Trump defends Pam Bondi — Bongino and Patel leaving?
But if we're being honest with ourselves, the Republican Party is now dealing with its own drama: let's call it 'MAGA in the miasma.'
I refer of course to the controversy over the Trump administration's failure to release more files pertaining to the late Jeffrey Epstein, a disgraced financial and sexual predator who died in lockup while awaiting charges.
The latest news is that FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino is furious with Attorney General Pam Bondi for botching the release of the Epstein Files and causing many of the MAGA faithful to turn on the administration, and even to criticize President Trump. Bondi famously invited MAGA influencers to the White House to receive the Epstein Files Part One, which didn't actually contain any new information about associates who may have abused underage women at Epstein's invitation. And now Bondi has taken the position that there is no Epstein client list, no cover up, and no conspiracy — there's nothing to see here.
The MAGA faithful know that such an outcome isn't good enough. Patel and Bongino in particular vowed to bring greater transparency to this issue if they ever got into power, and they correctly resent being made to look like fools by an attorney general who is now blatantly contradicting herself on whether there are files at all. Late last week, Bongino and Bondi apparently had it out, and according to reports,
Bongino is seriously considering exiting the Trump administration altogether. He deeply resents the position that Bondi put him in. So does Kash Patel. Whether either figure ends up leaving the Trump administration, of course, remains to be seen.
Trump himself seems to think the Epstein Files are no big deal at this point. He published a lengthy Truth Social post over the weekend in which he reiterated his own confidence in Pam Bondi.
Trump wrote: 'What's going on with my 'boys' and, in some cases, 'gals?' 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. We have a PERFECT Administration, THE TALK OF THE WORLD, and 'selfish people' are trying to hurt it, all over a guy who never dies, Jeffrey Epstein. For years, it's Epstein, over and over again. Why are we giving publicity to Files written by Obama, Crooked Hillary, Comey, Brennan, and the Losers and Criminals of the Biden Administration, who conned the World with the Russia, Russia, Russia Hoax, 51 'Intelligence' Agents, 'THE LAPTOP FROM HELL,' and more? … LET PAM BONDI DO HER JOB — SHE'S GREAT! The 2020 Election was Rigged and Stolen, and they tried to do the same thing in 2024 — That's what she is looking into as AG, and much more. One year ago our Country was DEAD, now it's the 'HOTTEST' Country anywhere in the World. Let's keep it that way, and not waste Time and Energy on Jeffrey Epstein, somebody that nobody cares about. Thank you for your attention to this matter!'
Well that's a mouthful. Trump is certainly titled to his opinion that there are more important things than Epstein, but it seems like the MAGA base doesn't necessarily agree. This post on Truth Social represents the first time ever that Trump was ratioed on his social media site, according to Newsweek.
The Daily Wire's Matt Walsh posted on X, 'The Attorney General said she had the client list on her desk. The White House made a big show of giving binders marked 'Epstein Files: Phase 1' to a bunch of influencers. Now they tell us that there is no list and we should stop talking about it. Well then why did you say there was a list? Why did you pull that stunt with the influencers? Why did you call it Phase 1 (obviously implying that there were more phases to come)? If you claim that all of this seems normal, above board, and honest, you're being extremely obtuse. We're Americans. We don't accept obvious bullshit from our political leaders. And we don't move on from a topic just because we've been instructed to do so.'
I think Matt Walsh is on to something.
Robbie Soave is co-host of The Hill's commentary show 'Rising' and a senior editor for Reason Magazine. This column is an edited transcription of his on-air commentary.
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