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ABC News
17 minutes ago
- Politics
- ABC News
How experts say Donald Trump set his own trap on the Jeffrey Epstein files
Donald Trump's derision of some supporters as "weaklings" is the latest spray in an ongoing attempt to shift the public conversation past calls for the full release of files linked to the Jeffrey Epstein case. His suggestion that calls for further releases are "stupid" resembles past crisis management tactics the president has employed, but experts say this approach could fall flat with some of his most fervent supporters. Here's what's going on. A large number of Mr Trump's own MAGA base are angry over an announcement by the Department of Justice that no more files on the investigation into Jeffrey Epstein's crimes and his death in prison will be released. The department said Epstein did not maintain a "client list" of associates to whom underage girls were trafficked. The list has been central to several conspiracy theories surrounding Epstein, and, by extension, beliefs in the existence of a shadowy "deep state" Mr Trump and allies have promised to expose. Many stalwart supporters of the president, including conservative commentators Alex Jones and Laura Loomer, have expressed distrust over the administration's announcement that the list does not exist. They point to previous comments by Attorney-General Pam Bondi, which appeared to suggest she had the client list on her desk, and the release of a "first phase" of declassified Epstein files, which implied there would be more to come. It's unclear. While he campaigned on a promise to publish all documents compiled during the investigation into Epstein, he appears now to be supportive of his administration withholding them. In the last fortnight, he has oscillated between lashing out at his supporters for their interest in the issue, claiming the case files are a hoax, and suggesting Ms Bondi should publish what she believes to be "credible". But none of the strategies have successfully called the MAGA base off the trail. A Truth Social post on Saturday, which claimed the Democratic Party had concocted the files to use against him, did little to mollify his furious supporters. For the first time in the platform's history, the president was ratioed. That is, comments on the post outweighed likes by roughly 4,700 — a sign of widespread disapproval among his most loyal supporters. "I don't understand what the interest or what the fascination is," he told reporters on Tuesday when the furore had not died down. Asked whether Ms Bondi has told him if his name was in the Epstein files, Mr Trump said no. He went on to repeat his claim that there were credibility issues with the documents, suggesting without citing evidence, they were "made up" by former FBI director James Comey and former presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden. "But she's handled it very well, and it's going to be up to her, whatever she thinks is credible, she should release, yeah," he said. When it had become clear the hoax claim had not stuck, Mr Trump resorted to hurling insults at his MAGA base. "… All these people want to talk about … is the Jeffrey Epstein Hoax," he wrote in a screed on Truth Social on Wednesday. He later told reporters those calling for the release of files were "some stupid Republicans" who were "wasting their time". The political crisis has proven to be especially challenging for Trump to hose down, because of its connection to conspiracy theories. The value of conspiratorial fabrications is they help people get political power — something Mr Trump has been skilled in exploiting, said Russell Muirhead, who teaches political science at Dartmouth College. Mr Trump needs to come forward with truth and transparency on the topic, or risk losing the faith of large segments of his most enthusiastic and devoted supporters, Dr Muirhead said. Harry Melkonian, an honorary associate at the United States Studies Centre, told ABC News the president was now "reaping what he's sown". "He certainly fed all of this about Epstein, and that he was going to be transparent about it, release everything about it," Dr Melkonian said. "And now that he's in a position of authority, he says, 'Well, there's nothing to release', and his attorney-general says there's nothing to release, there is no such list." At a conservative student action summit on Friday, right-wing podcaster Steve Bannon estimated Mr Trump was at risk of losing 10 per cent of the MAGA movement if he did not release the promised client list. Recent polling suggests the blow to his popularity could be greater. A Quinnipiac University poll of 1,290 registered voters published on Wednesday found 35 per cent of self-identified Republicans disapproved of Mr Trump's handling of the issue. Similarly, A YouGov-Economist poll of 1,680 citizens released on Tuesday found 79 per cent of Americans believe all case documents should be released. "It could be extremely damaging because he has these hardcore MAGA supporters who have been with him through thick and thin," Dr Melkonian said. "It's very dangerous for a politician to alienate that hardcore [base]." But experts have warned providing more daylight could be a poisoned chalice for the president. "For some portion of this set of conspiracy theory believers, no amount of contradictory evidence will ever be enough," said Josephine Lukito, who studies conspiracy theorists at the University of Texas at Austin. Dr Melkonian agreed that the Trump administration has found itself in a "very difficult catch 22". "[They've] convinced people that they're in a cover-up," he said. "No matter what they do, it's going to inflame this group of people. Matt Dallek, a political scientist at George Washington University, said it would be difficult for the Trump administration to wind back previous commentary on the conspiracy theory. "The faulty assumption Trump and others make is they can peddle conspiracy theories without any blowback," said Dr Dallek. "The Epstein case is a neat encapsulation that it is hard to put the genie back in the bottle." ABC/AP
