Latest news with #clientlist
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Democrat demands Trump ‘come clean' on Epstein files as FBI's Bongino and Patel mull quitting after Bondi blowup
Maryland Democratic Rep. Jamie Raskin said he will urge House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan to subpoena Attorney General Pam Bondi, FBI Director Kash Patel, and Deputy Director Dan Bongino for questioning on the Jeffrey Epstein files as the two top G-men reportedly prepare to resign. The Trump administration faced a storm of backlash this week after a DOJ memo revealed the late sex offender had no secret client list, contradicting Bondi's February claim that it was 'sitting on my desk.' Bondi also reaffirmed that Epstein's 2019 death was a suicide by strangulation despite conspiracy theories suggesting otherwise. That upset many MAGA Trump supporters who expected major revelations based on earlier official statements. Jen Psaki, the host of The Briefing on MSNBC, asked Raskin on Friday why he thinks Bondi 'is holding back.' '[M]any of these people have gestured at the existence of a client list, so this is a vast public perception now without regard to ideological lines,' Raskin said. 'People believe that the client list is out there. And look, this guy was a real child sex offender, and they ran a child sex ring,' Raskin continued. 'So, we know that MAGA took that ball and ran all the way down the field with it, and they're alleging satanic child sex rings and so on. That has done huge damage to America's political and civic culture.' Raskin also questioned why President Donald Trump hasn't released the list despite demanding transparency, suggesting the president may be implicated, protecting others, or using the information as leverage. He feels it's now best 'for everybody to come clean.' 'I'm gonna be asking Chairman Jordan to call for a hearing where we subpoena the attorney general and Dan Bongino and Kash Patel to come in and tell us everything that we know because this thing is really spinning out of control at this point,' he said. 'And there's one way to put it to rest, which is to come clean, as President Trump promised he would during the campaign.' Bongino took the day off from work on Friday, Axios reports, and a source close to Bongino said "he ain't coming back." However, a White House spokesperson called the resignation rumors 'baseless.' Spokesperson Harrison Fields told The Independent Saturday, 'President Trump has assembled a highly qualified and experienced law and order team dedicated to protecting Americans, holding criminals accountable, and delivering justice to victims. This work is being carried out seamlessly and with unity. Any attempt to sow division within this team is baseless and distracts from the real progress being made in restoring public safety and pursuing justice for all.' The Independent has contacted representatives for Bongino, Patel, and Bondi for comment. Also Friday, CNN's Kaitlan Collins told Anderson Cooper on AC360 that the endgame could boil down to who Trump supports more. 'We have heard that Kash Patel is outright threatening to resign. I think he's sympathetic to Dan Bongino, who is his number two, and they work very closely together. There's just a wall that separates their offices,' she said. Collins added that Trump ally and conspiracy theorist Laura Loomer is pushing for Bondi's removal, but said it appears unlikely to happen. 'What it shows, Anderson, is that this is all kind of their own making, because Kash Patel, Dan Bongino, and Pam Bondi were three of the officials who pushed a lot of the information when it came to Jeffrey Epstein,' Collins said. 'And so officials inside the White House are very frustrated because they feel like this news cycle is only getting worse for them. It is not from people that they can easily dismiss or say it's the media or Democrats. It is their own base that is so furious and so angry over how they've handled this. And the question is how they get out of it.' Earlier this week, Trump dismissed renewed interest in Epstein, criticizing a reporter for asking about the DOJ announcing there is no 'client list.' 'Are you still talking about Jeffrey Epstein? This guy's been talked about for years,' Trump said. 'Are people still talking about this guy? This creep? That is unbelievable.'
