Donald Trump was told in May that his name appears multiple times in justice department files related to convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, according to the Wall Street Journal.
The American president has come under fire for not releasing the documents – breaking a campaign promise – with some questioning his ties to Epstein.
Now the newspaper reports Mr Trump is aware his name is included in the files, along with many other high-profile figures.
Being mentioned in the records is not a sign of wrongdoing, and Mr Trump has not been accused of anything.
The White House initially described the report as “fake news”, but Reuters news agency said an official told them the administration isn’t denying Mr Trump’s name is there.
Attorney General Pam Bondi and her deputy Todd Blanche issued a statement that does not directly address the Wall Street Journal’s report.
“Nothing in the files warranted further investigation or prosecution, and we have filed a motion in court to unseal the underlying grand jury transcripts,” they said.
“As part of our routine briefing, we made the president aware of the findings.”
The Journal reports officials told the president the files contained what they felt was unverified hearsay about many people, including Mr Trump.
The president was friendly with Epstein in the 1990s and early 2000s, and he appears multiple times on flight logs for his private plane in the 1990s.
Mr Trump has said their friendship ended before Epstein’s legal troubles first began two decades ago.
Officials also told Mr Trump the Justice Department didn’t plan to release more documents, because they include child pornography and victims’ personal information, the Journal added.
Last week, Trump began legal action against the Journal, after it alleged he sent a suggestive birthday message to Epstein in 2003. The US president said he was seeking at least $20 billion in damages and said the report regarding the message was “fake”. Among those named in the legal action is the Journal’s parent company and owner Rupert Murdoch.
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The Justice Department said earlier this month there is no basis to continue probing the Epstein case.
This sparked anger among prominent Trump supporters who demanded more information about wealthy and powerful people linked to Epstein.
Material had been released in the criminal case against Epstein’s former associate Ghislaine Maxwell, who was sentenced to 20 years in prison for child sex trafficking and other crimes.
During her trial, Epstein’s pilot testified Mr Trump flew on Epstein’s private jet multiple times – although Mr Trump has denied being on the plane.