Times of Oman
3 hours ago
- Times of Oman
Theft, assault in US may lead to revocation of visas: Embassy states
New Delhi : The US Embassy in India has issued a warning stating that committing an assault, theft, or burglary in the United States will result in the revocation of a person's visa. The warning further stated that such an act could also prevent the person from entering the US again. In a post on X, the Embassy said, "Committing assault, theft, or burglary in the United States won't just cause you legal issues - it could lead to your visa being revoked and make you ineligible for future U.S. visas. The United States values law and order and expects foreign visitors to follow all U.S. laws." This move comes as US President Donald Trump is on a quest to deport illegal immigrants and other criminals from the US. As per the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, 1,42,000 people were deported from the US between 20 January and 29 April. According to the official website for US federal legislative information, stealing property likely violates numerous state laws that criminalise theft in various forms, and, depending on the circumstances, it may also run afoul of federal criminal law. The US Code uses terms like larceny, embezzlement, robbery, and burglary in the titles of code chapters or statutory sections. According to the US Department of Justice, in all but a few States, the right of a merchant to approach and detain a suspected shoplifter is addressed in the event of an incident of shoplifting. In several states, the owners of stolen merchandise are granted a civil right of action against the shoplifter. Many States classify shoplifting as a misdemeanour or felony according to the value of the property taken. Fines and maximum sentences also vary greatly from State to State. If the value of the goods stolen is less than USD 300, the person will be charged with a Class A misdemeanour, which is punishable by a fine (up to USD 2,500) and jail time (up to one year). If the value of the item(s) in question is more than USD 300, the person will be charged with a Class 4 felony, which is punishable by a fine (up to USD 25,000) and imprisonment (1 to 3 years).
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
The Epstein Files: How the saga unfolded within Trump's administration
Jeffrey Epstein may have been dead for six years, but the circumstances surrounding his death and the evidence supporting federal charges of child sex trafficking continue to make headlines. Most recently, they have caused a schism in MAGA world, reigniting anger from some supporters of President Donald Trump over his campaign promise to release the FBI files on the Epstein case, which the Department of Justice now says will not happen. At the heart of the anger is the supposed existence of a 'client list' of celebrities, politicians, and other prominent associates, whom some claim that Epstein blackmailed over their alleged involvement in his trafficking ring. Conspiracy theorists have long demanded its release, but now the Trump administration says there is no evidence it exists, despite Attorney General Pam Bondi having said in February that it was on her desk. Bondi now says she was referring to the overall case file. The attorney general also said officials at the Justice Department were examining a 'truckload' of evidence that had previously not been made public. Attorney General Pam Bondi, seen here with President Donald Trump, has angered the MAGA base by deciding not to release the so-called 'Epstein Files' (Getty Images) However, the department concluded that public disclosure would not be appropriate, and much of the material was sealed by a judge. This has added fuel to rampant speculation that Trump is on the alleged list, despite its apparent nonexistence. This caused a storm among right-wing influencers, including commentator Tucker Carlson, activist Laura Loomer, and former Trump adviser Steve Bannon, who are outraged over this lack of transparency. Here's what you need to know about the case and why MAGA is up in arms. What are the so-called 'Epstein Files'? Epstein was a wealthy and very well-connected financier who was arrested in 2019 on federal sex trafficking charges. He was found dead in his cell at a federal jail in New York City about a month after his arrest. Investigators concluded he died by suicide, although many people dispute this determination, including, most recently, a former occupant of the same cell. In addition, the 'raw' video footage released by the Department of Justice of Epstein's cell door in the hours before he was found dead had nearly three minutes cut out from it, a new report has claimed. Socialite Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein's former girlfriend, was charged with helping him abuse teenage girls and was convicted of sex trafficking at a 2021 trial and sentenced to 20 years in prison. Because the couple's social circle included royals, presidents, and billionaires, the case gained massive attention and fueled some of the biggest conspiracy theories driving Trump's supporters. Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell in an undated handout photo issued by the Department of Justice (PA) Trump himself was a friend of Epstein, and the two were photographed and filmed together on several occasions. In 2002, Trump described Epstein as a 'terrific guy' whom he had known for 15 years, in an interview with New York magazine. He added: 'It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side.' Being so well-connected, key figures in the MAGA movement have long propagated unsubstantiated claims that Epstein was murdered and that 'deep state' actors in the government are hiding lists of his clients, videos of crimes being committed, and other evidence. Among those figures were now-FBI Director Kash Patel and his deputy Dan Bongino, who both stoked conspiracy theories surrounding Epstein's death, with the latter telling listeners in 2023 that there are people in the 'Washington swamp who are not telling you the truth.' In 2019, Trump himself suggested there was a cover-up and was asked on Fox News on the 2024 campaign trail if he would declassify documents relating to the case once he took office again — these became known as the 'Epstein Files.' Then-candidate Trump said he would, alongside files relating to 9/11 and the JFK assassination, but hedged his answer on Epstein, adding: 'I think that less so because you don't want to affect people's lives if it's phony stuff in there, because it's a lot of phony stuff with that whole world. But I think I would.' Kash Patel and Dan Bongino (Getty Images) What has happened since Trump returned to the White House? In February, weeks after Trump's inauguration, Bondi was asked during a Fox News interview whether the DOJ would release the alleged client list. She responded: 'It's sitting on my desk right now to review. That's been a directive by President Trump. I'm reviewing that.' A few days later, Bondi told the network that the Justice Department planned to publish 'a lot of flight logs' and 'a lot of names' related to Epstein. On February 27, far-right influencers, including Jack Posobiec and Scott Presler, as well as the individuals behind the LibsofTikTok and DC_Draino accounts, were invited to an event at the White House and provided with binders marked 'The Epstein Files: Phase 1' and 'Declassified.' After jubilant images of the group holding the binders aloft were published, their excitement quickly faded when they realized that the content was already almost entirely in the public domain. Some were outraged and blamed Bondi. People walk out of the West Wing of the White House with "The Epstein Files: Phase 1" binders, in Washington, D.C., U.S., February 27, 2025 (REUTERS) Loomer blasted the handling of the publication, writing on X: "The Epstein files were released in an unprofessional manner with paid, partisan social media influencers to curate their binders for us. I can't trust anything in the binder. Neither should you." In May, Bondi claimed there were 'tens of thousands of videos of Epstein with children or child porn,' adding further fuel to conspiracy theories that powerful people were being protected and the decision to release 'Phase 1' had been to allow time for some kind of cover-up. Bondi pushed back on this notion, saying: 'It's a new administration and everything is going to come out to the public.' Multiple people who worked on the criminal cases of Epstein and Maxwell told The Associated Press that they had not seen and were unaware of a trove of recordings similar to what Bondi had referenced. June 5 — Musk and Trump's feud explodes with Epstein allegation As the months-long bromance between Trump and Tesla CEO Elon Musk came to a spectacular end with a social media battle for the ages, the topic of Epstein arose in one of the most explosive posts exchanged that day. Musk tweeted: 'Files linked to the investigation of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein have emerged as a point of fixation for Trump and his allies and right-wing media figures. 'Time to drop the really big bomb: Donald Trump is in the Epstein files. That is the real reason they have not been made public.' Shortly after, he wrote: 'Mark this post for the future. The truth will come out.' Later, perhaps as cooler heads prevailed, Musk deleted the tweet. President Donald Trump and Elon Musk at the White House in happier times (AFP/Getty) July 7 — MAGA world erupts over DOJ memo At the close of the Independence Day federal holiday weekend, the Justice Department announced in a two-page memo, in conjunction with the FBI, that there was no client list and no additional files relating to the case would be made public. The DOJ, it said, had determined that no 'further disclosure would be appropriate or warranted,' much was sealed by a court to protect Epstein's victims, and 'only a fraction of it 'would have been aired publicly had Epstein gone to