Latest news with #MAGA-aligned
Indian Express
a day ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Trump says there is no ‘smoking gun' in the Jeffrey Epstein files, blames Democrats for controversy
US President Donald Trump on Friday, once again sought to downplay the Jeffrey Epstein controversy that has long captivated his MAGA base, arguing there is no 'smoking gun' in the files linked to the disgraced financier. 'If there was a 'smoking gun' on Epstein, why didn't the Dems, who controlled the 'files' for four years, and had Garland and Comey in charge, use it? BECAUSE THEY HAD NOTHING!!!' Trump wrote on his social media platform, Truth Social. The post followed Trump's Thursday night announcement that he had directed Attorney General Pam Bondi to pursue the release of additional Epstein-related materials. 'Produce any and all pertinent Grand Jury testimony' Trump said Bondi had been instructed to 'produce any and all pertinent Grand Jury testimony, subject to Court approval'. In response, Bondi confirmed she would pursue court action, potentially as soon as Friday. However, any release of grand jury records would require a legal process, including judicial review and consideration of victims' privacy. According to the Wall Street Journal, Trump allegedly sent Epstein a letter for his 50th birthday in 2003 — a claim the President now disputes. The report claimed that Trump contributed a 'bawdy' letter — featuring a typewritten personal message alongside a drawing of a naked woman's silhouette — to an album Ghislaine Maxwell had compiled as a gift for Epstein's birthday. In an interview with the Journal, Trump denied writing the letter and has threatened legal action. 'I told Rupert Murdoch it was a Scam, that he shouldn't print this Fake Story. But he did, and now I'm going to sue his ass off, and that of his third-rate newspaper,' Trump wrote last night. 'I look forward to getting Rupert Murdoch to testify in my lawsuit against him and his 'pile of garbage' newspaper, the WSJ. That will be an interesting experience!!!' Trump posted online Friday. DOJ denies Epstein 'client list' theories Trump's order comes amid pressure from MAGA-aligned voices to 'do more' after the Justice Department and FBI issued a memo stating no further disclosures in the Epstein case were 'appropriate or warranted.' The memo concluded there was no evidence Epstein kept a so-called 'client list' or that he blackmailed prominent individuals. It also confirmed, again, that Epstein died by suicide in prison while awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges. Earlier, Bondi had responded to the DOJ memo, saying it 'speaks for itself.' Trump, meanwhile, has tried to distance himself from the growing intrigue that conspiracy theorists and far-right influencers continue to stoke around Epstein's ties to elites. He has repeatedly called the Epstein files a 'Democratic hoax' and dismissed Republican supporters pressing for deeper investigation as 'stupid' and 'foolish.' Despite some media speculation, the White House has ruled out appointing a special prosecutor. 'The idea was floated from someone in the media to the president. The president would not recommend a special prosecutor in the Epstein case. That's how he feels,' said press secretary Karoline Leavitt at Thursday's briefing.
Irish Independent
2 days ago
- Politics
- Irish Independent
Seven in 10 Americans think government is hiding Epstein details
The two-day poll, which closed on Wednesday, showed 69pc of respondents thought the federal government was hiding details about Epstein's clients, compared to 6pc who disagreed and about one in four who said they weren't sure. Epstein, a wealthy financier and convicted sex offender, was facing federal charges of sex-trafficking minors when he died by suicide in jail in 2019. He had pleaded not guilty, and the case was dismissed after his death. The case has captivated swathes of Mr Trump's political base who were expecting lurid details after some of Mr Trump's top law enforcement officials said they would be releasing documents that would lead to major revelations about Epstein and his alleged clientele. The Trump administration last week reversed course on its pledge, enraging some of the president's followers. Close to two-thirds of Republicans think the administration is hiding details on Epstein's business, the Reuters/Ipsos poll found. Just 17pc of Americans approve of Mr Trump's handling of the case, a weaker rating than the president received on any other issue in the poll. Among Republicans, 35pc approved, compared to 29pc who disapproved and the rest who said they weren't sure or didn't answer the question. Reuters reported on Wednesday that Mr Trump and White House officials were weighing a range of options including unsealing new documents, appointing a special prosecutor and drafting executive actions on issues such as paedophilia. Mr Trump, however, has been defiant, describing supporters hung up on the issue as 'weaklings' who were helping Democrats. 'I don't want their support anymore!' Mr Trump said in a social media post. The beliefs following Epstein's death were part of a range of conspiracies that have taken hold in US politics, including 'QAnon', a far-right fringe belief that a cabal of cannibalistic child molesters inside the US government have conspired against Mr Trump. Behind the scenes Mr Trump and aides have also reached out to key MAGA-aligned influencers, urging them to dial down their criticism of the administration's handling of the Epstein investigation and shift focus to broader priorities for the America First movement.
