Charlie Kirk: On Epstein, ‘I'm going to trust my friends in the administration'
'Plenty was said this last weekend at our event about Epstein,' Kirk said on his show on Real America's Voice, referring to last weekend's Turning Point USA conference in Tampa.
'Honestly, I'm done talking about Epstein for the time being. I'm gonna trust my friends in the administration, I'm gonna trust my friends in the government to do what needs to be done, solve it, ball's in their hands,' he continued.
Kirk went on to say that he would 'love' to see the Justice Department move forward to unseal the grand jury testimony, saying it would be 'a big win.'
'I'm gonna trust my friends Kash Patel, Dan Bongino, my friend Pam Bondi. All these guys,' Kirk said, adding Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche.
'Ball's in their court. I think that there was plenty of, let's say, speeches that were directed towards this topic this last weekend. So we don't need to spend our valuable time on this program relitigating it,' he said.
Last week, the DOJ and FBI released a joint memo saying Epstein did not have a client list and confirmed he died by suicide in his New York City jail cell in 2019. The memo's release has angered members of the MAGA movement, who have elevated conspiracy theories about the financier's death and claims that a number of high-profile Democrats were named on a client list.
Attorney General Pam Bondi has been on the receiving end of particularly intense backlash, over her comments earlier this year pledging transparency around the Epstein files. The handling of the documents has also led to infighting among officials in the Justice Department and at the FBI, including Deputy FBI Director Dan Bongino.
Much of that anger was on display at the Turning Point USA conference over the weekend. Conservative host and commentator Megyn Kelly asked the crowd 'Bondi or Bongino?' resulting in the crowd to respond 'Bongino.'
According to CNN, Trump called Kirk over the weekend to relay his support for Bondi.
Trump publicly defended Bondi in a lengthy TruthSocial post on Saturday evening.
'What's going on with my 'boys' and, in some cases, 'gals?' They're all going after Attorney General Pam Bondi, who is doing a FANTASTIC JOB! We're on one Team, MAGA, and I don't like what's happening. We have a PERFECT Administration, THE TALK OF THE WORLD, and 'selfish people' are trying to hurt it, all over a guy who never dies, Jeffrey Epstein,' Trump said.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
19 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Powell asks watchdog to probe Fed HQ renovations as Trump pressure grows
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell told lawmakers on Monday that he has asked the central bank's watchdog to scrutinize renovations of the Fed's headquarters, in response to growing criticism from the Trump administration of the plan. Powell called on the Fed's inspector-general, Michael Horowitz, to examine the project's cost, which has ballooned to $2.5 billion, as well as any other aspect he deems appropriate, according to a person familiar with the request. The request was referenced in a letter, first reported by POLITICO, that Powell sent to Senate Banking Chair Tim Scott (R-S.C.) and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), the top Democrat on the committee. Speculation has mounted that President Donald Trump, who has clashed with Powell for refusing to cut interest rates, might try to use the renovations to remove the Fed chief 'for cause,' as allowed by statute. Still, it is unclear what type of behavior would fall under that standard. It has generally been interpreted to mean that the president cannot fire Fed board members over policy disagreements, and the Supreme Court signaled in a recent order that it might block a move to remove the Fed chair without cause. Horowitz, who was appointed by Powell last month, was previously the inspector general for the Justice Department, where he won praise from Trump and his supporters for uncovering problems in the FBI's handling of the investigation into potential collusion between Trump's 2016 campaign and Russia. Powell wrote in the letter that the IG has had 'full access to project information on costs, contracts, schedules, and expenditures and receives monthly reports on the construction program.' 'The Board's IG conducted an audit in 2021 to assess the Board's process for planning and managing multiple renovation projects as well as procuring services under various renovation-related contracts,' he added. 'I have asked the Board's IG to take a fresh look at the project.' A spokesperson for Scott said the Banking chair looks forward to receiving more information about 'the costly renovations at the Fed's headquarters.' 