For the past week, a storm has been shaking the MAGA (Make America Great Again) movement: the Trumpist base is criticizing the way the Justice Department is handling the Jeffrey Epstein cases.
Jeffrey Epstein committed suicide, DOJ says
On Monday, the Department of Justice (DOJ) published a memorandum confirming the suicide of pedocriminal Jeffrey Epstein. This announcement therefore rules out the thesis of the murder of this fallen financier, who had been found hanged in his cell in August 2019, a few days before his trial.
No list of personalities involved, according to DOJ
The document also states that there is "no evidence" that Epstein held a list of personalities involved in his sex-trafficking network. This has angered MAGA's supporters, especially U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi.
Protecting members of the elite
These findings contradict the main arguments of conspiracy theories concerning Epstein: for years, leading figures in the MAGA movement, including politicians and influencers, have accused the DOJ and FBI of hiding Epstein's "client list" in order to protect members of the American and international financial and political elite.
"Pam Bondi is doing a fantastic job," says Trump
"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."
A Trump election promise
Despite his close ties with Jeffrey Epstein in the 1990s, Donald Trump promised during the election that he would make the now infamous client list public.
Musk
A few weeks ago, billionaire Elon Musk, a former ally of Donald Trump, had claimed on X that the president's name appeared on this list, before deleting his message.
Calls for Pam Bondi's resignation
DOJ head Pam Bondi assured Fox News last February that "Epstein's client list is sitting on [her] desk right now". Since the memo's post, Bondi has faced multiple calls for her resignation from MAGA influencers, such as podcaster Liz Wheeler.
Megyn Kelly
According to conservative commentator Megyn Kelly, "you either believe that Pam Bondi was telling the truth then, or that she’s telling the truth now. But both cannot be true."
Even Alex Jones
"It's sickening," reacted pro-Trump influencer Alex Jones, known for relaying numerous conspiracy theories on his show.
Tucker Carlson
On his podcast Monday, former Fox News anchor Tucker Carlson warned Republicans and Donald Trump of the potential electoral consequences resulting from the Epstein affair. According to him, the government is "playing with fire".
Anna Paulina Luna warns Pam Bondi
Some right-wing politicians also reacted to the scandal, like Florida Republican Representative Anna Paulina Luna, who declared, "Pam, if you can't do your job, we'll find someone who can."
Steve Bannon
For former Donald Trump adviser Steve Bannon, "Jeffrey Epstein is the key that opens doors (...) on entire institutions."
Tensions within the FBI
According to CNN, an explosive meeting Wednesday pitted FBI Director Kash Patel against his assistant Dan Bongino. The latter even considered resigning, reports the media outlet. Kash Patel, for his part, publicly declared that "conspiracy theories aren't true, they never have been."
Trump in 2002
In a 2002 interview with New York Magazine, Donald Trump praised Jeffrey Epstein, calling him "terrific", said he'd known him for "15 years", and even adding: "He’s a lot of fun to be with. It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side."