A fresh wave of political drama is erupting over the government’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case — and this time, it’s coming from inside President Trump’s own camp.
What began as a promise to release more information has quickly spiraled into a full-blown firestorm, with MAGA loyalists turning on Attorney General Pam Bondi and rumors swirling about high-level resignations.
At the center of it all: a two-page memo, a razor-thin House vote, and a base unwilling to be told to move on. On Wednesday, Trump lashed out at his MAGA critics demanding more transparency, calling them “weaklings” and disavowing their support.
Here’s how it all started — and where things stand now.
What did Pam Bondi say about the Epstein files?
Earlier this year, Bondi — who was appointed by Trump — suggested the administration might soon release a full account of the Epstein investigation, including a rumored “client list.”
But her tone shifted last week. In a two-page memo, Bondi said the Justice Department had found no evidence that Epstein kept a list of individuals connected to his sex trafficking operation involving underage girls. She also reaffirmed that Epstein died by suicide in federal custody in 2019, as determined by the New York City Medical Examiner.
That reversal didn’t go over well with some corners of Trump’s base. Right-wing activist Laura Loomer called for Bondi to be fired, and former Fox News host Tucker Carlson accused her of “covering up crimes” on his podcast. Far-right figure Nick Fuentes even urged supporters to burn their MAGA hats in protest.
Behind the scenes, the backlash appears to have sparked tensions within the administration. According to CNN, Deputy FBI Director Dan Bongino — who has publicly promoted conspiracy theories about Epstein — has reportedly considered resigning amid internal clashes between the FBI and the Justice Department over how the memo was handled.
The outrage taps into a deeper current of distrust. Epstein’s death — and how the government dealt with his case — has fueled conspiracy theories for years, particularly among right-wing figures. Some believe his death is further evidence of a so-called deep state: shadowy forces within the government working to undermine Trump. To complicate matters, the president himself has leaned into those claims, casting himself as the only one who can root out the corrupt insiders working against him.
Meanwhile, a CNN poll released Tuesday suggests that American citizens are still seeking answers. Roughly half of the respondents said they’re dissatisfied with the amount of information the government has shared about Epstein. That includes 56 percent of Democrats, 52 percent of independents, and 40 percent of Republicans. Just 3 percent said they’re satisfied with what’s been released so far.
Republicans block the latest push to release the Epstein files
House Republicans on Tuesday shut down another Democratic attempt to force the release of documents tied to Epstein. The vote was razor-thin — 211 to 210 — and split strictly along party lines. California Rep. Ro Khanna’s proposal would have required Bondi to publish the files online within 30 days. Every Democrat present supported it, while Republicans voted against it.
Still, the fight isn’t over. Khanna has vowed to bring the amendment back “again and again and again.”
The latest push came just a day after the House Rules Committee — which sets the terms for floor debate — voted 6 to 5 against attaching Khanna’s amendment to a procedural measure tied to defense spending and a cryptocurrency bill known as the GENIUS Act. In a rare move, GOP Rep. Ralph Norman broke ranks and joined the panel’s four Democrats in supporting the amendment. “The public’s been asking for it. I think there are files. All of a sudden not to have files is a little strange,” he told Axios.
Now, House Judiciary Democrats, including Maryland Rep. Jamie Raskin, are calling for a public hearing. They want top officials at the DOJ and FBI to explain how the case has been handled — and why so little information has been released.
The pressure is also building on the right. Despite the GOP’s unified stance against a vote on Khanna’s amendment, the party isn’t fully aligned on the issue. On Tuesday, House Speaker Mike Johnson became the highest-ranking Republican to say he, too, wants more details from the investigation. “I’m for transparency,” Johnson said in a podcast interview with conservative commentator Benny Johnson.
Some hard-line conservatives — including Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia and Sen. John Kennedy of Louisiana — have also publicly called for the Epstein files to be released. Even Trump’s former adviser Elon Musk joined the calls, urging him to release the files “as promised” — a move that escalated their already very public feud.
Others, however, are deferring to the administration. “It’s the president’s decision,” said Texas Sen. John Cornyn.
How has Trump responded?
Trump, who was friendly with Epstein for years before later distancing himself, has largely brushed off questions about the disgraced financier — despite repeatedly promising during his campaign to declassify the Epstein files, including the alleged list, if elected.
As part of the same lengthy Truth Social post Wednesday, Trump accused his own voters of falling for what he called a “radical left” hoax aimed at discrediting him. Just days earlier, he had defended Bondi on the platform, urging supporters not to “waste time and energy on Jeffrey Epstein” and suggesting — without evidence — that the so-called files were a political ploy by Democrats to target him.
“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.”
It’s worth noting that the federal investigation into Epstein — including the charges that led to his 2019 arrest — took place during Trump’s first term. Epstein’s death in federal custody also occurred under his administration. Then-Attorney General Bill Barr personally reviewed surveillance footage and said there was no evidence of foul play. The Justice Department concluded Epstein died by suicide.
Whether more information ever comes out remains to be seen. But for many Americans, questions around Epstein’s death and connections still linger.
