and internal fractures.
Sources inside the administration told The Washington Post and Daily Mail that Attorney General Pam Bondi’s so-called “communications failure” ignited a “truckload of misinformation,” which has since mushroomed into a full-blown crisis. Senior officials, including FBI Director Kash Patel and Deputy Director Dan Bongino, have been unsuccessful in quelling speculation—only fueling it further.
“While many are trying to keep the unity, in many ways, the DOJ and the FBI are breaking at the seams,” said one White House official. “Many are wondering how sustainable this is going to be—for the FBI director, the attorney general, or even the president himself.”
The FBI’s partial release of jailhouse security footage from the night Epstein died—a move intended to defuse conspiracy theories—only backfired when it was revealed that three minutes of footage were missing.
Despite internal blame games and media uproar, Trump has refused to fire any of his appointees—Bondi, Patel, or Bongino—even as calls grow louder from both allies and critics.
“He does not want to create a bigger spectacle by firing anyone,” a source told The Washington Post. “But that’s exactly what this is becoming—a spectacle.”
Trump’s refusal to take decisive action comes as reports emerge that he was personally briefed in May about his name appearing “multiple times” in the Epstein files. The White House denies he was ever formally notified, but insiders tell a different story.
In a press gaggle following his arrival in Scotland last week, Trump brushed off the matter:
“No, I was never briefed. No,” he said.
Yet The Wall Street Journal and DOJ sources confirmed that Bondi did, in fact, inform the president as part of a “routine briefing.” According to those close to the situation, Bondi also advised Trump that the files contain explicit images of child sexual abuse, further complicating any potential release.
Deputy Director Dan Bongino has hinted that he may resign over the scandal, especially if Bondi does not. In a cryptic X (formerly Twitter) post this weekend, Bongino claimed he had uncovered details that “shocked me down to my core.”
“We cannot run a Republic like this,” he added ominously. “I’ll never be the same after learning what I’ve learned.”
Bongino’s words have added fuel to conspiracy theories already surrounding Epstein’s 2019 prison death, officially ruled a suicide. Many Americans remain skeptical, questioning whether powerful individuals benefited from silencing the disgraced financier before he could testify.
In a new twist, Ghislaine Maxwell—Epstein’s longtime associate currently serving a 20-year sentence for sex trafficking—was recently questioned for over nine hours by Deputy AG Todd Blanche. According to her lawyer, David Oscar Markus, Maxwell discussed “100 different people” during the closed-door session.
“They asked about every possible thing you could imagine—everything,” Markus told reporters.
Now, in what could become a political firestorm, Maxwell is scheduled to testify before Congress from prison on August 11. Sources suggest she may be angling for a presidential pardon. Her legal team has not yet filed a formal request, but Markus left the door open:
“The president said earlier he has the power to do so. We hope he exercises that power in the right way.”
Trump, when pressed, offered no clarity:
“I'm allowed to do it… but it's something I haven't thought about,” he said Friday. Hours later, he added, “This is no time to be talking about pardons.”
Maxwell’s potential testimony—and any perceived leniency from Trump—could reignite public outrage just as the president ramps up his re-election campaign. The DOJ has already rejected her effort to overturn her conviction, but it’s unclear what new revelations she could offer that haven’t already been exposed.
Despite serving a 20-year sentence, Maxwell reportedly still holds a net worth of around $10 million, much of it tied to overseas trusts and real estate inherited through her family's wealth. Meanwhile, one of Epstein’s most infamous assets—his so-called “pedophile island,” Little St. James—was quietly sold in 2023 for $60 million to a billionaire investment group, further fueling speculation about hidden beneficiaries and missing financial links in the ongoing investigation.
Still, the optics are damning: a sitting president dodging questions about a convicted sex trafficker, as public interest in the full Epstein client list reaches a fever pitch.
“They completely miscalculated the fever pitch to which they built this up,” said former DOJ official Stephen A. Saltzburg. “Now, they seem to be in full-bore panic mode, trying to change the subject and flailing in an effort to make sense of what makes no sense.”
Whether the administration releases more Epstein files, clears Trump’s name, or grants a pardon to Maxwell, one thing is certain: this scandal isn’t going away anytime soon. With Congress set to hear from Maxwell next month, and calls for an independent inquiry mounting, the question now is not if there will be political consequences—but how severe they’ll be.
Is Donald Trump named in the Epstein files?
Yes. According to reports, Trump’s name appears “multiple times” in the Epstein files, though that alone does not indicate criminal activity.
Is the FBI covering up information about Epstein’s death?
The FBI has released partial surveillance footage, but missing time segments and internal disputes have led to rampant speculation and public distrust.
Will Ghislaine Maxwell testify before Congress?
Yes. She is scheduled to appear remotely from prison on August 11, 2025.
Could Trump pardon Ghislaine Maxwell?
He has the power to do so but has not yet indicated a clear decision. A growing fringe effort is pushing for a commutation.
What happens if more Epstein files are released?
Depending on their content, they could implicate more high-profile individuals, increase public pressure on the DOJ, and further inflame the political crisis.