trial.' Additionally, the memo said that no further charges were expected as investigators 'did not uncover evidence that could predicate an investigation against uncharged third parties.' Also released were hours of footage, which officials say further confirms Epstein died by suicide while in custody in his jail cell in Manhattan in 2019. The 11-hour video of Epstein's final hours in New York's Metropolitan Correctional Center had one minute of footage missing, and forensic experts concluded that the clip had been 'modified,' adding fuel to the fire. While the memo said the government's highest priority was combatting child exploitation, it added: 'Perpetuating unfounded theories about Epstein serves neither of those ends.' Right-wing conspiracy theories and renewed suspicions of a cover-up went into overdrive over this retreat by Bondi. Former Trump adviser Bannon questioned if the administration is really as transparent as it claims to be. Loomer called on Bondi to resign 'for lying to the American people,' a call echoed by fellow MAGA influencer Glenn Beck. Podcaster Megyn Kelly called Bondi 'either lazy or incompetent,' and conspiracy theorist Alex Jones accused the Trump administration of being part of the cover-up. July 8 — Trump tries to deflect while Bondi attempts clean-up Attorney General Pam Bondi, left, listens as President Donald Trump, right, speaks during a cabinet meeting at the White House (Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) In a Cabinet meeting on July 8, with reporters present, Trump interrupted a question on the topic, saying: 'Are you still talking about Jeffrey Epstein? This guy's been talked about for years. You're asking — we have Texas, we have this, we have all of the things. And are people still talking about this guy, this creep? That is unbelievable.' Bondi then clarified her past comments on the case: '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 file along with the JFK, MLK files as well. That's what I meant by that.' Concerning her later comments about the 'tens of thousands' of videos, she said that they had 'turned out to be child porn downloaded by that disgusting Jeffrey Epstein.' Musk once again joined the conversation, posting on X: 'How can people be expected to have faith in Trump if he won't release the Epstein files?' The former DOGE administrator also claimed, with no evidence, that his nemesis, Bannon, was in the files. July 11 — Bongino's future in doubt The most public split within the Trump administration emerged between Bondi and Bongino, with the deputy FBI director expressing dissatisfaction with how the memo had been released. He told allies that he may resign as the storm over the memo continued within MAGA world. According to reports, the two had a fiery confrontation with Bongino attacking Bondi for her handling of the situation. To try and diffuse speculation about infighting within the administration, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said on X that he had personally worked with both Bongino and Patel on the memo. 'All of us signed off on the contents of the memo and the conclusions stated in the memo,' Blanche wrote. 'The suggestion by anyone that there was any daylight between the FBI and DOJ leadership on this memo's composition and release is patently false.' This provoked an angry response from Loomer, who asked why no one had signed their name on the memo, speculating that the FBI had wanted to release more information and Bondi — whom she refers to as 'Blondi' — had refused. 'Blondi is literally blowing up the Trump admin by concealing information, spending time on Fox News lying to MAGA base and by releasing contradictory statements,' wrote Loomer on X. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Deputy Director Dan Bongino on Capitol Hill (Getty Images) July 12 — Trump defends Bondi amid continuing MAGA outrage Only one person could attempt to diffuse internal strife within the administration, and so on Saturday, the president took to Truth Social and, in an extraordinarily lengthy post, defended Bondi amid continued calls for her resignation from his base. Trump praised her for doing a 'fantastic job' and urged his 'boys' and 'gals' in MAGA world to stop attacking her. 'What's going on with my 'boys' and, in some cases, 'gals?'' Trump wrote. '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, all over a guy who never dies, Jeffrey Epstein,' Trump protested. The president's post did little to quell the anger from his base, who continued to call for the release of the files. His first-term national security adviser, retired Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, wrote on X: '@realdonaldtrump please understand the EPSTEIN AFFAIR is not going away.' He added that failing to address unanswered questions about Epstein would make facing other national challenges 'much harder.' Musk once again commented on X, replying to a post: Seriously. He [Trump] said 'Epstein' half a dozen times while telling everyone to stop talking about Epstein. Just release the files as promised.' On the same day, rumors circulated that Patel, like Bongino, was also considering leaving the FBI. The director wrote on X that it is an honor to serve the president and 'I'll continue to do so for as long as he calls on me.' The following day, asked about Bongino's future, Trump said he was in 'good shape,' adding: 'I spoke to him today, Dan Bongino, very good guy. I've known him a long time.' Before this, it had been reported that Trump was angry at Bongino over the situation. July 14 — Lara Trump weighs in and Democrats demand answers The president's daughter-in-law appeared to be off-message in terms of tamping down the scandal when she told Bennie Johnson on his podcast that there needed to be 'more transparency' from the administration regarding the Epstein case and that more information would be released 'sooner rather than later.' On the same day, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries told reporters at a news conference that there were only two things possibly be happening regarding the case. 