A forthcoming book by New York Times reporters Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan alleges that Donald Trump's team mishandled the Jeffrey Epstein case, with internal conflicts and missteps greater than previously known. The book, titled Regime Change: Inside the Imperial Presidency of Donald Trump, details how then-Attorney General Pam Bondi's distribution of Epstein files to MAGA influencers caused alarm among White House aides.
According to the extract, Bondi brought binders containing Epstein-related documents to a White House meeting with right-wing influencers in February 2025. The binders had not been vetted by the White House, and officials were unaware of their contents. One aide reportedly flipped through pages to check if Trump's name appeared, finding it a few pages in. Influencers were later rushed out and told the information was under embargo until after Trump's press conference with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
The book also describes a crisis meeting in the Situation Room where Vice President JD Vance was 'panicked' over the scandal's potential to divide the MAGA base. A confrontation between Bondi and then-FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino occurred, with Bongino growing frustrated at the administration's underestimation of the issue. Bongino later stepped down from his role.
The Justice Department and FBI had previously stated there was no evidence of a 'client list' and confirmed Epstein died by suicide in 2019. White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson defended Trump's record, stating he released thousands of pages and cooperated with investigations. Trump pledged on the campaign trail to release Epstein files, a promise that had driven MAGA interest in the case.
