The White House has strongly refuted reports suggesting that President Donald Trump is named in confidential justice department documents related to the late convicted financier Jeffrey Epstein. This follows a wave of media coverage indicating Trump’s inclusion in the files, which have been tied to the ongoing Epstein investigation.

A White House spokesperson dismissed the reports as part of a larger campaign of “fake news,” claiming that the accusations were being used to further political agendas. “This is nothing more than a continuation of the fake news stories concocted by the Democrats and the liberal media,” the spokesperson asserted.

The controversy emerged after a US judge denied a request from the Justice Department to unseal court files linked to Epstein’s 2006 Florida case. These files reportedly contain the names of several high-profile figures, including Trump, who was once friendly with Epstein before their falling out in 2004.

While the Wall Street Journal reported that Trump’s name appeared multiple times in connection with Epstein, the White House has made it clear that such mentions do not suggest criminal involvement. It is important to note that Trump has never been formally accused of wrongdoing in relation to Epstein’s activities.

Trump’s spokesperson, Steven Cheung, further criticised the reports, drawing parallels to previous controversies such as the Russia investigation during the Obama administration. “This is just like the Obama Russia-gate scandal, where President Trump was proven right,” Cheung remarked.

The White House also cited previous disclosures of Epstein files, which included contact details of Trump’s family members, including his daughter. Despite this, White House officials have not denied that Trump’s name appears in the documents.

Meanwhile, the Justice Department is still grappling with efforts to release additional Epstein-related materials. A recent court ruling in Florida determined that releasing certain records would violate grand jury secrecy, especially given the sensitive nature of the information, which includes child pornography and victim details.

In a related development, Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s former associate, continues to be a focal point of the investigation. Maxwell, who was convicted for her role in Epstein’s sex trafficking scheme, is slated to meet with Justice Department officials to discuss her knowledge of the case.

Republicans in the House of Representatives have also shown their interest in the case, with some members seeking to subpoena Maxwell for a testimony. However, her attorney has indicated that Maxwell is carefully considering her response to the summons.

As the legal and political wrangling continues, Democrats have seized upon Republican divisions over the Epstein matter, with some accusing the Trump administration of attempting to cover up key details about the financier’s network.