FBI allegedly instructed agents to flag mentions of Trump in Epstein files - US senator

FBI allegedly instructed agents to flag mentions of Trump in Epstein files - US senator

WASHINGTON — Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin, D-Ill., has pressed Justice Department leadership about their handling of files related to the federal investigation into the late financier Jeffrey Epstein. In a series of oversight letters sent Friday, Durbin questioned Attorney General Pam Bondi, FBI Director Kash Patel, and FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino about reported instructions to FBI personnel to "flag" any records mentioning President Donald Trump [1].

Durbin's letters, sent to Bondi, Patel, and Bongino, seek clarification on various aspects of the Epstein case, including why FBI agents were instructed to flag Trump-related documents and what happened to those records after they were flagged. The senator also questioned the discrepancies between Bondi's public statements and the DOJ's memo announcing that no further disclosures related to the Epstein investigation would be made [2].

The letters mark the latest attempt by Democrats to keep attention on Epstein more than a week after the Justice Department released a memo outlining its decision to cease additional disclosures related to the investigation. The memo has sparked controversy and has been criticized for not aligning with Bondi's earlier public statements about the existence of thousands of pages of additional documents related to Epstein [1].

Durbin's questions also touch on the reported disputes among Trump officials about the lack of transparency in their handling of the high-profile case. He asked Bondi to reconcile her earlier public declarations with the DOJ's finding that "no further disclosures" are warranted in the case and that a review of records "revealed no incriminating client list" [1].

Additionally, Durbin questioned Patel and Bongino about their past promotion of conspiracy theories that suggested the Epstein case was part of a government cover-up to protect powerful political players involved in a child abuse ring. Patel, in a recent social media post, denied the validity of these conspiracy theories, but Durbin asked for specific details about which theories Patel was referring to [1].

The letters also address a report from The Wall Street Journal alleging that Trump wrote a letter to Epstein in 2003, accompanied by a drawing of a naked woman, which was included in a leather-bound birthday album gifted to Epstein for his 50th birthday. Trump has denied writing the letter and has filed a lawsuit against the newspaper for publishing the story [1].

The FBI has declined to comment on Durbin's letters, and the DOJ has confirmed receipt of the letters but has not provided further comment. The letters mark a significant development in the ongoing investigation into Epstein's case and the role of the Trump administration in its handling [2].

References:
[1] https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/fbi-personnel-jeffrey-epstein-files-mentioning-trump-dick-durbin-says-rcna219699
[2] https://www.forbes.com/sites/alisondurkee/2025/07/18/fbi-agents-told-to-flag-epstein-files-mentioning-trump-senator-claims/