Trump says Bondi should release ‘credible’ Epstein files


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Summary

MAGA frustration

President Trump defended Attorney General Pam Bondi amid backlash from his supporters over the DOJ's Epstein findings. He said she should release “whatever she thinks is credible.”

Democratic pressure

Democrats launched social media campaigns and attempted a House vote to force more Epstein disclosures. Polling shows broad public suspicion of withheld information.

Political fallout

Strategists in both parties doubt the issue will sway midterms, but Bondi remains under scrutiny. Trump continues to dismiss the case as “sordid but boring.”


Full story

President Donald Trump said Attorney General Pam Bondi should release “whatever she thinks is credible” regarding the Jeffrey Epstein investigation. His remarks, made on Tuesday, July 15, while speaking to reporters, came as Bondi faces growing criticism from Republican lawmakers and Trump supporters over her handling of the case.

Trump also said he received a “very quick briefing” on the Department of Justice and FBI memo released last week, which found no incriminating client list and no credible evidence that Epstein blackmailed influential people. The memo confirmed that officials ruled Epstein’s 2019 death a suicide and found no basis to charge any uncharged third parties.

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Why are MAGA supporters upset?

Tension within the MAGA base grew after Bondi’s department said there was no evidence of a client list, appearing to contradict Bondi’s earlier February statement that a list was “sitting on [her] desk.”

Trump attempted to reassure supporters, defending Bondi’s performance and repeating that credible files should be released. He also said the Epstein case was “sordid but boring,” questioning continued public interest.

Trump’s daughter-in-law Lara Trump, House Speaker Mike Johnson, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., and Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., have all called for more transparency.

How are Democrats responding to the controversy?

Democrats are highlighting Republican divisions as they call for the full disclosure of the Epstein files.

Party leaders like Rep. Ted Lieu, D-Calif., and Sen. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., have accused Trump and Bondi of withholding key information. The Democratic National Committee launched an automated social media campaign that posts daily updates about the unreleased files, and Democrats attempted to force a vote on the matter in the House.

According to Politico, polling from Blue Rose Research showed 70% of voters believe law enforcement is hiding information about Epstein’s associates, including 61% of Trump voters. Internal memos suggest Democrats see the controversy as a way to highlight broken campaign promises and undermine Trump’s credibility on government transparency.

Will this remain a political flashpoint?

While the issue continues to attract attention online and from lawmakers, some strategists on both sides expect it to fade. Republican officials, including Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, have deferred to Trump’s judgment. Others, such as Turning Point USA co-founder Charlie Kirk, say they trust the administration and are moving on.

Still, Bondi remains under scrutiny, especially following her response that the DOJ memo “speaks for itself” and her refusal to comment further on Epstein.

Jonah Applegarth (Production Specialist), Matt Bishop (Digital Producer), and Kaleb Gillespie (Video Editor) contributed to this report.
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Why this story matters

Ongoing controversy surrounding the handling and release of information related to the Jeffrey Epstein case highlights concerns over government transparency and intensifies political divisions between and within parties.

Government transparency

Debate over whether the Department of Justice and Attorney General Pam Bondi are fully disclosing details about the Epstein investigation raises public and political concerns about accountability and openness.

Intraparty tension

Criticism from within the MAGA base and among prominent Republican figures underscores internal disagreements over the communication and management of the Epstein case.

Political strategy

Both Democratic and Republican leaders are using the Epstein case controversy to advance broader narratives and strategies, with Democrats seeking to highlight alleged government secrecy and Republicans attempting to manage the fallout among their supporters.

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Behind the numbers

Several sources report that after reviewing over 300 gigabytes of data related to Jeffrey Epstein, the Department of Justice and FBI found no evidence of an incriminating “client list” or that Epstein was murdered. The scope of the data reveals the extensive effort to review the materials but resulted in no new revelations for the public.

