Trump in Rage Mode as Epstein Storm Refuses to Die Down
Trump is frustrated that the scandal has overshadowed his agenda and dominated the news, two people familiar with his thinking told The Washington Post in a Sunday report.
Nearly a dozen sources close to the situation spoke to the Post about the issue, painting a picture of an administration adrift, lacking a clear strategy and blindsided by the intensity of the backlash—particularly from Trump's own base. Many officials had reportedly hoped that Americans would move on from the unreleased Epstein files, underestimating the sustained outrage.
One person told the newspaper that the Justice Department and Federal Bureau of Investigation, the two agencies at the center of the firestorm, 'are breaking at the seams.'
'Many are wondering how sustainable this is going to be for all the parties involved—be it the FBI director or attorney general," the source said.
The DOJ and FBI set off the furore on July 7 when they issued a joint memo stating that Epstein died by suicide and that the government does not possess any 'client list' of the deceased sex offender, refuting conspiracy theories that Trump's base has been fixated on for years. The memo said no further information would be released about Epstein, falling short on Trump's campaign vow.
In the immediate aftermath, FBI deputy director Dan Bongino, who peddled Epstein conspiracies as a right-wing radio host, reportedly mulled quitting after a heated clash with Attorney General Pam Bondi at the White House. Bondi caught the bulk of the flak for the memo, after teasing the release of the files earlier this year.
Trump was said to be fuming privately at Bongino over his behavior at the time, even as his administration presented a united front publicly.
Trump attempted to make the backlash go away, feeding supporters claims that the whole controversy was a Democrat 'hoax' and even slamming his own supporters as 'weaklings' for refusing to let it go.
He also released a trove of records on the Martin Luther King Jr. assassination and fervently promoted new claims from his national intelligence director, Tulsi Gabbard, alleging Obama administration officials were involved in a 'treasonous conspiracy' against Trump. Barack Obama's office has called the claims 'ridiculous and a weak attempt at distraction.'
Three weeks on, Trump hasn't managed to change the subject, and the clamor for the release of the Epstein files continues. Trump has also been hit by a series of media reports shedding new light on his friendship with Epstein in the '80s, '90s and early 2000s.
'He does not want to create a bigger spectacle by firing anyone,' a source told The Post.
The Daily Beast has contacted the White House for comment.
Stephen A. Saltzburg, a former Reagan administration Justice Department official, told the newspaper the administration 'completely miscalculated the fever pitch to which they built this up.'
'Now, they seem to be in full-bore panic mode, trying to change the subject and flailing in an effort to make sense of what makes no sense,' he said.
Semafor White House correspondent Shelby Talcott reported on MSNBC Sunday that there are FBI officials who still want more Epstein materials released.
'That frustration remains,' she said. 'There's still sort of this quiet debate. And then of course you have the Trump base who has been relentless in letting the president know that they are unsatisfied with how this has all happened.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
17 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Top South Dakota official apologizes for releasing voter data
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — South Dakota's top elections official has apologized for the state releasing information about voters who also were seeking public assistance, such as food aid. Secretary of State Monae Johnson made the voter registration rolls of more than 600,000 voters public last month to comply with a new state law. But the spreadsheet of voter information also included a field for source of registration, which disclosed whether an individual registered to vote at a public assistance agency, such as those offering housing help and food assistance. Federal law prohibits the government from releasing information about those receiving public assistance. The data leak drew condemnation from across the state, and the American Civil Liberties Union called it an 'egregious violation of voters' privacy rights.' Johnson apologized on Friday. 'As Secretary of State, I take full responsibility for the release of this information. My office is committed to both transparency and protecting voter privacy," Johnson said in statement. 'Upon discovering the issue, we acted immediately to remove the data and prevent further dissemination.' The information was taken off the website Friday, the day after the ACLU sent a letter to the office demanding the state fix the issue. Individuals who had their information disclosed have been notified by mail, and those with access to the information will be asked to delete it. The secretary of state also clarified that registering at a public assistance agency does not necessarily mean an individual is receiving benefits. In South Dakota, a person can register to vote at driver's license exam stations, disability service offices, military recruitment centers and county auditor offices in addition to public assistance agencies. The ACLU is now encouraging those who were impacted to fill out their legal intake form. "Essentially, voters who exercised their right to register to vote at public benefits offices were punished for it through this substantial privacy violation,' ACLU South Dakota Advocacy Manager Samantha Chapman said. South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley is appointing legal counsel to represent the Secretary of State's office and the state legislature in case of potential lawsuits. Sarah Raza, The Associated Press
