DOJ memo dismissing Epstein conspiracy theories sparks anger from conservatives

NBC News

4 hours ago

Conservative internet and media personalities are criticizing Attorney General Pam Bondi and the Trump administration after a recent government memo appeared to contradict statements Bondi made about the case of convicted sex offender and financier Jeffrey Epstein.
The two-page memo, published by the FBI and Justice Department after an 'exhaustive review' of materials related to Epstein, concluded that there is no evidence of an 'incriminating 'client list',' or evidence that would lead to additional prosecution of third parties. The memo also concluded that Epstein died by suicide in his Manhattan jail cell in 2019 and that no evidence was found to suggest that he had participated in blackmail.
The findings closely mirror what NBC News and many other outlets have reported and published for years — that while Epstein sexually abused underage girls, he did not keep a secret list of powerful pedophile clients he was blackmailing.
The unsigned memo, first reported by Axios on Sunday, has enraged many prominent conservatives online who have often been supportive of the Trump administration, leading some to allege that Trump's Department of Justice has taken part in a larger conspiracy to cover up aspects of the Epstein affair, which conspiracy theorists say implicates powerful and famous people, particularly Democrats.Elon Musk, who has recently feuded with Trump and his administration after leaving his post at the White House, led the charge criticizing the Trump administration over the memo, posting eight times on Sunday and Monday and reposting a post from a user saying: 'If the entire government is protecting pedophiles, it has officially become the government against the people.'In particular, conservatives have expressed anger that Trump and other administration members promised tangible disclosures about Epstein if Trump were elected.On Monday morning, Musk responded 'anytime now' to a video posted in 2024 showing Trump saying he'd have 'no problem' looking into an Epstein client list.
Others have zeroed in on statements made by Bondi.
In February, Bondi indicated to Fox News host John Roberts that included in files related to law enforcement's investigations into Epstein — information which in reality was already largely public — was a list of Epstein clients.
'It's sitting on my desk right now to review,' Bondi said, responding to a question about a potential client list, adding that she had 'not yet' seen any bombshells.
In the wake of the memo, conservative critics are pointing to the segment as an indication of a cover-up.'Sorry but this is unacceptable,' said online activist Robby Starbuck, best known for his successful anti-DEI pressure campaigns targeting major corporations.'Was she lying then or is she lying now? We deserve answers,' Starbuck posted alongside the video.
On his YouTube show, during a segment on the topic that lasted over 90 minutes, conservative pundit Benny Johnson declared that 'the federal government [is] officially confirming the cover-up is complete with Jeffrey Epstein.'
Mike Benz, who worked in the State Department in Trump's first administration, said on the 'Real America's Voice ' talk show that while he trusted the senior Trump officials who released the memo, he nevertheless believed there was a vast deep state conspiracy
'I think you have a global network here that spans the Central Intelligence Agency in the U.S., that spans British intelligence, Israeli intelligence, Saudi intelligence,' he claimed, without evidence. Conservative commentator Rogan O'Handley, who goes by DC_Draino online and participated in a Trump administration photo op in February holding binders labeled 'The Epstein Files,' on Monday called the memo part of a 'shameful chapter' in the country's history. 'Assuming this leaked Epstein Files memo is true, then we all know this is a shameful cover-up to protect the most heinous elites. We were told multiple times the files would be released, and now it looks like backroom deals have been made to keep them hidden,' he wrote in a post.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the memo on Monday, saying at a news briefing that the Justice Department and FBI had 'committed to an exhaustive investigation. That's what they did, and they provided the results of that,' she said.
Asked for a message for Trump supporters who expected more people to be held accountable for Epstein's alleged crimes, she said that 'this administration wants anyone who has ever committed a crime to be held accountable.'
One former proponent of the Epstein conspiracy theory who has been silent is Dan Bongino, now the deputy director of the FBI. Before taking that job, Bongino boosted claims on his podcast that Epstein was a career blackmailer.
In a Jan. 4, 2024, episode, Bongino played a clip of a journalist saying that she was '100%' convinced that Epstein was killed 'because he made his whole living blackmailing people.'
Bongino told his listeners that he'd heard the same claims from another reporter and that they were 'super important.' The FBI declined to comment about Bongino's former claims.
The memo also acknowledged the challenges in releasing further material because so much of it could be harmful to Epstein's accusers.
'Epstein harmed over one thousand victims,' the memo said. 'Each suffered unique trauma. Sensitive information relating to these victims is intertwined throughout the materials. This includes specific details such as victim names and likenesses, physical descriptions, places of birth, associates, and employment history.'
The FBI and Justice Department also released two versions of a nearly 11-hour video of the outside of a prison cell door, purportedly as evidence that no one else was involved when Epstein killed himself.
But that has done little to quell conspiracy claims. In both versions, timestamps on the videos jump from 11:58 p.m. to midnight, which has already inspired posts on X with tens of thousands of views claiming a government conspiracy to hide incriminating footage.