Book Details White House Meetings on Epstein Files

A forthcoming book reports that White House officials held multiple Situation Room meetings to prepare for possible release of Jeffrey Epstein files. Officials discussed whether additional allegations involving the president would surface and how to respond.

Vice President JD Vance argued during early meetings that the administration should release information proactively. Some participants described Vance as appearing panicked, while Chief of Staff Susie Wiles told others that Vance was acting as a conspiracy theorist.

At one session, discussion turned to whether the president should pardon Ghislaine Maxwell, who is serving a 20-year sentence for sex trafficking. Communications Director Steven Cheung warned that such a pardon would create a public relations problem.

Bongino and FBI Director Kash Patel later told a White House official that Bondi should resign. Bongino resigned in December and returned to podcasting. The president fired Bondi in April.

The president publicly described the Epstein matter as a scam and a hoax by Democrats. A pollster memo stated that Epstein files ranked sixth among issues raised negatively in focus groups. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche noted that some files contained child pornography that could not be released publicly. The book is scheduled for publication in two weeks.