Afrasianet - The New York Times has revealed in an investigative report 6 key findings that show how the scandal of convicted businessman Jeffrey Epstein turned into a political crisis that paralyzed the White House and sparked sharp divisions within President Donald Trump's administration.
The report, written by journalist Maggie Haberman and her colleague Jonathan Swan, was based on an extensive investigation of more than 1,000 interviews conducted by the authors during their forthcoming book, "Regime Change: Inside Donald Trump's Imperial Presidency," which is expected to be released on June 23.
The following is an outline of the six most important points contained in that lengthy report, which is part of the book referred to.
1- The White House's "operations room"
According to the report, the White House's "operations room," which is usually dedicated to managing major security and military crises, has become a permanent center for meetings of senior officials to counter the political fallout from the Epstein scandal.
A series of meetings were held that included J.D. Vance, Vice President and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, FBI Director Kash Patel (an Indian American nominated by Trump) and other officials, amid fears of mounting anger from the pro-Trump MAGA base.
2 - Trump has shown no desire to publish Epstein
Rrelated documents and has been irritated whenever the issue is brought up in front of him. He also tried to prevent the publication of a Wall Street Journal report on his previous relationship with Epstein, through direct contacts with the paper's owners and officials, but his efforts were unsuccessful. As a result, his aides have been forced to manage the crisis away from him often.
3- Vance called for the release of all files
Contrary to the president's position, and his vice president, J.D. Vance, was one of the most prominent advocates for the full disclosure of the documents. The report quoted him as saying during a meeting that the case was a "big problem," warning of its impact on the unity of Trump's political camp.
Vance defended the release of all available materials, even those that contain unproven allegations against Trump, arguing that full transparency is less costly than continued leaks and accusations.
4 - Tension between the Attorney General
The case led to unprecedented tension between then-Attorney General Pam Bundy and the FBI leadership. According to the New York Times, Deputy Director Dan Bongino exploded in Bundy after the Justice Department's memo denied that Epstein had a "client list."
He and his boss, Cash Patel, also demanded her be fired, later accusing her of leaking information that harmed them, deepening divisions within the administration.
5 - Embarrassing Debates Over Unconfirmed Allegations
The report reveals that one of the operations room meetings saw a discussion that participants described as "surreal," after old and unsubstantiated allegations about Trump were made in previously released court files.
This sparked debate among officials about whether such allegations should be published in any government database of Epstein's files, fearing they would be given official credibility.
6- The crisis continued despite the passage of more than a year
Despite the administration's attempts to contain the issue, its repercussions remained present until 2026. The report cites an internal memo prepared by Republican pollster Tony Fabrizio that showed that Epstein's files remained among the most pressing issues for voters, ahead of cases such as crime and military issues. The memo concluded that the case represented a "real downside" for some pro-Trump voters.
Haberman and her colleague Swann conclude that the Epstein crisis exposed the limits of Trump's ability to control the political narrative, and showed that the case has turned from an old criminal case into a crisis of confidence within his political base, the effects of which continued to haunt his administration for many months.