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Bondi promised Epstein's client list. Then it fell apart and now MAGA is turning on her
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi is facing intense criticism for failing to stand up her promises on convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein's alleged client list, and it could be her downfall. Much of this is Bondi's own fault. Earlier this year, Bondi vowed to release the list, telling Fox News on Feb. 21, 'It's sitting on my desk right now to review' — a reference to the long-awaited and much-speculated-about list of powerful figures connected to the late disgraced financier. But after months of investigation, the Department of Justice and the FBI said there is no such list. A memo released earlier this week bearing the logos of both agencies stated that a 'systematic review revealed no incriminating 'client list.'' Nor did they find credible evidence that Epstein blackmailed people or any evidence that he was murdered in jail, rather than killing himself — claims that have been feeding the controversy around the Epstein case. Bondi, a former Florida attorney general, has now found herself the focus of MAGA outrage over the Epstein case. That's quite a turnaround considering the case — much of which was based in Florida — helped elevate her profile as the face of Trump's DOJ. Now it's become a political albatross around her neck. For months, Bondi has publicly promoted the idea that she would release the Epstein files and the list to the public. In February, she distributed white binders labeled 'Epstein Files: Phase 1' to a group of Trump-allied influencers, a move that seemed to signal the start of a long-promised reckoning. But it quickly became clear that the binders contained little new information. It was a far cry from the bombshell people were hoping for. Instead of backing away from the narrative, Bondi went further, falsely blaming the FBI for withholding information. In a letter to FBI Director Kash Patel, Bondi wrote, 'I repeatedly questioned whether this was the full set of documents.' Days later, Bondi went on Fox News' Hannity and said that she had received a 'truckload' of Epstein files. She also pointed fingers at the Biden administration, accusing it of sitting on Epstein information and vowing that things would be different under her direction and President Donald Trump. 'And it's a new day. It's a new administration, and everything's going to come out to the public. The public has the right to know, Americans have a right to know,' Bondi told Sean Hannity on Fox News in March. Bondi has positioned herself — and others — as transparency advocates who would finally deliver justice where others had failed. But the DOJ and FBI's own review has undermined that narrative. Her fall has been rough. MAGA influencers who once cheered her on are now calling for her to resign or be fired. MAGA influencer Laura Loomer wrote on X, 'Please join me in calling for Blondi to RESIGN!' The irony is glaring. Bondi claimed the Biden administration was hiding Epstein secrets. Now, she's being accused of misleading the public by over-promising and under-delivering. What began for Bondi as potential signature achievement has become a career-threatening misstep. By putting narrative over truth — a hallmark of Trump-era politics — Bondi fanned the flames of conspiracy theories for political gain. When the facts failed to support her claims, she found herself held hostage by the here to send the letter.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Democrat demands Trump ‘come clean' on Epstein files as FBI's Bongino and Patel mull quitting after Bondi blowup
Maryland Democratic Rep. Jamie Raskin said he will urge House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan to subpoena Attorney General Pam Bondi, FBI Director Kash Patel, and Deputy Director Dan Bongino for questioning on the Jeffrey Epstein files as the two top G-men reportedly prepare to resign. The Trump administration faced a storm of backlash this week after a DOJ memo revealed the late sex offender had no secret client list, contradicting Bondi's February claim that it was 'sitting on my desk.' Bondi also reaffirmed that Epstein's 2019 death was a suicide by strangulation despite conspiracy theories suggesting otherwise. That upset many MAGA Trump supporters who expected major revelations based on earlier official statements. Jen Psaki, the host of The Briefing on MSNBC, asked Raskin on Friday why he thinks Bondi 'is holding back.' '[M]any of these people have gestured at the existence of a client list, so this is a vast public perception now without regard to ideological lines,' Raskin said. 'People believe that the client list is out there. And look, this guy was a real child sex offender, and they ran a child sex ring,' Raskin continued. 'So, we know that MAGA took that ball and ran all the way down the field with it, and they're alleging satanic child sex rings and so on. That has done huge damage to America's political and civic culture.' Raskin also questioned why President Donald Trump hasn't released the list despite demanding transparency, suggesting the president may be implicated, protecting others, or using the information as leverage. He feels it's now best 'for everybody to come clean.' 'I'm gonna be asking Chairman Jordan to call for a hearing where we subpoena the attorney general and Dan Bongino and Kash Patel to come in and tell us everything that we know because this thing is really spinning out of control at this point,' he said. 'And there's one way to put it to rest, which is to come clean, as President Trump promised he would during the campaign.' Bongino took the day off from work on Friday, Axios reports, and a source close to Bongino said "he ain't coming back." However, a White House spokesperson called the resignation rumors 'baseless.' Spokesperson Harrison Fields told The Independent Saturday, 'President Trump has assembled a highly qualified and experienced law and order team dedicated to protecting Americans, holding criminals accountable, and delivering justice to victims. This work is being carried out seamlessly and with unity. Any attempt to sow division within this team is baseless and distracts from the real progress being made in restoring public safety and pursuing justice for all.' The Independent has contacted representatives for Bongino, Patel, and Bondi for comment. Also Friday, CNN's Kaitlan Collins told Anderson Cooper on AC360 that the endgame could boil down to who Trump supports more. 'We have heard that Kash Patel is outright threatening to resign. I think he's sympathetic to Dan Bongino, who is his number two, and they work very closely together. There's just a wall that separates their offices,' she said. Collins added that Trump ally and conspiracy theorist Laura Loomer is pushing for Bondi's removal, but said it appears unlikely to happen. 'What it shows, Anderson, is that this is all kind of their own making, because Kash Patel, Dan Bongino, and Pam Bondi were three of the officials who pushed a lot of the information when it came to Jeffrey Epstein,' Collins said. 'And so officials inside the White House are very frustrated because they feel like this news cycle is only getting worse for them. It is not from people that they can easily dismiss or say it's the media or Democrats. It is their own base that is so furious and so angry over how they've handled this. And the question is how they get out of it.' Earlier this week, Trump dismissed renewed interest in Epstein, criticizing a reporter for asking about the DOJ announcing there is no 'client list.' 'Are you still talking about Jeffrey Epstein? This guy's been talked about for years,' Trump said. 'Are people still talking about this guy? This creep? That is unbelievable.'