'Chairman Scott has continued to call for increased transparency and accountability at the Federal Reserve, and this letter is consistent with improving the communication and transparency he is seeking,' a spokesperson for the senator said in a statement to POLITICO. Axios earlier reported news of Powell's request to the IG. The headquarters renovation, which has been underway for multiple years, is a new front in the administration's criticism of the Fed. Powell was asked at a hearing last month by Scott about the project after a New York Post article characterized it as akin to the 'Palace of Versailles,' a characterization the Fed chief disputed. White House Budget Director Russ Vought — along with the National Capital Planning Commission — is investigating Powell over both the testimony he provided to Congress and questions about whether the construction project adhered to the National Capital Planning Act. Powell wrote in his letter that the Fed chose to consult with NCPC but is not subject to its jurisdiction. He also said the project has changed from its original proposal. 'As is to be expected in the major renovation of nearly 100-year-old historic buildings, the Board's designs have continued to evolve over the course of the project, and some features of the buildings, including rooftop spaces and new water features on the building grounds, were scaled back or eliminated as the project moved forward,' Powell said in the letter. 'These changes simplified the project and reduced the likelihood of further delays and cost overruns. None of them added cost to the project. We do not consider these changes to be substantial.' National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett said on ABC News on Sunday that the question of whether Trump can fire the Fed chair is 'a thing that's being looked into.' Hassett is one of four candidates to replace Powell when his term ends next year, according to people familiar with the administration's deliberations.
New York Post
20 minutes ago
- New York Post
Democratic city officers flocking to cop-friendly red states, police leader claims: ‘Why would anyone stay?'
Law enforcement officers in areas primarily run by Democrats continue to flock to red states for job security, better pay and bosses who will back them up, according to one police leader. Joe Gamaldi is the national vice president of the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP). He is an active lieutenant with the Houston Police Department, and he said police in blue cities are tired of facing hostility from local leaders. Advertisement 'What we've seen is really a mass exodus of police officers leaving far-left cities for basically greener pastures,' he told Fox News Digital. 'Because, ultimately, people want to feel appreciated for what they do, and when you have a boss — in this case, mayors or city councils, who regularly call you a piece of crap to the public — why would anyone stay?' Florida is one example of a Republican-led state that has benefited from the mass departures. 5 'What we've seen is really a mass exodus of police officers leaving far-left cities for basically greener pastures,' Joe Gamaldi said. AP Advertisement According to a 2024 statement from former Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody, the state welcomed 5,000 law enforcement recruits between 2022 and last year, and 1,200 of them came from out of state. 'Florida is the most pro-law enforcement state in the nation because we back our blue,' Moody said at the time. 'We've been spreading the word about all the great incentives to join our ranks, and individuals like the new Sarasota recruits have answered the call, leaving behind places where their service was not as appreciated as it is here.' She said she was 'as inspired as ever to continue doing all we can to show our support to those who bravely protect and serve' after seeing the influx of police officers into the state. 5 Florida welcomed 5,000 law enforcement recruits between 2022 and last year, and 1,200 of them came from out of state. Fox News Digital Advertisement Gamaldi said officers are also moving to cities that may lean blue but are in red states and still have the support of elected leadership and the community, adding officers are 'voting with their feet.' 'We're also seeing it [in] Texas in Houston, which is a city that leans a little blue, but they have been supportive of police officers,' he said. 'The mayor there has given a massive raise to police officers. You're seeing officers go there. You're seeing officers go to Dallas. So, you're seeing all these communities, and there's one common thread. It's 'We support police officers.'' Gamaldi emphasized that the trend began after the 2020 defund the police movement and said, in many cities, law enforcement officers are afraid to do their jobs in 'critical incident' situations, even when they do them by the book. 5 Gamaldi said officers are also moving to cities that may lean blue but are in red states and still have the support of elected leadership and the community. LightRocket via Getty Images Advertisement 'I think you can look no further than Seattle, Portland, Chicago [and] New York,' he said. 