Will Release of the Epstein Files End Trump’s Presidency?

The sordid saga of his late friend and convicted sex offender, Jeffrey Epstein, continues to haunt President Donald J. Trump.

Many historians and political observers have compared Trump to another infamous president of modern times, Richard Nixon. This is due to similarities regarding the ethical, moral, and political failings of both men.

Similar to the Watergate scandal, Trump is reportedly frustrated with his attorney general’s (AG) handling of the Epstein matter. This is interesting because Trump is likely calling the shots behind the scenes, as AG Pam Bondi ultimately reports to him.

But will the Epstein files bring down the Trump presidency like the Watergate scandal did to President Nixon?

It’s too early to tell at this time. But one thing seems clear: the media frenzy surrounding the Epstein files does not appear to be going away anytime soon. Rather, it’s akin to the proverbial snowball rolling down a hill and becoming bigger and bigger along the way.

Rather than the beginning of the end, it seems the media narrative thus far is only the end of the beginning. The news media senses blood in the water and will continue circling Trump like sharks stalking their prey.

Moreover, based on recent public opinion polls and bipartisan political sentiment, the majority of people want truth and transparency to prevail. They want all the Epstein files to be released, and they believe Trump is mishandling the situation.

This includes members of Congress representing extremes of the left and right of the political spectrum, based on their public comments.

The ultimate question at hand is whether the Epstein files may implicate Trump in any criminal wrongdoing per his knowledge of, or participation in, his billionaire friend’s sex trafficking of underage girls?

Shifting positions by White House and Justice Department

How is President Trump handling this crisis communications conundrum so far? Very badly. He’s thrown the standard crisis communications playbook out the window.

How will Trump respond to the Epstein dilemma going forward? This remains to be seen; however, three scenarios are outlined below.

Despite litigation by Trump against the Wall Street Journal due to breaking news regarding him and Epstein, the media is unlikely to be intimidated. Investigative reporters will continue their relentless pursuit of this story until all relevant questions are answered, per the common refrain — where there’s smoke, there’s fire.

Meanwhile, the White House and the Department of Justice (DOJ) continue to shift their positions, bobbing and weaving like a ship at sea during a storm.

So, how did we get to this point?

• First, Bondi provided conservative influencers with selected Epstein documents in February 2025 (per requests and campaign promises). This only stirred the pot for all the documents.
• More recently, Bondi said the Epstein files were on her desk for review.
• Then, at Trump’s urging, Bondi said DOJ would release any appropriate information contained in the files.
• Then, DOJ/FBI issued a memo closing the case, stating: “Through this review, we found no basis to revisit the disclosure of those materials and will not permit the release of child pornography. This systematic review revealed no incriminating ‘client list.’ There was also no credible evidence found that Epstein blackmailed prominent individuals as part of his actions. We did not uncover evidence that could predicate an investigation against uncharged third parties.”
• Then, at Trump’s urging — and to quell a rebellion by MAGA influencers — Bondi asked a federal court to release sealed grand jury transcripts from the criminal case of Epstein and his accomplice, Ghislaine Maxwell (who is serving a 20-year prison term).
• In the interim, the White House has conveniently punted all media questions to DOJ.
• And now, Trump and the DOJ have punted to a federal district court.

Don’t be surprised if Trump and DOJ punt again by naming a special counsel to further investigate the Epstein files, which would likely put a lid on it until Trump’s presidency ends. This would follow Trump’s playbook of stalling and waiting out legal proceedings implicating him in criminal conduct.

Moreover, Trump and DOJ may still strike a secret quid pro quo deal with Maxwell by commuting her sentence and pardoning her from any subsequent legal action, albeit in exchange for her absolute silence.

Trump has also blamed the Biden Administration for allegedly doctoring the Epstein files, but without any proof.

Trump also blames Democrats, generally, for pursuing another “witch hunt” among a long list. Trump has told his supporters not to join a political ploy by radical left lunatic Democrats.

For those in the MAGA movement who continue to call for the Epstein files to be released, Trump has lambasted them and says he no longer wants their support. All his musing can be found verbatim on Trump’s “Truth Social” network.

Nevertheless, as the age old saying goes: The devil is in the details. And the details are still being withheld from Congress, the media, and the public.

This begs the generic question of what Trump has to hide, if anything?

Practical reasoning and logic dictate that if Trump has nothing to hide, then why not let transparency prevail by releasing all of the Epstein files? This is what Trump and Vice President Vance promised their MAGA supporters during the presidential campaign, as conspiracy theories swirled and accountability was demanded.

The White House likes to use the term, “Promises made, promises kept,” regarding Trump’s agenda and fulfillment of campaign commitments. But the quip is not applicable to the Epstein files debacle.

In the instance of releasing the Epstein files, Trump has turned his mantra upside down into “promises made, promises broken.”