The Independent
2 hours ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Democrat demands Trump ‘come clean' on Epstein files as FBI's Bongino and Patel mull quitting after Bondi blowup
Maryland Democratic Rep. Jamie Raskin said he will urge House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan to subpoena Attorney General Pam Bondi, FBI Director Kash Patel, and Deputy Director Dan Bongino for questioning on the Jeffrey Epstein files as the two top G-men reportedly prepare to resign. The Trump administration faced a storm of backlash this week after a DOJ memo revealed the late sex offender had no secret client list, contradicting Bondi's February claim that it was 'sitting on my desk.' Bondi also reaffirmed that Epstein's 2019 death was a suicide by strangulation despite conspiracy theories suggesting otherwise. That upset many MAGA Trump supporters who expected major revelations based on earlier official statements. Jen Psaki, the host of The Briefing on MSNBC, asked Raskin on Friday why he thinks Bondi 'is holding back.' '[M]any of these people have gestured at the existence of a client list, so this is a vast public perception now without regard to ideological lines,' Raskin said. 'People believe that the client list is out there. And look, this guy was a real child sex offender, and they ran a child sex ring,' Raskin continued. 'So, we know that MAGA took that ball and ran all the way down the field with it, and they're alleging satanic child sex rings and so on. That has done huge damage to America's political and civic culture.' Raskin also questioned why President Donald Trump hasn't released the list despite demanding transparency, suggesting the president may be implicated, protecting others, or using the information as leverage. He feels it's now best 'for everybody to come clean.' 'I'm gonna be asking Chairman Jordan to call for a hearing where we subpoena the attorney general and Dan Bongino and Kash Patel to come in and tell us everything that we know because this thing is really spinning out of control at this point,' he said. 'And there's one way to put it to rest, which is to come clean, as President Trump promised he would during the campaign.' Bongino took the day off from work on Friday, Axios reports, and a source close to Bongino said "he ain't coming back." However, a White House spokesperson called the resignation rumors 'baseless.' Spokesperson Harrison Fields told The Independent Saturday, 'President Trump has assembled a highly qualified and experienced law and order team dedicated to protecting Americans, holding criminals accountable, and delivering justice to victims. This work is being carried out seamlessly and with unity. Any attempt to sow division within this team is baseless and distracts from the real progress being made in restoring public safety and pursuing justice for all.' The Independent has contacted representatives for Bongino, Patel, and Bondi for comment. Also Friday, CNN's Kaitlan Collins told Anderson Cooper on AC360 that the endgame could boil down to who Trump supports more. 'We have heard that Kash Patel is outright threatening to resign. I think he's sympathetic to Dan Bongino, who is his number two, and they work very closely together. There's just a wall that separates their offices,' she said. Collins added that Trump ally and conspiracy theorist Laura Loomer is pushing for Bondi's removal, but said it appears unlikely to happen. 'What it shows, Anderson, is that this is all kind of their own making, because Kash Patel, Dan Bongino, and Pam Bondi were three of the officials who pushed a lot of the information when it came to Jeffrey Epstein,' Collins said. 'And so officials inside the White House are very frustrated because they feel like this news cycle is only getting worse for them. It is not from people that they can easily dismiss or say it's the media or Democrats. It is their own base that is so furious and so angry over how they've handled this. And the question is how they get out of it.' Earlier this week, Trump dismissed renewed interest in Epstein, criticizing a reporter for asking about the DOJ announcing there is no 'client list.' 'Are you still talking about Jeffrey Epstein? This guy's been talked about for years,' Trump said. 'Are people still talking about this guy? This creep? That is unbelievable.'