'All of these cities have basically told their police officers, 'We don't support you. We're not gonna be there for you when you need us. We're gonna try to defund you when given the opportunity.' 'I mean, my goodness, right now, one of the mayoral candidates for New York has actively said he wants to defund and dismantle the police department,' Gamaldi said, referring to socialist Zohran Mamdani, who has been open with his anti-police rhetoric. 5 'I mean, my goodness, right now, one of the mayoral candidates for New York has actively said he wants to defund and dismantle the police department,' Gamaldi said Zohran Mamdani /X Blue cities, Gamaldi said, are worse off for driving out their police forces. 'Look at the mass exodus of experience in solving cases and experience of just mentoring the next generation of police officers,' he said. 'I mean, the damage that was done in 2020 with the defund the police movement, rhat's going to reverberate for decades. You don't just recover from something like that when you have all of that experience walking out the door.' 5 Gamaldi emphasized that the trend began after the 2020 defund the police movement. Christopher Sadowski He also pointed to better pay and other financial perks, like cities covering moving expenses, as reasons law enforcement officers are moving away from far-left areas. Ultimately, he posed a question to those who patrol the streets where they are unappreciated, saying, 'Why not leave?' Advertisement 'To anyone watching this right now,' Gamaldi said, 'if your boss was constantly telling you [that] you're doing a horrible job, and, in addition, if you were following the exact policies, training and the law of your job, and yet they are still demonizing you, still throwing you under the bus, still trying to indict you, why the hell would you stay?'
Newsweek
31 minutes ago
- Newsweek
Megyn Kelly and Ben Shapiro Spar Over Jeffrey Epstein Files
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Right-wing influencers Megyn Kelly and Ben Shapiro locked horns over the Jeffrey Epstein investigation on Monday, as MAGA continues revolting over the Trump administration's handling of the case. Why It Matters The administration ignited a firestorm of criticism from the president's base when the Department of Justice (DOJ) said last week that Epstein, a financier and sex offender, died by suicide in 2019 in his Manhattan jail cell, confirming the findings of federal and local investigators. The department also said it would not release any more information regarding the Epstein probe to the public. The memo infuriated Kelly and other high-profile members of Trump's coalition, who for years have peddled conspiracy theories claiming Epstein was murdered and that the government covered up an extensive list of wealthy politicians and businesspeople who were involved with Epstein. Megyn Kelly and Ben Shapiro discussed the Jeffrey Epstein files on the July 14 episode of Kelly's YouTube show. Megyn Kelly and Ben Shapiro discussed the Jeffrey Epstein files on the July 14 episode of Kelly's YouTube show. YouTube/Megyn Kelly What To Know Kelly has been among the most outspoken voices in the MAGA sphere—attacking Attorney General Pam Bondi and the DOJ—accusing them of engaging in a cover-up in connection to the Epstein memo. She and Shapiro duked it out over Epstein when Shapiro appeared on the former Fox News host's eponymous YouTube show Monday. Kelly said she has her "own sources high up in the law enforcement" apparatus who believe Epstein was "an agent" and that he didn't kill himself. Shapiro pushed back: "I mean, that's fine, then they should come out and they should say that. And then they should say who's covering that up." "Ben, they can't," Kelly shot back. "I mean, there are a lot of people who say they can't, right? They can't because, let's look at what the administration is saying right now, they don't want to be the one to cross [President Donald] Trump." Shapiro countered that the public and Trump's base should put more weight on the administration's statements because Bondi, Trump, FBI Director Kash Patel and other high-ranking officials have signed their names to them. Shapiro went on to say that Kelly's sources should also go public, because "otherwise, we're just in the realm of pure speculation and, frankly, I just don't find that useful." "I can claim that [Epstein] was working for a cadre of space aliens who are blackmailing high-profile Americans in order to protect from a future invasion," Shapiro said. "And there's just about as much evidence for that as many of the claims that were being made on the other side." The money is super suspicious…'@BenShapiro and @MegynKelly debate whether Jeffrey Epstein was an intelligence asset for America or Israel. Watch and download: — The Megyn Kelly Show (@MegynKellyShow) July 14, 2025 Kelly isn't the only faithful MAGA supporter clamoring for more details from the administration about the Epstein investigation, despite Trump and Bondi resisting those demands. Steve Bannon, former