The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and FBI released a report Sunday evening on their investigation into disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, concluding that Epstein died by suicide and that no “client list” or evidence of blackmail involving high-profile individuals exists.
According to the report, Epstein hanged himself in his jail cell at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Manhattan in August 2019, a conclusion that has long been contested by the public. The investigation further stated that there was no credible evidence supporting the existence of a “client list” or that Epstein had blackmailed any prominent individuals.
Officials noted that no further charges would be filed and that there was no evidence to pursue uncharged third parties. The report added that releasing further material would not serve justice or protect victims, citing sealed court records and concerns over child exploitation content.
The findings immediately drew intense backlash from supporters of President Donald Trump, who had campaigned on government transparency and vowed to reveal the full extent of Epstein’s network. Many Trump loyalists expressed disbelief, pointing to past statements made by the very officials now responsible for the investigation’s conclusions.
In February, Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a television interview that Epstein’s “client list” was “sitting on my desk right now to review” under Trump’s directive to declassify federal records. However, Sunday’s report directly contradicted that assertion. Bondi had released what she called “Phase 1” of the Epstein files shortly after, which consisted only of previously public documents, leading to widespread disappointment. She later blamed the FBI's New York field office for withholding information.
Both FBI Director Kash Patel and Deputy Director Dan Bongino had previously called for full transparency and the release of Epstein-related files. Bongino, during episodes of his podcast in early 2024, even alleged Epstein had been murdered to conceal blackmail evidence, including possible connections to former President Bill Clinton. Patel also promoted the theory that incriminating videos existed.
By mid-2025, however, both officials reversed their positions. In a May appearance on Fox News, Bongino stated, “I’ve seen the whole file. He killed himself.” Patel echoed the claim on Joe Rogan’s podcast, asserting that no blackmail tapes existed and that there was no cover-up.
The report’s conclusion that Epstein did not maintain a “client list” and did not blackmail anyone also raises questions given that his associate, Ghislaine Maxwell, is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence for crimes involving the trafficking of minors as part of Epstein’s network. The report did not address the apparent contradiction of Maxwell’s conviction for facilitating trafficking without implicating any of Epstein’s alleged clients.
The backlash over the report is particularly acute among Trump’s voter base, which had rallied around promises to expose Epstein’s connections to elite power structures. The timing of the release—just days after Elon Musk’s renewed call for Epstein file transparency—further fueled criticism. Musk, who previously accused Trump of appearing in Epstein’s files in a since-deleted post on X (formerly Twitter), has recently launched a third political party, the “America Party,” which some analysts say could peel support from Trump’s base.