Time Magazine
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time Magazine
White House Nixes Calls for Epstein Special Prosecutor
The White House on Thursday attempted to close the door on President Donald Trump's role in the Jeffrey Epstein saga, rejecting calls from within his own political base for a special prosecutor and casting his recent comments about the 'Epstein Hoax' as a swipe at Democrats, not a dismissal of Epstein's crimes. Speaking from the briefing room, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt faced a number of questions from reporters about the Administration's decision to not release any more files from the case, which has alienated many of Trump's most ardent supporters. Leavitt said that the White House had no authority over the release of sealed documents and deflected blame toward the Justice Department and the courts. 'In terms of redactions or grand jury seals, those are questions for the Department of Justice, those are also questions for the judges who have that information under a seal,' she said. 'That's out of the President's control.' The comments came amid a wave of backlash triggered by the Department of Justice's memo earlier this month declaring there is no 'client list' tied to Epstein, the deceased financier and convicted sex offender, and that no further criminal charges or disclosures would be coming. Many in Trump's base began accusing him of falling short of what they expected him to do with the Epstein case, partly because of years of rhetoric from his allies—including Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel—that a trove of damning information would be revealed if Trump returned to power. Leavitt insisted that the President supports transparency 'if the attorney general and the Department of Justice comes across any other credible evidence.' But she also made clear Trump is not entertaining calls—some coming from MAGA-aligned lawmakers like Reps. Lauren Boebert and Marjorie Taylor Greene—for a special prosecutor to investigate further. 'The President would not recommend a special prosecutor in the Epstein case. That's how he feels,' she said. Leavitt defended Trump's handling of the case, praising what she called an 'exhaustive review' conducted by Bondi, Patel, and Patel's deputy Dan Bongino—three Trump loyalists installed during his second term. 'They've spent many months going through all of the files related to Jeffrey Epstein,' Leavitt said, adding, 'the President has been transparent. He has followed through on his promises to the American people, but he doesn't like to see Democrats in the mainstream media covering this like it's the biggest story.' That message has not quelled the unrest within Trump's base. High-profile voices from the MAGA world, including retired Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, Turning Point USA's Charlie Kirk, and conservative commentator Benny Johnson, have openly criticized Trump's rhetoric and the Administration's sudden shift in tone on the release of documents related to Epstein. On Wednesday, Trump lashed out at his critics from the right, calling them 'stupid' and 'foolish' for falling for what he labeled the 'Jeffrey Epstein Hoax.' 'My PAST supporters have bought into this 'bulls—,' hook, line, and sinker,' he wrote on Truth Social, arguing that Democrats had 'conned' them. Leavitt, asked to clarify Trump's choice of words, insisted he was not dismissing Epstein's alleged crimes, but rather criticizing Democrats, and alluding to the Biden Administration not drawing similar pushback for not releasing more information on the case. 'The fact that Democrats have now seized on this, as if they ever wanted transparency when it comes to Jeffrey Epstein,' she said, 'they didn't do a dang thing when it came to transparency in regards to Jeffrey Epstein and his heinous crimes.'
