India, July 16 -- US President Donald Trump doubled down on his defence of Attorney General Pam Bondi and the claim that the Epstein Files were a 'made-up' Democrat hoax.

He said the files were 'made up by Obama', 'made up by Biden'. Trump also compared them to the 'Russia hoax'. The 'Russia hoax' is a counter-narrative which Trump launched against credible proof of Russian interference in the 2016 US elections.

Speaking to reporters, he said that Bondi had handled the situation well and he felt she should release whatever she thinks is 'credible' regarding the files. His statement to the press came even as the Republicans blocked a second attempt by the Democrats to get the files released. In a late-night vote at the Capitol on Monday,...