Trump Irked by Criticism from His Inner Circle Over Epstein Files
In the midst of ongoing scrutiny, calls for the release of the Jeffrey Epstein case files have intensified, with many believing these documents could shed light on Epstein's connections and potentially broader conspiracies involving powerful individuals. The movement gained momentum following the Department of Justice (DOJ) and FBI's decision to close the investigation without releasing new files, reiterating that Epstein died by suicide in his jail cell on July 7, 2025.
This decision has sparked backlash among some Republican factions and Trump's base, who feel the investigation is being prematurely closed. As a result, they are demanding the files be made public, with a split in Republican opinion on how the Trump administration has handled the Epstein files—40% approve and 36% disapprove, while overall 63% of voters disapprove of the administration's handling.
Key officials associated with the handling of these files, including Attorney General Pam Bondi, FBI Director Kash Patel, and Deputy Director Dan Bongino, face substantial public disapproval alongside the ongoing controversy.
At a press conference, Bondi refused to answer questions about the Epstein case and referred to a previously published memo. Trump's supporters from the MAGA movement are demanding the release of the sealed documents and are criticizing the Justice Department and the FBI for not making them publicly available.
However, it is important to note that there is no legendary customer list of Epstein with the names of US elites. Attorney General Pam Bondi initially implied that an Epstein customer list might be published, but later clarified that she was referring to investigation files.
The FBI has announced that it found no evidence of involvement by other prominent figures in the Epstein case. Republican Chairman of the House of Representatives, Mike Johnson, has advocated for the publication of the Epstein case files and has called on Bondi to "explain it to everyone."
Trump himself has defended Bondi, stating that she would do a great job and would provide more information if she found it. However, he has also criticized the Epstein case as a "hoax" by the Democrats on his "Truth Social" platform.
Musk, Trump's former advisor and multimillionaire, has previously claimed, without evidence, that the documents were not being released because Trump's name was in them. Trump, in turn, has accused certain members of his party of following a "Democratic script" in the Epstein case.
Despite the public pressure, the DOJ, along with the FBI directors Kash Patel and Dan Bongino, seem to have no intention of publishing the investigation files and information about possibly involved persons. As of mid-2025, the files remain sealed, and the official investigation has been closed, leaving many questions unanswered and public dissatisfaction with the administration's handling of the situation.
Other Republican factions and Trump's base are demanding policy-and-legislation changes in response to the perceived premature closure of the Epstein case investigation, with calls for the general-news media to push for the release of the sealed Epstein case files. The ongoing controversy and public disapproval of key officials, such as Attorney General Pam Bondi, FBI Director Kash Patel, and Deputy Director Dan Bongino, have led to an increase in crime-and-justice discussions within the politics sphere.