The Hill
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Hill
GOP senator demands Trump ‘release the damn files' on Epstein
Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) is pushing back hard on President Trump's efforts to dismiss calls from the MAGA-aligned GOP base for more information about convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and calling on the Trump administration to 'just release the damn files.' 'I have to disagree with the president. I don't think human trafficking of young teenage girls being exploited by billionaires on a private island is boring. I think it's despicable and I believe that anybody who had anything to do with it or knowledge of it should be held accountable,' Tillis said in an interview with 'Good Morning BT with Bo Thompson & Beth Troutman,' a daily talk radio show based in Charlotte, North Carolina. 'Just release the damn files,' Tillis urged. His comments came in response to Trump's efforts to tamp down the rising furor among conservative activists and social media influencers over a joint statement issued by the Department of Justice and FBI announcing that it would not have more information to share about Epstein's alleged clients. 'I don't understand it, why they would be so interested. He's dead for a long time. He was never a big factor in terms of life. I don't understand what the interest or what the fascination is,' Trump said of repeated calls from MAGA-aligned activists and voters for the federal government to release the so-called Epstein files. 'I don't understand why the Jeffrey Epstein case would be of interest to anybody. It's pretty boring stuff,' Trump told reporters on the tarmac at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland earlier this week. 'I don't understand why it keeps going,' he added. The uproar within the Republican base was sparked earlier this month by a two-page memo from the Justice Department and FBI asserting that a 'systematic review' of federal files had 'revealed no incriminating 'client list.'' The Justice Department and FBI also asserted there was 'no credible evidence found that Epstein blackmailed prominent individuals as part of his actions.' And senior law-enforcement officials said they did not uncover evidence that could lead to an investigation against 'uncharged third parties.' Those claims, however, have come under withering criticism from some conservatives who expected a 'client list' to be released after Attorney General Pam Bondi said in February 'it's sitting on my desk right now to review.' Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) urged Bondi on Tuesday to 'come forward and explain' the decision not to release additional information on Epstein and explore prosecutions of associates who may have engaged in sex trafficking or sex with underage women.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
From drain the swamp to 'Epstein Hoax': How Epstein files broke MAGA - and turned some in the base against Donald Trump
Donald Trump has always styled himself as a magician of American politics—a man who could escape any scandal, dodge every consequence, and emerge not only unscathed but stronger. Impeachments? He shrugged them off. Criminal indictments? He wore them as badges of honour. Assassination attempts? They only reinforced his legend. But now, with the renewed firestorm over the Jeffrey Epstein files, Trump looks less like Houdini and more like a cornered conjurer. The chains are tighter, the audience is booing, and the trapdoor under the stage is creaking. The Epstein scandal, long believed to be politically neutralised, has returned—resurrected not by the liberal media or Democrats, but by Trump's own people. And unlike in previous crises, the president is finding it hard to control the narrative, let alone escape it. His responses have become erratic, his tone defensive, and for the first time since 2015, cracks are appearing in the MAGA base. On Truth Social, Trump lashed out at his own supporters, calling those demanding transparency over Epstein's files 'weaklings' who had 'bought into this b*******, hook, line, and sinker.' by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Many Are Watching Tariffs - Few Are Watching What Nvidia Just Launched Seeking Alpha Read More Undo The insult stunned many longtime allies. Even the usually sycophantic Trump War Room refused to repost the outburst, a silent sign of discomfort within the inner sanctum. What was once a unified political religion now resembles a schismatic cult. The New Heretics of MAGA The Epstein controversy has exposed a fault line running through the MAGA movement. On one side are the populists who believe in the original Trump promise: drain the swamp, expose the elites, punish the predators. For them, Epstein is not just a disgraced financier or a dead man in a cell—he is the symbol of a system that shields the powerful from accountability. Leading this insurgent camp are firebrand congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene and libertarian-leaning Thomas Massie. Together, they have introduced a discharge petition that would force a House vote to release the Epstein files. Greene, never one to mince words, declared, 'I will never protect pedophiles or the elites and their circles.' Massie has echoed the demand for transparency, noting that government secrecy in such matters breeds only suspicion and rage. Former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn has gone even further, hinting at foreign intelligence entanglements and accusing the political establishment of facilitating crimes against children. Online influencers like Mike Cernovich and Jack Posobiec, once loyal foot soldiers in Trump's culture war, now suggest that Trump is betraying the very anti-elite values that brought him to power. Julie Kelly, a MAGA-aligned journalist best known for her reporting on the January 6 trials, has expressed deep frustration at the vague and evasive statements coming from the Justice Department under