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New York Post
a day ago
- Politics
- New York Post
Most disapprove of Trump admin's handling of Jeffrey Epstein files: poll
WASHINGTON — Most voters don't like the way President Trump has dealt with an investigative review of the federal case against notorious pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, according to a new poll out Wednesday. A Quinnipiac University national survey found 63% of American voters disliked the Trump administration's approach to the probe of Epstein, a onetime acquaintance of the president in the 1990s and early 2000s — who also associated with Hollywood celebrities, business titans and British royalty. Just 17% approved of the administration's actions in the Epstein matter, while said 20% they were undecided. Advertisement 7 Most US voters disapprove of President Trump's handling of an investigative review into the Justice Department's prosecution of the notorious pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, according to a new poll. Getty Images The 'systematic review' concluded last week that the 66-year-old committed suicide in his Manhattan jail cell on Aug. 10, 2019, after being charged with trafficking dozens of young girls for sex — and never had a 'client list' of powerful associates allegedly implicated in his sickening crimes. The two-page memo was unsigned but bore FBI and Department of Justice letterhead — despite bureau Deputy Director Dan Bongino clashing with Attorney General Pam Bondi and even threatening to quit over the meager findings and public relations fallout. Advertisement 'There was … no credible evidence found that Epstein blackmailed prominent individuals as part of his actions,' the memo noted. 'We did not uncover evidence that could predicate an investigation against uncharged third parties.' 7 A DOJ-FBI 'systematic review' concluded last week that the 66-year-old committed suicide in a Manhattan federal prison on Aug. 10, 2019, after being charged with sex trafficking dozens of young girls. vmodica Epstein harmed more than 'one thousand victims,' according to the DOJ-FBI memo, many of whom were allegedly trafficked to his home in the US Virgin Islands. The financier's association with influential figures like Microsoft founder Bill Gates, former President Bill Clinton and Prince Andrew has been the subject of frenzied online speculation since he was found dead in New York City's Metropolitan Correctional Center almost six years ago. Advertisement The odd circumstances of Epstein's demise included guards falling asleep and cameras outside of his cell not functioning. 7 The predator never had a 'client list' of powerful associates allegedly implicated in his sickening crimes, according to a joint DOJ-FBI memo released last week. REUTERS Both former attorneys and medical examiners have also theorized that Epstein may not have committed suicide. A majority of US voters (53%) disapprove of Bondi's job performance, while 32% approve, the Quinnipiac survey found. Advertisement FBI Director Kash Patel is seen favorably by 36% of voters, but 47% disapprove of his job performance. 7 A majority of US voters (53%) disapprove of AG Pam Bondi's job performance, while 32% approve, the Quinnipiac survey found. Getty Images A slightly lower 41% disapprove of Bongino, and 34% approve of the job he's doing. The DOJ previously released records of flight logs and a contact list the financier kept before his second federal arrest in 2019, most of which had already been made public during the 2021 trial of his now-convicted madam Ghislaine Maxwell. Epstein evaded more serious charges in the mid-2000s as part of a controversial plea deal for soliciting sex from a minor that was brokered by then-Miami US Attorney Alex Acosta, later Trump's labor secretary in his first term. Maxwell is currently serving 20 years in prison as Epstein's accomplice. 7 Epstein harmed more than 'one thousand victims,' according to the DOJ-FBI memo, many of which were allegedly trafficked to his home in the US Virgin Islands. Shutterstock for NY Post Trump reportedly banned Epstein from Mar-a-Lago in 2007 following an incident with a club member's teenage daughter — before he was first charged with sex crimes — but has rebuffed attacks from right-wing critics that his administration mishandled its probe of the deceased sex trafficker. 'I don't understand why the Jeffrey Epstein case would be of interest to anybody,' the president told reporters outside Air Force One on Tuesday. 'It's pretty boring stuff. It's sordid, but it's boring, and I don't understand why it keeps going.' Advertisement 'Anything that's credible, I would say, let them have it,' he added, suggesting Bondi — who before the memo's release suggested the 'client list' was on her desk at main DOJ — could disclose more information. 7 The DOJ previously released records of flight logs and a contact list, most of which had already been made public during the 2021 trial of his now-convicted madam Ghislaine Maxwell. SDNY 'In February, I did an interview on Fox, and it's been getting a lot of attention because I said — I was asked a question about the client list, and my response was, 'it's sitting on my desk to be reviewed,' meaning the [Epstein] file along with the JFK and MLK files as well,' Bondi said during a Cabinet meeting July 8. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and other Republicans have urged more transparency on the issue, which could lead to congressional subpoenas for federal records — something Democrats have already pushed in some committee votes. Advertisement According to the Quinnipiac poll, 40% of GOP voters approve of how Trump handled the disclosure of information about Epstein in federal files, 36% disapprove and 24% have no opinion. 7 Epstein's association with influential world figures like former President Bill Clinton has been the subject of frenzied online speculation since he was found dead almost six years ago. A whopping 83% of Democrats disapprove of the president's handling of the Epstein files, while 2% approve. 'Unlike Republicans, they [Democrats] stick together like glue. 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 posted on Truth Social Wednesday Advertisement 'Let these weaklings continue forward and do the Democrats['] work, don't even think about talking of our incredible and unprecedented success, because I don't want their support anymore! Thank you for your attention to this matter. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!' Epstein's ex-attorney Alan Dershowitz has recently claimed that there is an FBI affidavit about his late client's connections that could be made public — and blamed federal courts for blocking the release of those files.