Oppo research

Critics, including right-wing commentators and MAGA influencers, accuse Bondi and the Trump administration of failing to deliver promised transparency. Some demand Bondi’s resignation or an independent counsel to investigate Epstein further, while figures like Laura Loomer and Steve Bannon warn of electoral consequences if the issue is not addressed.

Underreported

Most reports focus on political infighting and community outrage but give less attention to the perspectives and needs of Epstein’s victims. The legal and psychological impacts on survivors and the broader implications for how sensitive evidence is handled receive relatively little coverage.

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Timeline

  • Davidoff Studios/Getty Images
    Politics
    Jul 15

    Epstein case tests Trump’s bonds with MAGA

    Donald Trump was a celebrity real estate developer when he posed at a party with the financier Jeffrey Epstein in 1997. Both men grinned at the camera as Trump’s hand rested lightly on Epstein’s shoulder. Twenty-eight years later, Epstein is dead, and Trump is president of the United States. And their relationship — however deep…

  • Trump faces MAGA criticism over Epstein probe as DOJ denies client list, spurring political backlash and calls for full file release.
    Joe Raedle/Getty Images
    U.S.
    Jul 14

    Trump, Bondi face criticism over Epstein disclosures

    President Donald Trump faces criticism from within his “Make America Great Again” (MAGA) base over his administration’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein investigation. Supporters had long expected significant disclosures — including a so-called “client list” — but a memo released by Attorney General Pam Bondi’s Justice Department last week stated there was no such list…

  • Bongino did not go to work at FBI headquarters Friday, and an anonymous source told Axios that “he ain’t coming back.”
    Getty Images
    U.S.
    Jul 11

    FBI Deputy Director Bongino may resign over Epstein files controversy: Reports

    FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino reportedly may resign over blowback to a Department of Justice memo that rebutted conspiracy theories surrounding the death of disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein. Bongino did not go to work at FBI headquarters Friday, and an anonymous source told Axios that “he ain’t coming back.” Bongino and FBI Director Kash Patel…

  • Political commentator Rogan O'Handley, aka DC Draino, and other unidentified people carrying binders bearing the seal of the US Justice Department reading "The Epstein Files: Phase 1" walk out of the West Wing of the White House in Washington, DC, on February 27, 2025. The Trump administration has said it would release documents on late tycoon and convicted sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein who was found dead in his prison cell in 2019. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP) (Photo by SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images)
    SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images
    U.S.
    Jul 7

    DOJ memo: Epstein died by suicide, no client list found

    A Justice Department and FBI memo obtained by Axios and ABC News concludes that Jeffrey Epstein died by suicide in 2019 and did not possess a “client list” or blackmail material involving prominent individuals. The memo, which references enhanced surveillance video from Epstein’s Manhattan jail cell, states that no unauthorized person entered the area the…

  • U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi is accusing an FBI office of withholding thousands of documents pertaining to sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein.
    Getty Images
    U.S.
    Feb 27

    Attorney General Bondi says FBI withholding Epstein files

    U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi is accusing an FBI office of withholding thousands of documents about sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. The nation’s top lawyer wants the new director of the FBI to root out the files. In a Thursday letter to FBI Director Kash Patel, Bondi said the bureau had reassured her that the documents…

  • Republican leaders are pushing AG Pam Bondi to release Epstein-related documents. GOP lawmakers want a timeline.
    Getty Images
    Politics
    Feb 25

    GOP leaders call on AG Pam Bondi to release Epstein documents after promise

    Republican politicians are calling on newly confirmed U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi to follow through on her promise to release documents related to the Jeffrey Epstein case. The pressure comes after Bondi said during the week of Feb. 17 that she had a pile of documents on her desk, awaiting her review. Republican politicians demand…

  • AG Pam Bondi said she is reviewing the release of more documents connected to Jeffrey Epstein's case. It may include a list of his clients.
    Getty Images
    Politics
    Feb 21