Yahoo
a day ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Jeffrey Epstein had no 'client list,' died by suicide, DOJ and FBI conclude
WASHINGTON – The Justice Department and FBI say they have found no evidence that Jeffrey Epstein kept a "client list," contradicting Attorney General Pam Bondi's past suggestion that such a list from the convicted sex offender and financier existed. A review of Epstein materials in the U.S. government's procession also found no evidence that Epstein blackmailed prominent people as part of his actions or that he was murdered while in custody, according to a memo released July 7 detailing the agencies' findings. The memo, first reported by Axios, comes after President Donald Trump's supporters have pushed for the administration to release details about Epstein's associates after Trump during the 2024 presidential campaign endorsed doing so. More: Jeffrey Epstein document release highlights his sprawling connections across states Bondi, when asked about releasing an Epstein "client list" during a February Fox News interview, seemed to confirm there was a list: "It's sitting on my desk right now to review," she said. But White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said in her news briefing July 7 that Bondi's remarks had referred to "the entirety of all of the paperwork" in the Epstein case, not a list of Epstein's clients. "They committed to an exhaustive investigation. That's what they did, and they provided the results of that," Leavitt said. "That's transparency." The Justice Department and FBI said it found no evidence to prompt an investigation into uncharged third parties in the Epstein case. Despite various conspiracy theories about Epstein's death in federal prison in New York, the FBI concluded he died by suicide on Aug. 10, 2019, as initially determined by New York City's medical examiner and past investigations, according to the memo. That conclusion is supported by video evidence of the prison unit where Epstein was housed, the memo says. It says the video ‒ which it plans to release publicly online ‒ confirms that nobody entered any of the tiers in Epstein's housing unit from the time his cell was locked at 10:40 p.m. ET on Aug. 9, 2019, until around 6:30 a.m. the next morning. More: Jeffrey Epstein was a convicted sex offender by 2008. Why did the powerful stick with him? "One of our highest priorities is combatting child exploitation and bringing justice to victims," the memo says. "Perpetuating unfounded theories about Epstein serves neither of those ends. To that end, while we have labored to provide the public with maximum information regarding Epstein and ensured examination of any evidence in the government's possession, it is the determination of the Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation that no further disclosure would be appropriate or warranted." The memo says the FBI reviewed more than 300 gigabytes of data and physical evidence during digital searches of databases, hard drives and network drives. It also conducted physical searches of locked cabinets, desks, closets and other areas where materials from the Epstein investigation had been stored. The Epstein files include large volumes of images of Epstein and victims who were minors or appeared to be minors, according to the memo, as well as more than 10,000 videos and images of illegal child sex abuse material and other pornography. "Through this review, we found no basis to revisit the disclosure of those materials and will not permit the release of child pornography," the memo says. More: The death of Jeffrey Epstein: Fact, fiction, confusion and a warden reassigned The review confirmed earlier findings that Epstein harmed more than 1,000 people. Materials reviewed by the FBI included personal details about the victims, including their names, physical descriptions, places of birth, associates and employment history. As his relationship publicly imploded with Trump last month, Elon Musk said in a social media post that Trump's name is mentioned in the Epstein files and claimed that's the reason the undisclosed classified documents had not been released. Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX and a former White House adviser, later deleted the post. Musk, in a series of posts July 7 on X, the social media platform he owns, criticized the Trump administration's claims in its new report. He posted an image that reads, "The Official Jeffrey Epstein Pedophile Arrest Counter," which is set to '0000.' As for the Trump administration's promises to release the "Epstein list," Musk later posted, "this is the final straw." More: Elon Musk escalates feud with Trump: 'Time to drop the really big bomb' Bondi has faced pressure from Trump's MAGA base to deliver major findings in the Epstein files. But after hyping up the release of declassified government files on Epstein, Bondi on Feb. 27 disclosed about 200 pages of documents that implicated no one else in Epstein's orbit other than Epstein. The Trump-appointed attorney general in April cited a review of "tens of thousands of videos" as the reason for a delay in releasing additional Epstein documents. Reach Joey Garrison on X @joeygarrison. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Jeffrey Epstein had no 'client list,' died by suicide: DOJ and FBI