Yahoo
17 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Janel Grant's representation calls Brock Lesnar's return to WWE 'attempt to sweep misconduct under the rug'
Brock Lesnar put a punctuation mark on WWE SummerSlam Sunday night with his return to the ring after a two-year absence from the promotion. Lesnar came out to confront John Cena following his defeat to Cody Rhodes and loss of the WWE championship, eventually attacking Cena and using his signature F-5 finishing move on him. Yet while the excitement of a feud with Cena was the takeaway from SummerSlam, Lesnar's return also raises reminders of why he took a two-year hiatus. The seven-time WWE champion was named in a federal lawsuit against former WWE chairman and CEO Vince McMahon. The lawsuit was filed against the company by former WWE employee Janel Grant, alleging that McMahon had sexually assaulted and trafficked her. On Monday afternoon, Grant's represenation issued a statement regarding Lesnar's return to WWE. "For far too long, abuse was allowed to thrive under WWE's leadership," the statement says. "Instead of righting this wrong, WWE has done nothing to ensure those responsible are held accountable." "This attempt to sweep misconduct under the rug will backfire," the statement added. "We look forward to the full set of facts, including those about Mr. Lesnar, coming out in a court of law where they belong but, in the meantime, we refer you back to Janel Grant's updated complaint, which outlines, in detail, the abuse she endured by McMahon and others while employed at WWE." The full lawsuit can be read here, via the Wall Street Journal. One of the claims in the complaint alleges that McMahon shared "sexually explicit photographs and videos of Ms. Grant (including pornographic content he recorded) with other men both inside and outside the company." That included "a world-famous athlete and former UFC Heavyweight Champion with whom WWE was actively trying to sign to a new contract (and ultimately did sign that contract)." Lesnar was not initially named beyond that description in the lawsuit, but that has since been changed to outright name him in the complaint. McMahon denied all allegations in Grant's lawsuit, but resigned as WWE chairman in January 2024. Lesnar hadn't appeared for WWE since then, with the company shelving plans to feature him in that year's Royal Rumble. However, Lesnar was apparently cleared by WWE's lawyers to return as a performer four weeks ago, according to reporter Dave Meltzer (via Cageside Seats). Though Meltzer was not able to provide details, he speculated that being cleared meant that the lawsuit may go to arbitration and Lesnar faced no legal jeopardy. His return to WWE appears to support that notion.
Yahoo
17 minutes ago
- Yahoo
3rd person arrested for allegedly helping a Tennessee fugitive wanted in family's killings
Abandoned-Infant-Four-Dead JACKSON, Tenn. (AP) — Police in Tennessee have charged a 23-year-old woman with assisting a man wanted in the murders of the parents, grandmother and uncle of an infant found alive miles away from the crime scene. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said Dearrah Sanders of Jackson, Tennessee, was arrested on Monday and charged with being an accessory after the killings. Investigators also arrested two men over the weekend on similar charges, alleging they helped 28-year-old Austin Robert Drummond after the July 29 killings. Drummond remained on the run on Monday afternoon, the TBI said in a news release. Authorities have left many questions unanswered, including how the three people allegedly helped Drummond, the manner in which the victims were killed and how the baby ended up in a car seat in the Tigrett area, roughly 40 miles (64.37 kilometers) from the bodies. Last week, authorities said they found the car in Jackson that they believe Drummond had been driving. Authorities believe the family murders were a targeted attack by Drummond, who had a relationship with the victims, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Director David Rausch said. The baby is safe and being cared for. Officials have warrants for Drummond that charge him with four counts of first-degree murder, one count of aggravated kidnapping and weapons offenses. His criminal history includes prison time for robbing a convenience store and threatening to go after jurors. He was also charged with attempted murder while behind bars. Authorities have identified the four people found dead in Tiptonville as James M. Wilson, 21, and 20-year-old Adrianna Williams, the baby's parents; 15-year-old Braydon Williams and 38-year-old Cortney Rose, the mother of Adrianna Williams and Braydon Williams.
