Donald Trump faced a fresh crisis on Wednesday as it was reported that his name appears in US justice department files about Jeffrey Epstein and the Congress subpoenaed testimony from the sex offender’s partner in crime Ghislaine Maxwell.

The US president’s spokesman denied an account in the Wall Street Journal newspaper that Trump was told in May by the attorney general, Pam Bondi, that he is named in the now notorious Epstein files.

Citing senior administration officials, the Journal said Trump was also informed that many other high-profile figures were named and the department did not plan to release any more documents related to the investigation, reported The Guardian.

The White House sought to downplay the relationship between Trump and Epstein. Spokesperson Steven Cheung said in an emailed statement: “The fact is that the President kicked him out of his club for being a creep. This is nothing more than a continuation of the fake news stories concocted by the Democrats and the liberal media.”

The justice department concluded earlier this month that there was not a basis to continue the Epstein investigation.

Columbia varsity to pay $220m in deal with Trump admin

New York: Columbia University announced on Wednesday it has reached a deal with the Trump administration to pay more than $220 million to the federal government to restore federal research money that was cancelled in the name of combating antisemitism on campus.

Under the agreement, the Ivy League school will pay a $200 million settlement over three years, the university said. It will also pay $21 million to resolve alleged civil rights violations against Jewish employees that occurred following the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel, the White House said.

"This agreement marks an important step forward after a period of sustained federal scrutiny and institutional uncertainty," acting University President Claire Shipman said.

The school had been threatened with potential loss of billions in government support, including more than $400 million in grants canceled earlier this year.