United States President Donald Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi face growing criticism from right-wing conspiracy theorists within the MAGA movement over the handling of Jeffrey Epstein’s case files.
Many in Trump’s base believe Epstein, a convicted sex offender who died in 2019, was murdered to protect powerful figures, rejecting the official government finding of suicide.
The unrest stems from the Department of Justice’s July 7 and July 14 memos, which concluded no evidence exists of a “secret client list” tied to Epstein.
In February, Bondi told Fox News she was reviewing Epstein’s files, raising expectations among MAGA supporters for a full release, including a rumored client list.
She later clarified that she meant the broader case file, not a specific list, and cited the presence of child sex abuse images as a reason for withholding thousands of related videos.
Despite partial releases of documents labeled “The Epstein Files: Phase 1,” the lack of new revelations has frustrated critics, who accuse Bondi of withholding critical information.
Prominent figures like Elon Musk, Laura Loomer, the Hodge twins, Alex Jones, and Jack Posobiec have publicly criticized the administration’s transparency.
Musk, once a Trump ally, questioned the government’s handling on X, asking about records of Epstein’s plane passengers and potential investigations.
Loomer suggested appointing a special counsel, while the Hodge twins and Jones expressed skepticism about the official narrative, with Posobiec calling the situation “mismanaged.”
Trump has defended Bondi, praising her work and dismissing the controversy as a “hoax” driven by political opponents and “weaklings” within his base.
He expressed frustration with the focus on Epstein, emphasizing his administration’s successes and questioning the case’s ongoing relevance.
Experts suggest that while the row may strain relations with some supporters, Trump’s core MAGA base is unlikely to abandon him over this issue.