
Kash Patel insists Epstein ‘conspiracy theories just aren't true' as MAGA rages over docs
Last week, an FBI and Justice Department memo concluded Epstein didn't have a 'client list,' and the administration released surveillance footage near Epstein's Manhattan prison cell with a missing minute.
All of this reignited concerns from the MAGA base that the administration isn't being fully transparent about Epstein.
Advertisement
'The conspiracy theories just aren't true, never have been. It's an honor to serve the President of the United States @realDonaldTrump — and I'll continue to do so for as long as he calls on me,' Patel wrote on X, without referencing the Epstein drama directly.
3 FBI Director Kash Patel hit back at conspiracy theories as the Trump administration grapples with a MAGA revolt over Jeffrey Epstein.
AP
Advertisement
Patel's post follows reports that FBI deputy director Dan Bongino clashed with Attorney General Pam Bondi over the Epstein drama and is mulling whether to quit his job as a result.
Back in 2023, Patel told conservative pundit Benny Johnson that the reason the feds hadn't publicly disclosed more about Epstein's supposed clients was 'because of who's on that list.'
Both Patel and Bongino have publicly insisted that Epstein killed himself on Aug. 10, 2019, despite a flurry of popular conspiracy theories.
Advertisement
Their boss, Bondi, has been at the center of the current controversy. Back in February, the DOJ had given the first round of Epstein documents to a group of MAGA influencers, but it quickly became apparent that nearly of that information had already been released.
Additionally, earlier this year, Bondi was asked about the DOJ 'releasing the list of Jeffrey Epstein's clients,' and replied that 'it's sitting on my desk right now to review.'
That has led to interpretations that she claimed to have a client list on her desk despite the DOJ and FBI claiming earlier this month that no such list exists.
3 Sex predator Jeffrey Epstein's death has long been subject to controversy and public demands for greater transparency.
REUTERS
Advertisement
Numerous MAGA stars have since slammed Bondi and suggested that she should be pushed out of the DOJ, especially if she is at loggerheads with Bongino, a former conservative radio star. But Trump has stood by Bondi.
'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,' Trump fumed on Truth Social Saturday.
'For years, it's Epstein, over and over again. Why are we giving publicity to Files written by Obama, Crooked Hillary, Comey, Brennan, and the Losers and Criminals of the Biden Administration,' he added.
'They created the Epstein Files, just like they created the FAKE Hillary Clinton/Christopher Steele Dossier that they used on me, and now my so-called 'friends' are playing right into their hands.'
The Epstein drama has proven to be one of the most significant revolts from the MAGA base that Trump has ever faced.
Pressure has mounted from elements of Trump's base, calling for all the Epstein files to be released. However, Bondi and others have raised concerns about protecting some of the victims' privacy.
Trump's former billionaire buddy, turned foe, Elon Musk, weighed in and ripped the president's
'Seriously. He said 'Epstein' half a dozen times while telling everyone to stop talking about Epstein. Just release the files as promised,' Musk wrote on X in response to Trump's Epstein screed.
Advertisement
3 Pam Bondi has been at the center of a firestorm over Jeffrey Epstein.
AP
Last week, when The Post confronted Bondi over the brewing Epstein sturm und drang, Trump bristled at the mere question.
'Are you still talking about Jeffrey Epstein? This guy's been talked about for years,' Trump fumed. 'Are people still talking about this guy, this creep? That is unbelievable.'
Advertisement
The president was previously acquainted with Epstein and alleged co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell; however, he had a falling out with the sex predator over a Palm Beach property before details about his alleged crimes became more widely known.
Meanwhile, Democrats have sought to capitalize on the growing rift within the MAGA movement over Epstein, claiming that something is fishy.
'Why are the Epstein files still hidden?' Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) declared on X. 'Who are the rich & powerful being protected? On Tuesday, I'm introducing an amendment to force a vote demanding the FULL Epstein files be released to the public.'
Advertisement
'The criticism I am receiving is Biden should have done this. Fine. But what is good now for the public? When we have a future Dem President, if Rs say let's support Medicare for All or tax the wealthy, I wouldn't call them out about the past. I'd say great. Let's get it done!'

