Trump rebukes MAGA supporters on 'Jeffrey Epstein hoax'
The comments are a remarkable rebuke to some of Trump's top supporters and key MAGA influencers, who have pushed back on his administration's attempt to close the book on Epstein after the president and some of his top officials ginned up expectations of blockbuster revelations.
For months, Attorney General Pam Bondi promised to release new information about Epstein, who died in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex-trafficking charges. New York's chief medical examiner ruled Epstein's death a suicide, but some - including many Trump loyalists - have questioned that finding and whether the government is shielding Epstein's potential clients from public view.
Then, on July 7, Bondi's Justice Department released a memo stating that a "systematic review" of documents "revealed no incriminating 'client list,'" and "no further disclosure would be appropriate or warranted." The memo also says there's no evidence that Epstein was murdered while in custody.
The memo enflamed parts of Trump's base. "No one believes there is not a client list," Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Georgia, a close Trump ally, posted on X July 8.
Prominent Trump's allies are calling for the release of more Epstein records.
"I'm for transparency," Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson said in a July 15 interview with the Benny Johnson Show.
"It's a very delicate subject," he added, "but we should put everything out there and let the people decide."
Trump, who had a friendship with Epstein years ago, told reporters July 15 that he doesn't understand the "fascination" with the case.
"It's sordid, but it's boring," Trump said. "And I don't understand why it keeps going. Really only bad people, including fake news, want to keep something like that going."
Contributing: Aysha Bagchi, Joey Garrison, Savannah Kuchar
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