
Republicans Block Epstein Files Release As Backlash From Some Top MAGA Figures Dwindles
President Donald Trump waves as he walks from Marine One to board Air Force One at Joint Base ... More Andrews, Maryland on July 15, 2025. (Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images) AFP via Getty Images
Seven Republicans on the House Rules Committee opposed an amendment sponsored by Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., that would have required Congress to vote whether to release the documents, while one Republican, Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., voted with the five Democrats on the committee in favor of the measure.
Democrats have seized on the anger among some in Trump's base over the Justice Department's announcement last week that it would not release any new details on the Epstein probe, despite suggestions from some top Trump officials that more information was forthcoming.
Some of the right-wing backlash—which included calls for Attorney General Pam Bondi to resign—has died down since Trump urged his supporters over the weekend to move on from the controversy and defended Bondi.
Right-wing activist Charlie Kirk, who previously called for the purported Epstein list to be released, said Monday he is 'done talking about Epstein for the time being' and would trust Trump's administration to 'solve it,' watering down his criticism last week of the Trump administration's handing of the memo.
Conservative commentator Dinesh D'Souza also told his viewers it was 'time to move on' from the Epstein probe and unify behind Trump by 'recognizing you can't win 'em all.'
Republican leaders in Congress have also echoed Trump, including Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., who told reporters Monday 'I think the president's expressed his views on it, and so I'll just leave it at that,' while House Majority Leader Mike Johnson, R-La., also said 'the White House has a lot more information about that than I'm privy to . . . so I'll have to trust that they'll make the right decision.'
'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. For years, it's Epstein, over and over again,' Trump wrote on Truth Social Saturday, calling the Epstein files 'Radical Left inspired Documents' written by Democrats. Contra
Not all Republicans in Congress have fallen in line with Trump's messaging strategy. Rep. Eric Burlison, R-Mo., told Axios 'I don't understand why they're hiding what they're hiding,' while Rep. Michael Cloud, R-Texas, told the outlet 'there's just some things that don't pass the sniff test.' Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., also continued to express disappointment over the Justice Department decision, telling The New York Times 'it's definitely a full reversal on what was said beforehand, and people are just not willing to accept it,' referring to previous statements from administration officials suggesting the documents would be released.
The Justice Department in a memo last week said it would not release any more files on its investigation into Jeffrey Epstein. It also repeated its determinations that Epstein died by suicide in jail and that no so-called 'Epstein list' of clients exists. Trump's base has largely targeted Bondi over the agency's refusal to release the documents, with some calling for her termination, after she said in a Fox News interview earlier this year the purported list was on her desk. The White House walked back the statement last week and said Bondi was referring to the documents in their entirety. Further Reading
Tucker Carlson Blasts Pam Bondi For 'A Bunch Of Ludicrous Claims' About Epstein Files—As Backlash Mounts (Forbes)
Trump Sounded Hesitant About Releasing Epstein Files In Newly Resurfaced Interview (Forbes)
Pam Bondi Under Fire From MAGA —Megyn Kelly, Laura Loomer And More—Over Epstein Probe (Forbes)
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Newsweek
5 minutes ago
- Newsweek
Donald Trump Quashes China Summit Rumors: 'No Interest'
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. Donald Trump has rejected reports that he is seeking a summit with China's president Xi Jinping. In a post on Truth Social, he said: "The Fake News is reporting that I am SEEKING a 'Summit' with President Xi of China. This is not correct, I am not SEEKING anything! I may go to China, but it would only be at the invitation of President Xi, which has been extended. Otherwise, no interest! Thank you for your attention to this matter." The comments follow claims that discussions were underway over a potential meeting when Trump travels to Asia later this year. Reuters reported that there have been discussions about a possible stopover during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in South Korea in November. Any meeting would be the first face-to-face encounter between Trump and Xi during his second term, which has been marked by heightened tensions over trade. President Donald Trump at a meeting with Prime Minister Keir Starmer in Scotland on Sunday. President Donald Trump at a meeting with Prime Minister Keir Starmer in Scotland on is a developing story. More to follow.