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


The Hill
25 minutes ago
- The Hill
How foreign policy could crash Republican midterm prospects
This summer's MAGA revolt over the Epstein Files has challenged the longstanding assumption that President Trump has an unbreakable bond with the Republican base. Trump loyalists from Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) to Steve Bannon to Tucker Carlson have recently criticized the president not just on the Epstein disclosures but also on Medicaid cuts in the 'One Big Beautiful Bill.' Yet new polling shows that another issue could cost Trump crucial support and substantially lower his standing among independent voters whom Republicans need in order to win future elections. While Republicans largely rallied around Trump following the June 22 bombing of Iranian nuclear facilities, recent YouGov polling commissioned by the Center for Economic and Policy Research demonstrates substantial political risks for the president and his party if he supports an expanded war involving Israel and Iran. When respondents consider the economic consequences of a broader conflict, as well as their trust in the justifications offered for involvement in such a war, Trump faces overwhelming dissent among Independents. These voters are about one-third of the electorate and currently about evenly split between Democrat-leaning and Republican-leaning. If an issue becomes important in an election and the Independent voters move strongly in one direction, that can swing the election. A clear majority of voters — 65 percent — reported they would hold Trump responsible if gasoline prices rose to $6 a gallon as a result of expanded U.S. military involvement. Among Independent voters, this sentiment rises to 69 percent. Further, when informed that economists would expect a significant rise in mortgage interest rates to result from an expanded conflict — potentially adding over $100,000 in lifetime payments for a typical home — 72 percent oppose U.S. military involvement, with two thirds of those expressing 'strong' opposition. Most polls treat foreign policy decisions as isolated events, simply asking whether voters support or oppose military action. But major interventions do not occur in isolation — they can impact gas prices, mortgage rates and overall confidence in politicians and their political parties. A true measure of public sentiment on expanded military involvement must account for these potential and even likely consequences, which often drive voter attitudes more than abstract strategic considerations. Donald Trump rose politically by highlighting Americans' declining trust in institutions, from government regulators and health experts to traditional media. But the polling shows that Trump himself faces serious accusations from his base of breaching public trust and caving to wealthy donors advocating unconditional support for Israeli policies that millions of voters view as wrong and dangerous. Sixty-three percent of respondents expressed concern that Trump's decision to attack Iran could be influenced by major campaign donors, a concern particularly strong among Independents. And two-thirds of voters — including nearly one-third of Republicans — feel that intervening in an Israel-Iran conflict contradicts Trump's core 'America First' promise. In June, Tucker Carlson accused Trump of being 'complicit in the act of war' following Israel's attacks on Iran, and influential MAGA voices like Steve Bannon echoed similar skepticism. Yet commentary alone is unlikely to shift conservative public opinion. People respond to tangible impacts in their lives. If Trump once again follows Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu into major military action in the Middle East, the consequences may extend beyond geopolitics and significantly impact the president's party in next year's midterm elections. Consider some midterm math. On all five questions related to U.S. intervention in Iran, voters who identify as Republican or Democrat overwhelmingly aligned with their respective parties. For example, by a ratio of 88 percent to 12 percent, Democrats said they did not believe that 'Trump is getting involved in this war for the sake of U.S. national security.' Republicans held the opposite view, with 77 percent believing national security was the reason and 23 percent not believing it. This leaves Independent voters as potentially decisive. According to current polling data, Independents are evenly divided between 'Republican-leaning' and 'Democrat-leaning,' generally indicating close national elections. However, on questions regarding U.S. participation in a war against Iran, Independents are solidly opposed, by a margin of two to one. This leads to an overall result of 63-37 saying that they do not believe that U.S. involvement in such a war is 'for the sake of national security.' While the June war between Israel and Iran appears to be over, another Israeli attack in the near future remains quite possible. Should Trump decide to join such an operation before the next election, it could significantly undermine Republican chances of retaining Congress. Mark Weisbrot is co-director of the Center for Economic and Policy Research. He is the author of 'Failed: What the 'Experts' Got Wrong About the Global Economy (Oxford University Press). Justin Talbot Zorn is a senior adviser at the Center for Economic and Policy Research, a Truman National Security Fellow, and served as legislative director for three members of Congress.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Who is Charlamagne tha God? Trump reacts to radio host's Epstein-MAGA remark
