Two Democratic senators — Dick Durbin and Sheldon Whitehouse — have asked White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles to explain comments that she read what she called the "Epstein file." They want details on when, where and under what authority she accessed the records, which documents she meant, whether she shared them with Donald Trump, and whether she played any role in review, redaction or release processes involving the DOJ or FBI. Wiles told Vanity Fair she saw the files and said Trump appeared in them but was not shown "doing anything awful." The White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Senators Demand Answers From Susie Wiles Over Her Claim She Read the ‘Epstein Files’
Getty
Two Democratic senators have formally asked White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles to explain comments she made about having read what she called "the Epstein file," a claim that has reignited scrutiny of how records related to Jeffrey Epstein were handled.
Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), a member of the Judiciary Committee, and Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), of the Oversight Subcommittee, sent a letter on Tuesday listing six specific questions for Wiles. The lawmakers asked her to clarify when and where she accessed the materials, under what authority, which documents she meant by the phrase "the Epstein Files," and whether she shared anything she saw with former President Donald Trump.
Durbin (left) and Whitehouse (right) want answers from Wiles about her firsthand experience with the Epstein files. / Tom Williams / CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Imag
What the Senators Asked
In the letter, Durbin and Whitehouse also requested that Wiles describe any role she had in the review, redaction, withholding or release of material from the so-called "Epstein file," including interactions or processes involving the Department of Justice (DOJ) or the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Their request highlights ongoing concerns that the government has not fully complied with statutory deadlines and required redaction criteria governing release of these records.
Wiles' Comments and Context
Wiles made the remarks in a recent Vanity Fair interview in which she said she had read "the Epstein file" and confirmed that Trump appeared in it, while adding that he was not shown "doing anything awful." She also sharply criticized former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi for how the records were handled.
Wiles told Vanity Fair that she had read
"I think she completely whiffed on appreciating that that was the very targeted group that cared about this," Wiles told author Chris Whipple. "First she gave them binders full of nothingness. And then she said that the witness list, or the client list, was on her desk. There is no client list, and it sure as hell wasn’t on her desk."
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the Daily Beast.
Why This Matters
Jeffrey Epstein's prosecution and the related records have been a persistent source of public concern. Trump has long faced questions about his relationship with Epstein, who once described himself as a close associate before their reported falling-out. Lawmakers and the public have pushed for greater transparency about the files held by government agencies; senators’ inquiries to Wiles seek clarity on whether a senior White House official had access to — or influence over — those records.
The senators' letter requests specific, factual answers and a timeline; it could prompt further oversight if Wiles' responses raise new questions about the handling or disclosure of Epstein-related materials.
Help us improve.