    AG Bondi reviewing Epstein documents for release, could hold client list

    U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed that she is reviewing the release of more documents connected to Jeffrey Epstein’s case, which may include a list of his clients. A stack of files sits on her desk, signaling that the release of the documents is imminent. The files could reveal names of individuals tied to Epstein’s…

Timeline

  • Davidoff Studios/Getty Images
    Politics
    Jul 15

    Epstein case tests Trump’s bonds with MAGA

    Donald Trump was a celebrity real estate developer when he posed at a party with the financier Jeffrey Epstein in 1997. Both men grinned at the camera as Trump’s hand rested lightly on Epstein’s shoulder. Twenty-eight years later, Epstein is dead, and Trump is president of the United States. And their relationship — however deep…

  • Trump faces MAGA criticism over Epstein probe as DOJ denies client list, spurring political backlash and calls for full file release.
    Joe Raedle/Getty Images
    U.S.
    Jul 14

    Trump, Bondi face criticism over Epstein disclosures

    President Donald Trump faces criticism from within his “Make America Great Again” (MAGA) base over his administration’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein investigation. Supporters had long expected significant disclosures — including a so-called “client list” — but a memo released by Attorney General Pam Bondi’s Justice Department last week stated there was no such list…

  • Bongino did not go to work at FBI headquarters Friday, and an anonymous source told Axios that “he ain’t coming back.”
    Getty Images
    U.S.
    Jul 11

    FBI Deputy Director Bongino may resign over Epstein files controversy: Reports

    FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino reportedly may resign over blowback to a Department of Justice memo that rebutted conspiracy theories surrounding the death of disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein. Bongino did not go to work at FBI headquarters Friday, and an anonymous source told Axios that “he ain’t coming back.” Bongino and FBI Director Kash Patel…

  • Political commentator Rogan O'Handley, aka DC Draino, and other unidentified people carrying binders bearing the seal of the US Justice Department reading "The Epstein Files: Phase 1" walk out of the West Wing of the White House in Washington, DC, on February 27, 2025. The Trump administration has said it would release documents on late tycoon and convicted sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein who was found dead in his prison cell in 2019. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP) (Photo by SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images)
    SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images
    U.S.
    Jul 7

    DOJ memo: Epstein died by suicide, no client list found

    A Justice Department and FBI memo obtained by Axios and ABC News concludes that Jeffrey Epstein died by suicide in 2019 and did not possess a “client list” or blackmail material involving prominent individuals. The memo, which references enhanced surveillance video from Epstein’s Manhattan jail cell, states that no unauthorized person entered the area the…

  • U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi is accusing an FBI office of withholding thousands of documents pertaining to sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein.
    Getty Images
    U.S.
    Feb 27

    Attorney General Bondi says FBI withholding Epstein files

    U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi is accusing an FBI office of withholding thousands of documents about sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. The nation’s top lawyer wants the new director of the FBI to root out the files. In a Thursday letter to FBI Director Kash Patel, Bondi said the bureau had reassured her that the documents…

  • Republican leaders are pushing AG Pam Bondi to release Epstein-related documents. GOP lawmakers want a timeline.
    Getty Images
    Politics
    Feb 25

    GOP leaders call on AG Pam Bondi to release Epstein documents after promise

    Republican politicians are calling on newly confirmed U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi to follow through on her promise to release documents related to the Jeffrey Epstein case. The pressure comes after Bondi said during the week of Feb. 17 that she had a pile of documents on her desk, awaiting her review. Republican politicians demand…

  • AG Pam Bondi said she is reviewing the release of more documents connected to Jeffrey Epstein's case. It may include a list of his clients.
    Getty Images
    Politics
    Feb 21

    AG Bondi reviewing Epstein documents for release, could hold client list

    U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed that she is reviewing the release of more documents connected to Jeffrey Epstein’s case, which may include a list of his clients. A stack of files sits on her desk, signaling that the release of the documents is imminent. The files could reveal names of individuals tied to Epstein’s…

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