'Option one, Donald Trump, Pam Bondi, and the MAGA extremists intentionally lied to the American people for years about the Jeffrey Epstein situation,' he said. 'Option two is that, in fact, there's reason for the American people to be concerned as it relates to what information has not been released that could be damaging to the Trump administration and the friends and family of the Trump administration and their billionaire, corrupt supporters. And so, they're actively engaging in a cover-up,' Jeffries continued. He added that if the administration was 'hiding something,' it was up to Congress to 'uncover the truth for the American people.' Later, Texas Democratic Rep. Marc Beasey introduced a resolution calling for the immediate release of all unclassified Epstein Files. That echoed calls from MAGA Republicans. 'America deserves the truth about Jeffrey Epstein and the rich powerful elites in his circle,' Georgia Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene wrote on X Monday. Nevertheless, House Republicans blocked another Democrat push to force the Trump administration to release the 'FULL' Epstein files. Seizing on growing MAGA infighting, California Representative Ro Khanna introduced an amendment to the GENIUS Act on Monday, calling on Bondi to compile and release all Epstein records within 30 days. Late Monday evening, the House Rules Committee voted 7–5 to block the proposal from reaching the lower chamber. July 15 — Trump says Bondi should release 'whatever she thinks is credible' President Donald Trump and Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt (AFP/Getty) On Tuesday, with the scandal refusing to die down, Trump told reporters on the South Lawn that Bondi should release 'whatever she thinks is credible' on Epstein. When asked if Bondi had informed him that his name appeared in the file, the president said no and that he had received a 'very quick briefing' on the review of the Epstein files before the release of the memo a week earlier. He then accused his predecessors of making up the files. 'And in terms of the credibility of the different things that they've seen, and I would say that, you know, these files were made up by Comey, they were made up by Obama, they were made up by the Biden -- and you know, we and we went through years of that with the Russia, Russia, Russia hoax, with all of the different things that we had to go through,' Trump said. 'We've gone through years of it, but she's handled it very well, and it's going to be up to her,' Trump said of Bondi. 'Whatever she thinks is credible, she should release.' Later in the day, Trump addressed it yet again. 'I don't understand why the Jeffrey Epstein case would be of interest to anybody. It's pretty boring stuff. I think really only pretty bad people, including fake news, want to keep something like that going,' he told reporters at Joint Base Andrews. Also on Tuesday, podcaster Joe Rogan criticized the DOJ's handling of the Epstein files as House Speaker Mike Johnson and other Republicans broke away from the president over the issue, stating that he was 'for transparency' and that even though it was a 'very delicate subject,' everything should be made public to let people decide. Further, a day after saying he was 'done talking about' Epstein and would 'trust my friends in the government,' podcaster and Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk reversed course and said he meant 'yesterday' and will continue to discuss it, despite the president's plea for MAGA world figures to let the issue die out. MAGA Colorado Rep. Lauren Boebert called for failed Attorney General nominee Matt Gaetz to lead a special counsel investigation into the files to deliver the 'truth.' Gaetz's nomination was derailed over allegations that he paid for sex, including with a 17-year-old girl. He denies any wrongdoing, but a bombshell House Ethics Committee report detailed his alleged sexual misconduct and illicit drug use while he was in Congress. July 16 — Trump lashes out at 'PAST supporters,' and ties Epstein scandal to other 'scams and hoaxes' With the Epstein Files and MAGA world rift dominating the news cycle, Trump took to Truth Social, writing a lengthy post tying the scandal to a multitude of past 'scams and hoaxes,' pushed by the 'Radical Left Democrats.' The president then lashed out at his MAGA base, claiming his 'PAST supporters have bought into this 'bullshit,' hook, line, and sinker.' 'I don't want their support anymore!' Trump wrote. Talking to Politico, Loomer warned that the scandal over the Epstein files could consume Trump's presidency, reiterating an earlier call for a special counsel to investigate.
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Mike Johnson says Bondi needs to ‘explain' Epstein statement in break from Trump
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said Tuesday that Attorney General Pam Bondi needs to explain her statements regarding Jeffrey Epstein after the Department of Justice announced it would not make any more disclosures in the case of the disgraced financier. The statement marks a notable break from President Trump, who has stood by his attorney general and urged his supporters to drop the matter, even as Johnson stressed that he trusts the president. In an interview Tuesday with conservative influencer and commentator Benny Johnson, the Speaker was asked about the prospect of Ghislaine Maxwell — Epstein's one-time girlfriend who was convicted for trafficking young girls — testifying before Congress, or the prospect of subpoenaing documents from the Department of Justice about the matter. 'I'm for transparency,' Speaker Johnson responded. 'We're intellectually consistent in this. Look, [former President] Reagan used tell us, we should trust the American people, and I believe in that principle, and I know President Trump does as well. I trust him. I mean, he put together a team of his choosing, and they're doing a great job. It's a very delicate subject, but we should put everything out there and let the people decide it.' 'The White House and the White House team are privy to facts that I don't know. I mean, this isn't my lane, I haven't been involved in that. But I agree with the sentiment that we need to put it out there,' he continued. The Louisiana Republican referenced Bondi's statement from earlier this year in which she said on Fox News that an Epstein client list was 'sitting on my desk right now for review' — a quote that those angry with her subsequent move against disclosure have repeatedly referenced. Bondi has since said she was referring to the Epstein case files more generally, not a specific 'client list.' 'She needs to come forward and explain that to everybody,' Johnson said. 'I like Pam. I mean, think she's done a good job. We need the DOJ [Department of Justice] focusing on the major priorities, so 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 the president is most concerned about, as we are.' The Justice Department and FBI asserted in a memo last week that Epstein's death was a suicide and that he did not have a client list. Officials declined to release any more details, saying information under seal 'served only to protect victims and did not expose any additional third-parties to allegations of illegal wrongdoing.' That decision enraged many conservatives, who have long viewed the Epstein matter as a case of the rich and powerful covering up horrendous crimes and had hoped Trump would release more information on the case. While the Speaker is usually in lockstep with Trump on major issues, his statement marks an unusual departure from the president's line. Trump has urged his supporters to drop the Epstein matter. On Tuesday, he said the Epstein files were 'made up' by Democrats, and said Bondi has handled the situation 'very well.' But the conservative base's fury has persisted, causing worry — and frustration — among Republicans. 'I'm anxious to get this behind us,' Johnson said, lamenting that 'we're having to spend our time talking about this' after Congress sent Trump's major tax and spending legislation to his desk. 'Let's get it resolved.' 'What Epstein was involved in was an unspeakable evil. We need to stand against it not just in word, but in deed,' Johnson said. 'I do trust the president. I know his heart and his head is in the right place. I don't question that at all. And I'm convinced they're going to sort this out.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Independent
9 hours ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Staying loyal to Trump after Bondi's Epstein files U-turn is proving to be greatest test of wills for Republicans
President Donald Trump's defiant U-turn on releasing Department of Justice case files related to Jeffrey Epstein has put some of his most diehard Republican supporters in a bind. On Wednesday, Trump unloaded on Republicans who wanted to see promises kept about releasing the files about the disgraced financier who died in police custody after being arrested for trafficking underage girls and women. Trump, who knew Epstein for many years, claimed the effort to keep the heat on him over Epstein was 'perpetrated by the Democrats and some stupid Republicans and foolish Republicans fall into the net, and so they try and do the Democrats' work,' even though Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell were both arrested during Trump's first administration. But Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) who said he would not seek re-election after he came out against Trump's 'One Big, Beautiful Bill' last month, was more taciturn than his more MAGA colleagues. 