Attorney General Pam Bondi. Her implication is clear: something is being hidden, and the people deserve to know. Tucker Carlson, once the nightly voice of MAGA America, has returned to the Epstein issue with renewed fervour. On his independent show, Carlson revived the long-simmering theory that Epstein was working for foreign intelligence, accused the Justice Department of covering up evidence, and hinted that senior officials—including those in the current administration—are shielding names to protect themselves. Then there is Elon Musk. The tech billionaire, who once flirted with Trump-world alliances, has become one of the loudest critics. In a now-deleted post, Musk wrote: 'Amazing how Ghislaine's in prison for a hoax. Not a single Epstein client has been prosecuted.' He went further, openly questioning why Trump refuses to release the files and suggesting that his name may appear in them. The implication was explosive: that the man who built his brand on exposing the system may himself be part of it. The Gatekeepers of Denial Against this rising tide, Trump's defenders have circled the wagons. The official line from the administration is clear: there is nothing more to see in the Epstein files. Pam Bondi, the attorney general and longtime Trump loyalist, has insisted that the unreleased files are either non-incriminating or contain sensitive material such as child sexual abuse content that cannot be made public. In her telling, there is no smoking gun—only smouldering innuendo. Kash Patel, a key figure in Trump's inner legal circle, has echoed this view, calling the renewed Epstein obsession 'overblown media manipulation.' Steve Bannon, once the high priest of MAGA populism, has been conspicuously silent, redirecting his energies toward anti-China messaging and avoiding the Epstein minefield entirely. Lara Trump, co-chair of the Republican National Committee, dismissed the scandal as a 'distraction from Biden's border crisis.' Charlie Kirk, president of Turning Point USA and a reliable barometer of MAGA talking points, has shifted from occasional Epstein criticism to defending the administration's decision to keep the files sealed. Their argument is consistent: the Epstein narrative is a trap laid by Democrats, amplified by hostile media, and swallowed by naïve populists. Trump, they argue, has nothing to hide—his critics are merely indulging conspiracy theories that serve Joe Biden's reelection bid. The Silent and the Calculating In the wings of this unfolding drama are the political figures who have opted for strategic ambiguity. Vice President JD Vance, long seen as the intellectual heir to Trump's populist legacy, has remained silent, even as the scandal grows louder. MAGA-friendly podcaster Theo Von took note, asking Vance pointedly on X why he has not addressed the issue. Vance's office declined to comment, but the silence is beginning to speak for itself. Tucker Carlson's return to the fray suggests he is no longer interested in preserving the peace within Trumpworld. Elon Musk, though more volatile, continues to signal that the Epstein issue is far from resolved. Whether they remain merely critical voices or evolve into catalysts for a broader rebellion remains to be seen. The Political Stakes and a Bipartisan Alliance If Trump thought this was just another media storm to ride out, he may want to rethink. Ro Khanna, the Democratic congressman from California and a declared contender for the 2028 presidency, has seized the opportunity to outflank Trump from the populist left. In a rare bipartisan move, he partnered with Massie to introduce legislation that would force the declassification of all Epstein-related government documents. Khanna told Politico that the bill already has the support of over 200 Democrats and at least seven Republicans. 'People voted for Trump in part because they were so disgusted with a system that protects the wealthy and powerful,' he said. 'Epstein is the symbol of that system.' The bill ensures that the Epstein controversy will remain in the headlines through August and beyond, especially if the House is forced to take a vote. Trump, meanwhile, has shown no signs of conceding to pressure. When asked by CNN's DJ Judd whether he would consider appointing a special counsel to investigate the matter, he replied simply: 'I have nothing to do with it.' Yet sources within the White House suggest the idea of a special counsel is being floated—and just as quickly dismissed. Not only is it legally complicated, but it would also imply a conflict of interest that the Justice Department vehemently denies exists. Ed Martin, a senior DOJ official, has been rumoured as a potential candidate, but a spokesperson declined to comment. Then came the firing of Assistant US Attorney Maurene Comey, who had prosecuted both Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. Her dismissal—reportedly issued without explanation and not initiated by her immediate supervisor—has only deepened the public's suspicion that something is being concealed. That she is the daughter of former FBI Director James Comey only adds to the conspiracy-theatre feel of it all. Finale: The Crisis of Faith Donald Trump's rise was powered by a sense of betrayal—by elites, institutions, and the hidden hand of the powerful. Now, he is on the other side of that mirror. For the first time, a large segment of his base sees him not as a saviour but as part of the cover-up. This is no longer about files or client lists. It is about whether the man who promised to burn down the castle has become just another occupant of the throne. The magician's greatest trick was always getting the audience to believe he was one of them. But now the chains are visible, the trapdoor is sealed, and the crowd is not applauding. In the Epstein files, Trump is facing the one thing he has never encountered: a scandal he cannot control because it was never his to begin with. And this time, it's not the media or the Democrats he has to worry about. It's his own believers.
