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'Going to lose': Steve Bannon, other Trump allies slam admin's handling of Epstein case

'Going to lose': Steve Bannon, other Trump allies slam admin's handling of Epstein case

USA Today16 hours ago
Prominent conservatives are sounding political alarms for President Donald Trump, accusing the Justice Department of botching a review and release of files related to Jeffrey Epstein.
Many of Trump's allies – and supporters across the country – have called for the government to release additional information on the case of the disgraced financier and convicted sex offender. That includes two topics of widespread online speculation: a so-called "client list" as well as any evidence supporting claims that Epstein, who died while awaiting trial in 2019, did not in fact commit suicide.
While New York's chief medical examiner ruled in 2019 that Epstein died by suicide, Trump on the 2024 campaign trail said he would declassify federal files on the man. A new report released last week by the FBI and Department of Justice said officials found no such list or proof that Epstein was murdered in custody.
Timeline: Trump's team promised transparency on Epstein. Here's what they actually delivered.
The findings quickly prompted pushback among members of Trump's inner circle and voters alike, who alleged the president's administration wasn't living up to its promises of transparency with the American people.
"Please understand the EPSTEIN AFFAIR is not going away," Trump's former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn wrote in a post directed to the president. He warned that unanswered questions means that "moving forward on so many other monumental challenges our nation is facing becomes much harder."
Well-known MAGA figures have been publicly airing their grievances with Attorney General Pam Bondi for days following the release of the government's memo. She drew particular criticism over an interview with Fox News in February during which she was asked a question about the so-called client list. "It's sitting on my desk right now to review," Bondi said at the time.
But in a July 8 Cabinet meeting, Bondi clarified she was referring to the files in totality.
The Epstein case fallout reached a fever pitch July 11, with even those inside the administration reportedly perturbed. FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino, the second-highest official at the bureau, did not come into work and was weighing resignation, according to CNN and Semafor.
But major Republican voices have also said the management of the case has to go beyond Justice Department officials – reaching the president himself.
"It's deeper than Epstein," former White House strategist and podcaster Steve Bannon told a crowd of young conservatives at Turning Point USA's Student Action Summit July 12. He went on to predict real electoral consequences for Republicans in the near future.
"For this to go away," Bannon said, "you're going to lose 10 percent of the MAGA movement. If we lose 10 percent of the MAGA movement right now, we're going to lose 40 seats in (2026), we're going to lose the presidency."
Another public figure typically in Trump's corner, Megyn Kelly also voiced skepticism about law enforcement's recent review of the Epstein files.
"There are really only two options," Kelly, a political commentator who identifies as an independent, wrote on X July 12.
"There's no huge undisclosed there there on Epstein, Bondi misled on it (until she didn't) & Trump is quick to forgive a loyal soldier for being desperate to get on TV," she said. Or, "There is a scandal that's being covered up & it's at his direction."
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Trump Steals Soccer Champions' Spotlight, Gets Booed by Fans
Trump Steals Soccer Champions' Spotlight, Gets Booed by Fans

Time​ Magazine

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  • Time​ Magazine

Trump Steals Soccer Champions' Spotlight, Gets Booed by Fans

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Trump defended Bondi amid calls for her resignation or firing in a post on Truth Social on Saturday in which he appeared to contradict the Justice Department's memo that said there were no further files on Epstein to be released. 'Why are we giving publicity to Files written by Obama, Crooked Hillary, Comey, Brennan, and the Losers and Criminals of the Biden Administration … They created the Epstein Files,' Trump wrote. 'LET PAM BONDI DO HER JOB — SHE'S GREAT! … Let's keep it that way, and not waste Time and Energy on Jeffrey Epstein, somebody that nobody cares about.' Elsewhere, Vice President J.D. Vance was also greeted with shouts and boos by protesters as he and his family vacationed at Disneyland in California.'Hope you enjoy your family time, @JDVance. The families you're tearing apart certainly won't,' California Gov. 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Trump to make unprecedented second state visit to UK in September

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Trump to make unprecedented second state visit to UK in September

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