Jeffrey Epstein case

Analysis: Trump tries to downplay – but manages to pour gasoline on the fire

Donald Trump continues to make very strange claims about the Jeffrey Epstein case. Aaron Blake writes in an analysis on CNN. Trump is not accused of any crime, but in his attempt to downplay the situation surrounding the investigation, he has rather managed to pour gasoline on the fire, he believes.

The American president has, among other things, denied the reports that Attorney General Pam Bondi is said to have informed that his name was included in the investigation. Trump also denies that his name is in the album with birthday greetings to Epstein in 2003.

"Trump has a documented history of lying and misleading on many subjects, but this should be something he wants to get right so as not to arouse suspicion," Blake writes.

David Smith at The Guardian writes that the president is now resorting to a familiar trick: distraction. For years, Trump's supporters have been quick to help him move forward, but when it comes to the Epstein case, it's different.

"He's once again throwing out a bunch of shiny distractions, but they're losing their shine," Smith writes.

Targeted Epstein campaign to win over Mag voters

Democrats are trying to win over voters in about a dozen Republican districts with a targeted political campaign on the Jeffrey Epstein case, Axios reports.

The effort consists of advertisements that will be played before videos from Maga personalities on platforms like YouTube and Fox News, whose viewers care a lot about the handling of the Epstein investigation.

Republican Derrick Van Orden, however, raises some skepticism that the content of the investigation would be so dangerous for Donald Trump.

- It's strange that the Democrats, when they had unlimited power and took every opportunity to attack their political opponents, did not choose to release these files, he says.

Trump: I didn't hear about my name in Epstein

US President Donald Trump denies that he was ever informed that his name appeared in the Epstein documents. This is reported by several media outlets.

- No, I was never informed about it, he tells reporters.

Trump has reportedly been informed on several occasions that he is in the documents, several sources told the Wall Street Journal earlier this week.

Attorney General Pam Bondi informed him about the matter back in May, CNN reports.

Trump also dismissed questions about whether he could pardon Epstein's accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell.