Welcome to the Beat. I'm Jason Johnson and for Ari Melburgh. We begin with the Trump White House

getting skewered on the Epstein scandal. Today, a new filing from Trump's beleaguered DOJ that is

already giving rise to suspicion and criticism. Plus, new legal action from a leading watchdog group

and yet another warning from a Trump ally about the political peril of the current scandal.

As a new republic reports today on Epstein, even Maga Whirl can smell that Trump is hiding something.

In a new filing this afternoon, the Department of Justice is pushing forward on request to unseal grand jury material.

But legal observers say it looks like theater and a barely concealed attempt to appear

interested in transparency while pursuing information most experts believe won't contain

any new revelations.

New details today on Trump's desperate attempt to quell political blowback.

The White House reportedly

quote, asking podcaster Joe Rogan to help ease the uproar over the Epstein files.

Look, Rogan has been a vocal critic of the administration's handling of the Epstein files. The other

problem for Trump concerns Epstein accomplice Galane Maxwell. Trump has dangled a pardon for her,

which critics say looks like a blatant attempt to elicit friendly testimony from her. Today,

Trump's former press secretary, Sean Spicer, warns all of this could backfire spectacularly.

What do you think the reaction would be if Donald Trump pardoned Maxwell?

I actually think about this differently.

I would say he would be under the impression that he was going to be able to say that they got something from her further information.

I think if anyone who sells him on this is lying to him.

My point, and that's why you're like, what is his reaction

going to be? I think this is very akin to Comey, right? When he fired Comey, he is told, oh, if you fire

...