White House chief strategist, has repeatedly called for Trump to appoint a special prosecutor to release all documents related to the Epstein investigation. Laura Loomer, far-right commentator and one of the most influential voices in Trump's political circle and in his broader MAGA coalition, warned on X: "People make their own choices and decisions, but mark my word, the lack of actual results at the DOJ and lack of transparency that translates into incompetence will cost the GOP House and Senate seats. Don't say I didn't warn you." Kelly also continued hammering the attorney general, even after Trump rallied to Bondi's defense in a Truth Social post on Saturday. "What's going on with my 'boys' and, in some cases, 'gals?'" Trump wrote. "They're all going after Attorney General Pam Bondi, who is doing a FANTASTIC JOB! We're on one Team, MAGA, and I don't like what's happening." "We have a PERFECT Administration, THE TALK OF THE WORLD, and 'selfish people' are trying to hurt it, all over a guy who never dies, Jeffrey Epstein," Trump continued. Kelly took to X to air her grievances, writing: "I'm sure it's a relief for Pam Bondi to hear the president is still in her corner. Unfortunately, huge swaths of the party are not. She repeatedly misled on Epstein. Then didn't have the courage to explain herself. Suddenly, she's camera shy & no Qs allowed. Good luck!" Why Is MAGA Upset About the Epstein Files? Last week's memo from the DOJ undercut years of public statements from top Trump allies and administration officials. The White House in February invited a group of far-right influencers for a visit and gave them binders marked, "The Epstein Files: Phase 1" and "Declassified." The binders contained information that had already largely been in the public domain. Bondi in May said there were "tens of thousands of videos of Epstein with children or child porn," which fueled a belief among some MAGA influencers that the government had intentionally suppressed details about powerful figures being linked to Epstein. "It's a new administration and everything is going to come out to the public," Bondi also said. She later claimed that Epstein's "client list" was "sitting on my desk" and waiting to be reviewed. In addition to fueling a public revolt, last week's Epstein memo created fissures within the top ranks of the DOJ and FBI, culminating in FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino reportedly fleeing Washington, D.C., and threatening to resign in protest over the memo and Bondi's handling of the case. Bongino has spent years promoting the right-wing conspiracy theory that Epstein was murdered as part of a "deep state" cover-up. Turning Point USA founder and right-wing podcast host Charlie Kirk also spent the weekend talking about Epstein and questioning why the administration hadn't released more, though he later changed course, saying Monday that he's "done" discussing Epstein. The reversal came after Trump and Kirk had a phone call over the weekend, multiple media outlets reported. Trump's daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, also told MAGA influencer Benny Johnson in an interview Monday that she believes the administration will put out more information in connection to the Epstein case, a sign that Trump's inner circle is taking public pushback over the investigation seriously. Trump "hears all the noise" around the Epstein case and will "set things right," the president's daughter-in-law told Johnson. "There needs to be more transparency" related to the government's investigation into Epstein's 2019 death, Lara Trump added. "I think that will happen. I know this is important to the president. He is frustrated." The White House did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment on whether it plans to release more documents related to the Epstein probe. What People Are Saying Lara Trump also told Benny Johnson on Monday: "He is going to want to set things right. I believe there will be more coming and anything they are able to release, they will try to get out. They hear it and understand it. "To anyone worked up out there, there is no plot to keep this information away. I'm sure we will know down the line." House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said Monday that the Trump administration should release all files related to the disgraced financier and alluded to speculation about Trump being in the files: "The American people deserve to know the truth. What, if anything, is the Trump administration and the Department of Justice hiding?" Infowars host Alex Jones, who has espoused Epstein-related conspiracy theories for years, said on his show last week: "This is over-the-top sickening. Next they'll say Jeffrey Epstein never even existed. This is the swamp winning. No one is buying this." Loomer added during a livestream: "Pam Bondi is a coward. She didn't even sign her name to the memo. This isn't transparency—it's a cover-up." The Associated Press contributed reporting to this article.
