Messages Show White House Role in FBI’s Epstein Memo
Records obtained by Raw Story indicate that Taylor Budowich, then a White House deputy chief of staff, took part in shaping the FBI’s July 2025 memo on the Epstein files before it became public. Budowich asked FBI Director Kash Patel for an editable draft, sent it to White House communications staff, and later insisted on a version with Justice Department letterhead. The memo concluded that no further investigation or release of Epstein-related files was warranted.
Records reported by Raw Story show Taylor Budowich, then a White House deputy chief of staff, requested an editable copy of the FBI’s July 2025 Epstein memo from Director Kash Patel about two weeks before publication. Patel supplied a draft received from the Justice Department, and Budowich forwarded it to White House communications staff.
Budowich later pressed for a version bearing Justice Department letterhead, saying a document given to reporters needed official validation. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche sent a final draft, but after it lacked the seal, his counsel, Diego Pestana, provided the requested letterhead copy. The memo said no further Epstein investigation or file release was justified.
The disclosure could deepen public doubts about the independence of federal law enforcement and how sensitive records are handled. Epstein survivors and advocates may see it as further reason to question transparency, while voters across parties could press for clearer records and oversight. It may also affect internal morale and congressional scrutiny, though the actual consequences depend on further reporting and official responses.