President Donald Trump responded to Charlamagne tha God on Sunday, Aug. 3, calling him a "sleezebag" after the radio host suggested traditional Republicans will use rivaled interest in the Jeffrey Epstein files to take over the GOP again. Charlamagne tha God, whose real name is Lenard McKelvey, is co-host of the popular radio show "The Breakfast Club," which draws more than 4 million weekly listeners. The response from Trump came just days after McKelvey floated Jon Stewart as possible 2028 presidential candidate after former Vice President Kamala Harris said she won't run for California governor, leaving the door open for a potential 2028 run. "I think that traditional conservatives are going to take the Republican Party back," McKelvey said during an interview with the president's daughter-in-law on her Fox News show, "My View with Lara Trump." "I think this Epstein thing is going to be a way for traditional conservatives to take their party back, I really do." "I think they know this is the issue that has gotten the base riled up," he said, referencing the disgraced financier who died by suicide in August 2019. "The MAGA base isn't letting this issue go, and for the first time, they know they can probably take the party back and not piss off the MAGA base." After the interview, in a Truth Social post, Trump praised his daughter-in-law, called her "amazing and talented," and called the show "a big ratings success." The president then called McKelvey a "sleezebag" and discounted his intellegence. "He's a Low IQ individual, has no idea what words are coming out of his mouth, and knows nothing about me or what I have done," Trump wrote. "Just ending 5 Wars, including a 31 year bloodbath between Republic of the Congo and Rwanda, where Seven Million people have died, and there was no end in sight." Trump went on to claim in the post that McKelvey did not know about a myriad of other topics, including India and Pakistan, Iran, the border or the economy. USA TODAY has reached out to McKelvey. 'Change agent': Charlamagne tha God floats Jon Stewart as possible 2028 candidate What is Charlamagne tha God's first name? Born in Charleston South Carolina, Charlamagne tha God's real name is Lenard Larry McKelvey. Epstein revival continues: Epstein accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell quietly moved out of Florida federal prison Who is Charlamagne tha God? Charlamange tha God, 47, is an American TV radio host and presenter. He is a co-host of the nationally syndicated radio show, "The Breakfast Club," which discusses a variety of topics including pop culture, celebrity gossip and politics. The podcast had been downloaded more than 1 billion times as of early June, iHeartMedia and The Black Effect Podcast Network have reported. McKelvey is also co-host of the podcast "Brilliant Idiots" and has authored two books: "Black Privilege"and "Shook One." According to his website, McKelvey is slated to be inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in October. What is 7-OH? Trump administration wants to products with it as 'an illicit substance' Who is Lara Trump? Lara Trump, 42, is married to the president's second son, Eric Trump. The Fox News host is also co-chair of the Republican National Committee. The president's daughter-in-law had been Trump's first choice for the U.S. Senate seat in North Carolina, where she was born. But late last month she opted out and endorsed Republican National Committee chair and former North Carolina GOP Chair Michael Whatley. Trump also endorsed Whatley for the slot in a late July social media post. What did Trump say about Charlamange tha God? In his Truth Media post, the president questioned why McKelvey is "allowed to use the word 'GOD'" when describing himself. "Can anyone imagine the uproar there would be if I used that nickname?" Trump wrote in the post. The White House has previously shared a photo of the president dressed as a the pope on its official social media pages, sparking both outlash and glee. The photo was posted just days after Pope Francis died on Easter this year at age 88. Contributing: Phillip Bailey and Sudiksha Kochi Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@ and follow her on X @nataliealund. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump dismisses Charlamagne tha God after Lara Trump interview


CNN
an hour ago
- CNN
Fareed's take: No one wins a trade war
As President Trump secures trade deals with allies and MAGA leaders declare victory in the trade wars, Fareed says they are overlooking the long-term impact. Not only do tariffs burden American consumers, they undermine the open global economy that has helped America prosper.