The White House is facing renewed scrutiny as revelations tied to the Jeffrey Epstein files continue to ripple through Washington, raising fresh questions about transparency, credibility, and political accountability.

According to Representative Jamie Raskin, the ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee, millions of Epstein-related documents remain unreleased, despite public assurances of transparency from the Trump administration. Raskin revealed that within the unredacted files that have yet to be made public, Donald Trump’s name reportedly appears more than one million times.

By comparison, in the redacted files already released, Trump’s name appears approximately 38,000 times—a figure that has already drawn intense attention.

White House Press Briefing Fuels Controversy

At a press conference held shortly after these disclosures, White House Press Secretary Caroline Leavitt faced a barrage of questions about the Epstein files and their implications.

When asked directly whether President Trump would rule out a pardon for Ghislaine Maxwell, the convicted accomplice in Epstein’s sex trafficking operation, Leavitt declined to give a clear answer. She stated that the issue was “not a priority” and claimed it was not something the president was currently considering—stopping short of an explicit denial.

The response immediately raised eyebrows, as critics noted that the White House could have simply ruled out any pardon outright.

Lutnick Testimony Raises New Questions

Attention then shifted to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, who testified before Congress that he visited Epstein’s private island in 2012 with his wife and children—years after previously claiming he had cut off all contact with Epstein in 2005.

Justice Department documents indicate Lutnick remained in contact with Epstein through at least 2018. When pressed on whether the White House still supported Lutnick, Leavitt confirmed that President Trump continues to stand by him, dismissing further questions by pointing to what she called “other wins” that reporters were allegedly ignoring.

The administration’s firm backing of Lutnick has intensified criticism, particularly given the documented contradictions between his earlier statements and newly surfaced evidence.

Trump’s Past Statements Contradicted by New Reports

Another line of questioning focused on newly surfaced police records suggesting that Trump told the Palm Beach police chief in 2006 that Epstein’s activities with underage girls were “well known” and that Ghislaine Maxwell was “evil.”

These reports appear to conflict with Trump’s long-standing public claims that he had no knowledge of Epstein’s crimes. When asked to explain the discrepancy, Leavitt argued that Trump had always been consistent, reiterating that he expelled Epstein from Mar-a-Lago because he was “a creep.”

Pressed on whether the phone call with the police chief actually occurred, Leavitt said she did not know, suggesting it “may or may not have happened,” while insisting that even if it did, it supported Trump’s narrative rather than undermining it.

Partisan Tensions Extend Beyond Epstein

The contentious press briefing did not stop with Epstein-related issues.

Leavitt also addressed criticism after the National Governors Association canceled a planned meeting with President Trump, citing the administration’s decision to invite only Republican governors. Traditionally, the event has been bipartisan. Leavitt defended the move by saying the president has the right to invite whomever he wants to the White House.

Further controversy erupted over Trump’s threat to block the Gordie Howe International Bridge, a major infrastructure project connecting Detroit and Ontario that was fully funded by Canada and built using American labor and steel. Despite Trump previously supporting the project, the White House now argues that U.S. control over the bridge is insufficient.

Social Media and Policy Confusion

Questions were also raised about the administration’s social media activity after posts by Trump and Vice President JD Vance were published and then deleted—one involving racist imagery targeting the Obamas, and another referencing the Armenian genocide. Leavitt dismissed concerns, denying that the White House has a broader posting or messaging problem.

Meanwhile, the administration’s claims that beef prices are falling drew skepticism, particularly as new policies would increase beef imports from Argentina—prompting concerns from U.S. ranchers about being undercut.

Growing Political Fallout

As Epstein-related revelations dominate headlines—including front-page coverage across major newspapers—the political fallout continues to widen. House Speaker Mike Johnson brushed off calls for Lutnick’s resignation, calling them “absurd” and reaffirming his trust in the commerce secretary.

With millions of Epstein-related documents still unreleased and inconsistencies mounting across multiple fronts, critics argue that the administration’s handling of the issue has only deepened public distrust.

As pressure builds, the Epstein files—long a source of controversy—are once again reshaping the political landscape in Washington, raising questions that the White House has yet to definitively answer.