Trump insists only 'bad people' want Epstein files as scandal tears MAGA apart
In a press statement on Tuesday, President Donald Trump reiterated his previous remarks, criticising those interested in the existence of information about the high-profile clients of convicted sex trafficker and paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
Amid an unprecedented split within his otherwise loyal MAGA base over the issue, Trump labelled it as "boring" and stated that only "bad people" want the Epstein investigation to continue.
Last month, former ally and ousted DOGE head Elon Musk accused Trump himself of being on the Epstein list.
The president had made the release of the alleged Epstein files a vocal part of his 2024 campaign, having promised his supporters that he would unveil the highly sought-after information once reelected.
Since then, the Trump administration has provided conflicting information about the existence of the files and its willingness to pursue the Epstein investigation further.
Attorney General Pam Bondi said in February that the files were on her desk awaiting review, but last week she performed a U-turn, stating instead that the client list did not exist, according to a memo issued by the Justice Department and the FBI.
"I don't understand why the Jeffrey Epstein case would be of interest to anybody. It's pretty boring stuff," Trump said Tuesday after Air Force One landed in Maryland following his trip to Pittsburgh.
Declaring his frustration with the ongoing Epstein saga, Trump expressed:
"It's sordid, but it's boring. And I don't understand why it keeps going. I think, really, only pretty bad people, including 'fake news,' want to keep something like that going.", reports the Mirror US.
A new Democracy Institute poll indicates that around 67% of voters from Trump's MAGA base who supported him in the previous election, disagree with his decision not to release the client list.
Furthermore, 71% of potential first-time voters for the 2024 elections have expressed their dissatisfaction regarding Trump's handling of the Epstein files.
In general, a slight dip to 63% of all Americans still demonstrates a majority discontent with Trump's decision, according to the poll findings.
The DOJ memo's assertion that no such Epstein client list exists has opened a divide among Trump supporters, as the Epstein controversy was a major element behind many choosing to back Trump.
Kash Patel and Dan Bongino, FBI officials linked to Trump, had previously alleged that a "deep state" was shielding this information.
Nevertheless, following an extensive review, the Justice Department has concluded through a memo that releasing any additional information would not be fitting or justified.
On Tuesday, following a disjointed rant on his social media platform Truth Social over the weekend, he voiced his support for Bondi while expressing his frustration at some of his followers for their ongoing interest in the Epstein case.
As is typical for the former president, he also pointed fingers at Joe Biden, the Democrats and previous administrations for mishandling the Epstein case and trying to hold him accountable.
Trump, who was once close friends with Epstein and his partner Ghislaine Maxwell, appeared on several of Epstein's flight logs in the 1990s, which have since been made public. He also utilised the late sex trafficker's private jet for travel to various 2024 campaign events when his own plane experienced engine issues.
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