DOJ calls reports saying AG told Trump he was named in Epstein files "falsehoods"

• The reports come as the Trump administration faces mounting accusations that the DOJ isn't being transparent enough about its Epstein investigations.

Driving the news: Bondi and deputy attorney general Todd Blanche allegedly told the president this spring that his name, as well as those of other high-profile individuals, appeared as they re-examined documents related to the case that hadn't been made public, per the New York Times.

• It's not immediately clear what the documents were, or in what context Trump's name was raised.
• The Times and the Wall Street Journal, which was first to report the story, both cite unnamed sources.

What they're saying: "This is a collection of falsehoods and innuendo designed to push a bulls**t narrative and drive clicks," DOJ spokesperson Gates McGavick said in a post on X in response to the WSJ report.

• Asked for comment on the reports, DOJ spokesperson Natalie Baldassarre referred Axios to McGavick's post.
• White House spokesperson Steven Cheung said in an emailed statement, in part, "This is nothing more than a continuation of the fake news stories concocted by the Democrats and the liberal media."

Zoom out: Trump is suing the WSJ and owner Rupert Murdoch over an earlier report related to Epstein.

Go deeper: Judge denies Trump request to release Epstein transcripts in Florida