[News] Trump says US attorney general should release any 'credible' information on Epstein

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US President Donald Trump has said Attorney General Pam Bondi should release "whatever she thinks is credible" on late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, as he faces a rare backlash from supporters after seeking to draw a line under the case.

Bondi has been lambasted by some of Trump's political base after her department recently said there was no evidence that Epstein kept a "client list".

This appeared to contradict her previous statements, and those of other Trump allies who have previously called for the release of more information on Epstein.

Trump also said on Tuesday he did not understand "what the interest or what the fascination is" with the case. He earlier offered a defence of Bondi.

"She's handled it very well, and it's going to be up to her," he told reporters. "Whatever she thinks is credible, she should release."

When asked by a journalist if the attorney general had told Trump whether his name appeared in any of the records, he said: "No, no."

During his later comments, the president questioned the enduring fascination with the Epstein case, calling it "sordid but boring".

"Only really bad people, including the fake news, want to keep something like this going," Trump said.

While campaigning last year, Trump promised to release files relating to the disgraced financier. The issue re-emerged earlier this year amid his public spat with his former adviser Elon Musk.

Certain key Trump allies, including House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson, continue to call for transparency.

Trump's comments in defence of Bondi were in response to a reporter who had pointed out that the president's own daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, too, had publicly asked for transparency.

 

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ckgl4dl334go