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The conventional wisdom in Washington political circles can’t be reiterated enough: Why should Trump cover up the truth if there is no damaging information about him in the Epstein files?

Refusing to release the Epstein files by remaining recalcitrant only gives legs to conspiracy theories and the prevailing media narrative of a potential coverup, as reporters seek to unearth new damaging information.

Three scenarios may playout for Trump

Trump can sue the Wall Street Journal to intimidate other media from pursuing the truth, but that will not solve the problem. The media has latched onto the Epstein files and will not let go of the story until all questions have been answered about any involvement by Trump.

Therefore, let’s assess the current situation for President Trump and some potential scenarios in the near term (as of this writing before more news breaks).

1) Trump comes clean — Other than what the Wall Street Journal has reported, let’s assume Trump is completely clean regarding the Epstein saga and should not worry about his name coming up in any damaging way. Hence, the files are released, either incrementally or all at once, and the story ends.

2) More “locker room talk” — Let’s assume the Epstein files contain damaging information on Trump, which is why he’s lashed out at the media and MAGA. It’s why the White House has punted the issue to AG Bondi and a federal judge.

The question then becomes: What type of damaging information? Is it just embarrassing or humiliating, like the “bawdy” details reported by the Wall Street Journal or something worse?

If Trump is only implicated in the Epstein files by so-called “locker room talk” in a fraternal manner, then the full story should die. That’s because Trump was reelected with the public knowing full well about his alleged sexual proclivities and criminal acts, per the E. Jean Carroll verdict, the Stormy Daniels fiasco, and the audio of him telling Entertainment Tonight host Billy Bush that he likes to “grab them by the pussy.”

If this is the worst, then it would surely result in more bad publicity for Trump. However, at least he could claim transparency by ordering the release of all the files. This would likely kill the media narrative and quell the PR damage.

3) Potential criminal implications — The third scenario, which would explain the coverup, is the Epstein files contain criminal information about Trump. The files could implicate Trump in knowing about, or participating in, the illegal sex trafficking of underage girls.

If that happens, a bipartisan coalition in the House of Representatives might impeach Trump. And this time the Senate could have enough votes to convict him.

If that were to occur, Senate Republican leaders may tell Trump he must resign because they don’t have the votes to save him again. That scenario could mirror President Nixon’s political demise in the Watergate scandal per his resignation.

However, that’s a long way off at this point and appears farfetched. But consider that Trump is a political enigma whose ascendancy to presidential election and reelection have rewritten history in unforeseen ways again and again.

Assuming it is not the third scenario, Trump should follow the typical crisis communication playbook and order Bondi to release all the Epstein files at one time. Then Trump and Bondi can hold a joint press conference and answer all media questions which remain.

That would likely put out the fire and cause the media to move on.

The Epstein Files might potentially implicate Trump by his attending one of the alleged sex parties with underage girls on Epstein’s private island in the Caribbean.

Final thoughts and communications analysis

As noted above, media attention on the Epstein files reportedly intensified in late February after AG Bondi released certain declassified documents to conservative influencers, such as flight logs and contact lists. This caused a stir in MAGA world but was not closely followed by the general public or mainstream media until recently.

Bondi said at the time that she released the document dump for purposes of accountability. However, most of the information released was old news.

This only caused MAGA influencers to demand more documents, which gave the story legs in right-wing media.

However, to political independents, like me, this just sounded like conservative media noise which was unworthy of attention. Therefore, I tuned out…that is, until recently.

Meanwhile, the uproar in MAGA began to boil over, causing Bondi to defend herself and putting the White House in an awkward position of damage control.

Trump’s predicament is somewhat similar to the Watergate scandal with the White House and DOJ doing damage control as the president attacks the media and appears at odds with his attorney general.

Covering up or slow walking the release of the Epstein files won’t make the story go away.

To the contrary, delay and denial will only motivate the media to dig up the truth. Trump’s conservative MAGA base wants transparency, as promised to them. So do the American people.

Transparency is nowhere to be found.

Therefore, the news media will continue digging on a fact-finding mission to reveal the truth. Meanwhile, Trump is failing to control the narrative, failing at crisis communications, and failing to satisfy his own MAGA base.

Trump might appoint a special prosecutor to investigate the matter, which could delay any release of all the Epstein files until his presidency ends. That would conform to Trump’s media strategy of delay, deflect and deny.

Still, the longer the Epstein files stay in the news, the worse for Trump— as the story continues to grow in unforeseen ways. This is why transparency is tantamount to positive media relations.

But don’t tell that to Trump, the purported master of the media narrative.

It would certainly be ironic if the Epstein files bring down Trump after his having escaped all the other criminal litigation to become president again.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: David is a former federal government spokesman and White House political appointee. He’s also worked in Congress, on two winning presidential campaigns and presidential transitions. You can also find him on LinkedIn and Substack *** SUBSCRIBE FREE NOW *** (limited time special offer)