'I think at the end of the day, just release the damn files,' Tillis told The Independent on Wednesday. Tillis, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee who shepherded FBI Director Kash Patel's confirmation through the committee, insisted that there needs to be transparency. 'So maybe one motivation, since it's not going to be here, what they thought it was going to be,' he said. 'And the other one would be motivation, maybe it's more damaging to some people than they think it could be. You can't do the whole 'we got to protect witnesses.' That's what they call 'redaction.'' But Tillis is in a far different spot than most of his Republican colleagues in the House and Senate given he's clashed with Trump on a few occasions, and does not have to worrry about being pitted against a Trump- and RNC-backed primary challenger in a reelection bid. Republicans had earlier blocked an attempt by Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) to include an amendment to a rule to declassify files related to Epstein. Every Republican either opposed the legislation or did not vote. On Monday evening, Rep. Ralph Norman (R-SC) was the sole Republican on the House Rules Committee hearing to support Khanna's amendment. But when The Independent showed him Trump's post on Truth Social, he chuckled and immediately pivoted to former President Joe Biden. 'Trump, the great things he's doing, where I do agree with him. Where was the inquiry that they had to get into Biden's LLCs?' he asked. 'The cash payments. It never happened. So I see why he's frustrated.' Meanwhile, Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL), who leads a House task force on government secrets and has supported attempts to declassify files related to Epstein, challenged the idea she opposed attempts to declassify the info around Epstein with her 'no' vote. 'I didn't vote against his amendment, that was a procedural to return power to the House Democrats,' she told The Independent. Luna's predicament, like that of many members of the hard-right House Freedom Caucus, is that they have pushed for years to declassify information related to Epstein. Part of this was in hopes that it would lead to the downfall of Democratic elected officials and business elites — and indeed, former president Bill Clinton and Bill Gates both were friendly with Epstein, as was Trump. When The Independent asked about the president's post on Truth Social where he said his 'PAST supporters have bought into this 'bullshit,' hook, line, and sinker,' she dodged. 'I have not read it yet, but I'll definitely check it out,' Luna told The Independent. When pressed about it, she referred to past statements where she said a whistleblower accused the government of destroying evidence. 'I will tell you that, although I have not seen any information pertaining to the Epstein whole files as a whole, what I will tell you is the President's statement was pretty clear that he supported releasing credible evidence,' she told The Independent. 'What I will tell you is that again, I don't speak for the DOJ and I don't speak for the White House, but I think that there's more to come on this, and so, I'll leave it at that.' But Trump has always been cagey about declassifying information about Epstein. During the 2024 campaign, when asked by Fox News about it, he said, 'I think that less so because you don't want to affect people's lives if it's phony stuff in there, because it's a lot of phony stuff with that whole world. But I think I would.' Trump's forceful denunications have put him directly at odds with some of his biggest defenders. A poll from Quinnipiac University released on Wednesday showed that only 40 percent of Republicans approve of how Trump has handled the Epstein files and 36 percent disapprove of it. The numbers come ever since the Department of Justice released a two-page memo saying it had conducted an 'exhaustive review' of materials related to Epstein and that he had no 'client list.' That has put Republicans like Rep. Brandon Gill of Texas in a bind. Gill, a freshman firebrand, had previously called for files around Epstein to be released. But when asked by The Independent, he demurred. 'I think there's always still a chance,' he said. 'I mean, i'd like to see them. I think most, most Americans would. I trust the president and his team. We've got a great group of people working there, so we'll see where it goes.' When pressed, Gill repeated his remarks. 'Like I said he's put together a really good team,' he told The Independent. 'He's the leader of the party. I think he's gonna do the right thing.'
