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The Herald Scotland
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
Trump rebukes MAGA supporters on 'Jeffrey Epstein hoax'
"And my PAST supporters have bought into this 'bulls***,' hook, line, and sinker. They haven't learned their lesson, and probably never will," Trump added, before calling them "weaklings" and declaring "I don't want their support anymore!" 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
USA Today
6 days ago
- Politics
- USA Today
Mike Pence urges Trump to 'release all the files' on Jeffrey Epstein
Former Vice President Mike Pence urged the Trump administration to release all of the investigative findings related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, a different stance his ex-boss took on July 16. During an interview with CBS News' Major Garrett, the former Indiana governor said the "time has come" for all the facts to become available to the American people, adding he's "always believed in transparency." Pence emphasized that the names of the victims should be excluded from any disclosure. "Whether or not the facts justify charges, I think anyone who participated or was associated with this despicable man ought to be held to public scrutiny," Pence told Garrett. Pence did not suggest the lack of transparency is politically motivated, but did hint that the investigation into the disgraced financier began during George W. Bush's administration and continued into Barack Obama's tenure at the White House. "I know of no reason why this administration — once the victims' names are protected — should not release all the files on Jeffrey Epstein," he said. The interview follows President Donald Trump's recent criticisms toward Republicans who raised questions about his administration's handling of the Epstein case. In a July 16 social media post, he described conservative backers as "stupid" and "weaklings" falling for Democrats' work. "Their new SCAM is what we will forever call the Jeffrey Epstein Hoax. And my PAST supporters have bought into this 'bulls***,' hook, line, and sinker," Trump wrote. "They haven't learned their lesson, and probably never will, even after being conned by the Lunatic Left for 8 long years." USA TODAY reached out to the White House for comment on Pence's interview. Marjorie Taylor Green, Mike Johnson among calls for transparency Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Georgia, were among the Trump allies to push for transparency on the Epstein investigation. The calls came after the Justice Department released a memo earlier this month stating that a systematic review "revealed no incriminating 'client list" and that "no further disclosure would be appropriate or warranted." The memo also said the department found no evidence to support theories that Epstein was murdered while in custody, affirming New York's chief medical examiner's ruling that he died by suicide in a Manhattan jail cell in 2019. "No one believes there is not a client list," Greene wrote on a July 8 X post. In a July 15 interview with the Benny Johnson Show, Johnson also called for the release of more Epstein records, saying: "I'm for transparency." "It's a very delicate subject," he said. "But we should put everything out there and let the people decide." Trump says he doesn't understand 'fascination' with case Trump said he doesn't understand the "fascination" with the case, blaming "bad people" for the attention and coverage it continues to receive. "It's sordid, but it's boring," he told reporters on July 15,. "And I don't understand why it keeps going. Really only bad people, including fake news, want to keep something like that going." While Epstein died before sitting for trial, the registered sex offender pleaded guilty to solicitation of prostitution and solicitation of a minor for prostitution in Florida in 2008. Trump, who had a friendship with Epstein years ago, has appeared in legal documents concerning Epstein's crimes but is not implicated. Contributing: Zac Anderson, USA TODAY
USA Today
6 days ago
- Politics
- USA Today
'Weaklings': Trump lashes out at supporters over 'Jeffrey Epstein hoax'
Trump called supporters "weaklings" for their anger over his administration's handling of the Epstein case. President Donald Trump has a message for supporters upset with his handling of records related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein: They are "weaklings" who have been "duped" and he doesn't need them. Trump lashed out at conservative backers who have raised questions about his administration's handling of the Epstein case, slamming them in a July 16 social media post and again during an Oval Office event for furthering what he described as the "Jeffrey Epstein hoax." "And my PAST supporters have bought into this 'bulls***,' hook, line, and sinker. They haven't learned their lesson, and probably never will," Trump said on social media, before calling them "weaklings" and declaring "I don't want their support anymore!" 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." Questions about the case continue to linger, though, with some conservatives. U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Kentucky, announced July 15 that he had filed a bill dubbed the "Epstein Files Transparency Act" that would force the complete release of all the government's Epstein documents. "We all deserve to know what's in the Epstein files, who's implicated, and how deep this corruption goes," Massie said in a statement. Greene announced July 16 that she is co-sponsoring the bill, declaring "I will never protect pedophiles or the elites and their circles." Trump praised Bondi's handling of the case July 16 during the Oval Office meeting, and complained about the pressure from the right. The president said he'd lost "a lot of faith in certain people... because they got duped." He described the focus on Epstein as a distraction from his administration's tax cuts, immigration agenda and other issues. "That's what you should be talking about," he said. Contributing: Aysha Bagchi, Joey Garrison, Savannah Kuchar
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Mike Johnson calls for 'transparency' in Epstein case, in a break with Trump
WASHINGTON − As momentum builds among conservatives for openness, House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Louisiana, called for the release of files related to Jeffrey Epstein, in a break with President Donald Trump and the White House. "I'm for transparency," 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." A recent review of Epstein's case by the FBI and Department of Justice has driven a wedge between Trump and his MAGA base, who have long called for evidence to support theories, including that the disgraced financier did not die by suicide while awaiting trial in 2019. Republicans in the House, put in the awkward position of choosing sides, recently blocked an effort by Democrats to push for the files to be released. Johnson, in his interview, also called for an explanation from Attorney General Pam Bondi, who in February seemed to suggest the existence of a client list during an interview with Fox News. Bondi recently clarified that when she said, "It's sitting on my desk right now to review," she had meant the Epstein documents in totality and not a list of clients. "She needs to come forward and explain that to everybody," Johnson said of Bondi. "I like Pam," he continued. "I mean, I think she's done a good job. We need the DOJ focusing on the major priorities. Let's get this thing resolved so that they can deal with violent crime and public safety and election integrity and going after ActBlue and the things that the president is most concerned about." Trump has pushed for his supporters to move on from the issue of Epstein, writing in a July 12 social media post, "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," he wrote. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Mike Johnson says he supports release of Jeffrey Epstein case files
USA Today
15-07-2025
- Politics
- USA Today
Mike Johnson calls for 'transparency' in Epstein case, in a break with Trump
A Justice Department review of the Epstein case has driven a wedge between Trump and his MAGA base, who have long called for evidence to be made public. WASHINGTON − As momentum builds among conservatives for openness, House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Louisiana, called for the release of files related to Jeffrey Epstein, in a break with President Donald Trump and the White House. "I'm for transparency," 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." A recent review of Epstein's case by the FBI and Department of Justice has driven a wedge between Trump and his MAGA base, who have long called for evidence to support theories, including that the disgraced financier did not die by suicide while awaiting trial in 2019. Republicans in the House, put in the awkward position of choosing sides, recently blocked an effort by Democrats to push for the files to be released. Johnson, in his interview, also called for an explanation from Attorney General Pam Bondi, who in February seemed to suggest the existence of a client list during an interview with Fox News. Bondi recently clarified that when she said, "It's sitting on my desk right now to review," she had meant the Epstein documents in totality and not a list of clients. "She needs to come forward and explain that to everybody," Johnson said of Bondi. "I like Pam," he continued. "I mean, I think she's done a good job. We need the DOJ focusing on the major priorities. Let's get this thing resolved so that they can deal with violent crime and public safety and election integrity and going after ActBlue and the things that the president is most concerned about." Trump has pushed for his supporters to move on from the issue of Epstein, writing in a July 12 social media post, "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," he wrote.