The Hill
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Hill
Bondi suggests she has no plans to step down, dodges Epstein questions
Attorney General Pam Bondi sidestepped questions and calls for her to resign over the Justice Department's (DOJ) handling of disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein's files on Tuesday, instead focusing on the Trump administration's goals to fight the fentanyl drug crisis. 'I'm going to be here for as long as the president wants me here,' Bondi told reporters during an event Tuesday evening. 'And I believe he's made that crystal clear.' One reporter asked the attorney general to explain discrepancies between the joint DOJ-FBI memo issued last week — which concluded that Epstein died by suicide and that a 'client list' did not exist — and comments she made in February suggesting such a list was on her desk waiting for review. Bondi brushed off the question, seeking to turn the conversation back to the war on drugs. 'This today is about fentanyl overdoses throughout our country and people who have lost loved ones to fentanyl,' she said. 'That's the message that we're here to send today. I'm not going to talk about Epstein.' In recent days some Republicans and Democrats alike have pressured the Trump administration to release the Epstein files in full or offer more of an explanation. Some conservative commentators have gone as far as to ask Bondi to resign over the controversy. The White House and Trump have stuck behind Bondi amid the turmoil, seeking to clarify her previous comments. 'She was saying the entirety of all of the paperwork, all of the paper in relation to Jeffrey Epstein's crimes,' White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said earlier this week. 'That's what the attorney general was referring to, and I'll let her speak for that.' Amid pushback over word choice, Trump too has vehemently defended his attorney general's work ethic — especially as fissures emerge among his ' Make America Great Again ' base over the controversy. 'They're all going after Attorney General Pam Bondi, who is doing a FANTASTIC JOB!' Trump wrote over the weekend. 'We're on one Team, MAGA, and I don't like what's happening.' On Tuesday, the president said Bondi should release 'whatever she thinks is credible.' He also pressed his supporters to move on, calling the Epstein drama 'boring.' 'I don't understand why the Jeffrey Epstein case would be of interest to anybody. It's pretty boring stuff. It's sordid, but it's boring,' Trump told reporters. '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.' Bondi lauded the president for his support throughout public criticism and reaffirmed her commitment to the administration. 'We're going to fight to keep America safe again and we're fighting together as a team,' she said Tuesday.
India Today
5 days ago
- Politics
- India Today
She's great: Trump defends Pam Bondi, urges MAGA unity amid Epstein files fallout
US President Donald Trump took to Truth Social to issue a strong defence of Attorney General Pam Bondi, who has come under fire from some within the MAGA movement following the release of a controversial memo on the Epstein memo, which concluded that Jeffrey Epstein died by suicide and contained no 'client list,' has ignited an internal rift, including reports of a heated exchange between FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino and going on with my 'boys' and, in some cases, 'gals'?' Trump wrote on Truth Social. '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 over a guy who never dies — Jeffrey Epstein.' Trump's reaction came after several media reports claimed Dan Bongino was considering resignation following an alleged clash with Pam Bondi and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles over the recently surfaced DOJ-FBI memo on the Epstein memo reportedly contradicts earlier statements made by Bondi, Bongino, and FBI Director Kash Patel about major revelations tied to pro-Trump influencers, including Laura Loomer and Liz Wheeler, blasted Bondi and demanded she step down. Trump, however, stood firmly behind his attorney general, calling on his base to stay focused and united.'This is what the Radical Left wants — division. Instead of fighting each other over the Epstein Files, who nobody cares about anymore, we need to be focused on real issues,' Trump posted.'Kash Patel and the FBI must prioritize investigating Voter Fraud, Political Corruption, ActBlue, and The Rigged and Stolen Election of 2020 — not waste time on recycled, Radical Left documents about the Epstein Files,' he also lashed out at former officials and political enemies, accusing the likes of Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, James Comey, and John Brennan — along with 'the Losers and Criminals of the Biden Administration' — of creating the Epstein Files as a distraction.'Why didn't these Radical Left Lunatics release the Epstein Files earlier? If there was anything in there that could hurt the MAGA Movement, why didn't they use it?' Trump questioned. 'LET PAM BONDI DO HER JOB — SHE'S GREAT!'KASH PATEL DENIES RESIGNATION RUMOURSMeanwhile, FBI Director Kash Patel dismissed speculation that he plans to step down amid the controversy.'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,' he wrote on X.- Ends
