Jeffrey Epstein was a financier with a billion-dollar fortune and extensive ties to both American and international elites. In 2019, he was arrested on charges of running a sex trafficking network: dozens of underage girls claimed he had raped them and passed them on to other men. The case involved a private jet ("Lolita Express"), a Caribbean island, surveillance cameras in Epstein’s residences, and hints of a "client list"—including politicians, businessmen, and government officials.
One month after his arrest, Epstein was found dead in his jail cell. Authorities ruled it a suicide, although the cameras were offline, the guards were asleep, and the body was cremated. Since then, his name has become a symbol of systemic rot for conservative America: suspicions that Epstein had ties to intelligence services, that he was protected by authorities, and that the government deliberately buried evidence have become part of broader political mythology.
Against this backdrop, calls to release all case materials—including victims’ names and testimonies—have become a central demand of the right-wing movement, especially among supporters of Donald Trump. Many expected Trump, a vocal critic of the "deep state," to push for full disclosure. But in July 2025, he took the opposite stance.
Jeffrey Epstein’s death in jail in 2019 did not end the political fallout surrounding his case. The accusations against the billionaire—centered on the creation of a sex trafficking network involving minors—became a focal point for America’s ultra-conservative circles. Around Epstein emerged a persistent narrative that he had merely been a small part of a much larger system allegedly protected by the elite. In this context, many in the MAGA movement saw Donald Trump as the one politician who might expose the truth.
But in July 2025, the U.S. Department of Justice officially closed the case without releasing any new materials. Almost simultaneously, Trump spoke out against publishing the Epstein-related documents. He stated that disclosure "could harm many innocent people." The comment drew sharp criticism from those who had long expected him to take a confrontational stance against the establishment.
According to NBC News, open calls for the resignation of Attorney General Pam Bondi were made at a recent conservative activist conference in Tampa. Bondi, the U.S. Attorney General and a political ally of Trump, had previously claimed to possess a list of individuals connected to Epstein. She later walked back those comments, further fueling dissatisfaction. One conference speaker, podcaster Brandon Tatum, said: "This man [Epstein] was involved in something vile. And among those implicated are people we’ve long considered allies."
Pam Bondi and Donald Trump in Washington. April 22, 2025.
Tensions are rising within the Republican ranks themselves. Former Trump administration official Alyssa Farah Griffin said she was "stunned" by Trump’s decision to distance himself from the MAGA base’s long-standing demand for full transparency. According to The Daily Beast, a rift also emerged within the team between Deputy FBI Director Dan Bongino and Pam Bondi. Bongino, who had previously advocated for releasing the documents, took a leave of absence—signaling that he was unwilling to serve under leadership "willing to compromise with the truth."
In response to the criticism, Trump issued a statement on his platform Truth Social, accusing figures from previous administrations—including Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, James Comey, and John Brennan—of covering for Epstein. At the same time, he urged his supporters not to fixate on Epstein himself, calling him "irrelevant." "A year ago our country was dead, and now it's the hottest country in the world. Let’s not get distracted by someone nobody cares about," he wrote.
Later, on July 13, he issued another message, calling the debate over the case a "waste of time" and urging supporters "not to fuel internal conflict within the movement." He specifically thanked Pam Bondi for her "fantastic work" and called for an end to attacks against her. "Nobody’s paying attention to this Epstein guy," Trump wrote, shifting focus to other political issues, including the crisis in Texas.
Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein. 1992.
Nevertheless, many in the MAGA base found this approach unacceptable. Criticism of the administration intensified from prominent voices on the right. Speaking at the Turning Point USA conference, Tucker Carlson accused the authorities of deliberately suppressing information. "The man was a pervert who abused girls, and the government I voted for closed the case and said, ‘Shut up, conspiracy theorist,’" he said. Carlson also suggested that Epstein may have had ties to Israeli intelligence, which, in his view, could explain the silence from both Democrats and Republicans.
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Meanwhile, other high-profile figures began publicly questioning Trump’s motives—including Elon Musk. He hinted that the refusal to release documents could reflect an effort to conceal information uncomfortable for both parties.
Musk went further, declaring that his new political movement—the America Party—would make the release of Epstein’s files a top priority if it came to power. The statement was widely seen as a direct challenge to Trump’s position. "One hundred percent—we will release it," Musk was quoted as saying by the Times of India. In this way, the Epstein issue is becoming a point of contention among contenders for influence over the American right.
The political fallout for Trump could prove significant. For years, he has invoked the narrative of the "deep state," promising to purge the elite of those whom his supporters believe are complicit in systemic corruption or criminal activity. Within that framework, the Epstein case has held a central place. His unofficial "black book," references to high-profile clients, and ties to former and current officials have fueled expectations within the MAGA movement. Trump’s refusal to advance the investigation or push for disclosure may be seen as a departure from his longstanding message.
Pam Bondi’s statement that "there is no list" marked a turning point. For a large portion of the MAGA base, it cast doubt on the sincerity of the entire campaign to expose the elite. That sense of betrayal has been compounded by Trump’s defensive—not confrontational—response.
That position was later confirmed in a joint memorandum from the Department of Justice and the FBI. The document stated plainly that there is "no client list," no evidence of blackmail, and that surveillance footage supports the conclusion that Epstein died by suicide. Authorities also noted that the release of certain materials was impossible due to privacy concerns and the need to protect victims.
Prince Andrew and Virginia Giuffre (née Roberts), who later claimed she was sexually exploited by Andrew when she was 17. The photo became a key piece of evidence in the civil case against the prince, linked to the Jeffrey Epstein affair. Early 2000s.
Observers note that this is one of the rare moments in recent years when a clear rift has emerged between Trump and a portion of his most loyal base. With the presidential campaign approaching, it could become a source of political instability—particularly if alternative voices within the right continue to press the Epstein issue regardless of Trump’s stance.
Meanwhile, influential voices in right-wing media have intensified the pressure. Podcaster Jack Posobiec called the situation a "leadership failure," while Alex Jones claimed that "soon they’ll tell us Epstein never existed." Activist Laura Loomer demanded Pam Bondi’s immediate resignation, accusing her of "covering up crimes against children." These statements reflect the extent to which the Epstein case remains a litmus test for trust in Trump’s political agenda—and how his reluctance to see it through is perceived by some as a betrayal.