6 minutes ago
Justice Department files misconduct complaint against federal judge handling deportation case
WASHINGTON -- The Justice Department on Monday filed a misconduct complaint against the federal judge who has clashed with President Donald Trump 's administration over deportations to a notorious prison in El Salvador. Escalating the administration's conflict with U.S. District Judge James E. Boasberg, Attorney General Pam Bondi said on social media that she directed the filing of the complaint against Boasberg 'for making improper public comments about President Trump and his administration.' The complaint stems from remarks Boasberg allegedly made in March to Chief Justice John Roberts and other federal judges saying the administration would trigger a constitutional crisis by disregarding federal court rulings, according to a copy of the complaint obtained by The Associated Press. The comments 'have undermined the integrity and impartiality of the judiciary,' the complaint says, adding that the administration has 'always complied with all court orders.' Boasberg is among several judges who have questioned whether the administration has complied with their orders. The meeting took place days before Boasberg issued an order blocking deportation flights that Trump was carrying out by invoking wartime authorities from an 18th century law. The judge's verbal order to turn around planes that were on the way to El Salvador was ignored. Boasberg has since found probable cause that the administration committed contempt of court. The comments were supposedly made during a meeting of the Judicial Conference, the federal judiciary's governing body. The remarks were first reported by the conservative website The Federalist, which said it obtained a memo summarizing the meeting. Boasberg, the chief judge in the district court in the nation's capital, is a member of the Judicial Conference. Its meetings are not public. The complaint calls for an investigation, the reassignment of the deportations case to another judge while the inquiry is ongoing and sanctions, including the possible recommendation of impeachment, if the investigation substantiates the allegations. Trump himself already has called for Boasberg's impeachment, which in turn prompted a rare response from Roberts rejecting the call. The complaint was filed with Judge Sri Srinivasan, chief judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. More than 250 Venezuelans who were deported to a Salvadoran mega-prison known as the Terrorism Confinement Center, or CECOT, were sent home to Venezuela earlier this month in a deal that also free 10 U.S. citizens and permanent residents who had been held by Venezuela.


New York Times
7 minutes ago
- New York Times
Jimmy Fallon Ridicules Trump's Choice Words About Epstein Island
Welcome to Best of Late Night, a rundown of the previous night's highlights that lets you sleep — and lets us get paid to watch comedy. Here are the 50 best movies on Netflix right now. Better Luck Next Time While in Scotland on Monday, President Trump told reporters he'd never 'had the privilege' of visiting Jeffrey Epstein's island. 'Trump's staff was like, 'A simple no would've been fine,'' Jimmy Fallon said. 'Trump said he was invited to the island but didn't want to go. I get it — it's so annoying when you get invited to a destination crime scene, isn't it?' — JIMMY FALLON 'Trump was like, 'I'm sorry, what I really meant was I never had the honor.' — JIMMY FALLON '[imitating Epstein] 'Hey, Donald, want go to the island this weekend?' '[imitating Trump] Well, first of all, Jeffrey, thank you for thinking of me. Unfortunately, that's the weekend that the teen pageant that I bought is installing the indoor security locker room cameras.'' — JON STEWART '[imitating Trump] Sadly, I never had the honor of dining with Jeffrey Dahmer.' — STEPHEN COLBERT 'Privilege was not the word you wanted to use. '[imitating Trump] A trip to that terrible island was sadly not an honor that was ever bestowed upon me.' — SETH MEYERS ''Privilege' makes it seem like you never turned down an invitation. It seems like you were checking your messages every day in hopes one was forthcoming. He'd be like, [imitating Trump] 'Any calls from Jeffrey?' ' — SETH MEYERS The Punchiest Punchlines (Ball-Drop Edition) 'Last time I saw a ball-drop that obvious, Anderson and Andy were hammered.' — STEPHEN COLBERT, on Trump's caddy moving his ball to a better position during a round of golf in Scotland 'When the going gets tough, the tough pay someone to cheat for you.' — JON STEWART 'It turns out golf has rules, and one of them is that if you lose a ball, you take a one-stroke penalty, and you have to hit again from the previous spot. Plus, a serious player would always drop a ball themselves, rather than leave it to a caddy. In his defense, Trump has not seen his own balls in years.' — STEPHEN COLBERT 'It's just refreshing to see someone cheating without being at a Coldplay concert.' — JIMMY FALLON The Bits Worth Watching Las Culturistas co-hosts Bowen Yang and Matt Rogers presented Stephen Colbert with an award for Best Future Podcaster on Monday's 'Late Show.' What We're Excited About on Tuesday Night Alison Brie will discuss appearing in the new horror film, 'Together,' with her husband, Dave Franco, on Tuesday's 'Tonight Show.' Also, Check This Out In search of a new side hustle, numerous stars of reality television have branched out into