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President Donald Trump is facing a growing backlash from his MAGA base over his administration's handling of the Jeffrey Epstein investigation files. The controversy has sparked internal divisions, public criticism from key allies, and calls for a special counsel.
What to Know:
- MAGA supporters are criticizing the DOJ memo that dismisses theories about Epstein's alleged "client list" and cause of death.
- Attorney General Pam Bondi has come under fire for a lack of transparency.
- Deputy FBI Director Dan Bongino reportedly clashed with Bondi over the documents; Trump defended him publicly.
- Trump responded to the backlash on Truth Social, saying he doesn't "like what's happening" among supporters.
- Legal ally Mike Davis says the DOJ wants transparency but is limited by sealed records, grand jury material, and the need to protect victims.
- Conservative voices like Laura Loomer and Benny Johnson are urging Trump to take more decisive action, including appointing a special counsel.
- Activists warn that the Epstein memo controversy could distract from campaign priorities like the economy and immigration.
- DOJ released the first batch of Epstein-related documents in February, referencing Trump and Clinton but not alleging wrongdoing.
- Axios reports that the DOJ and FBI concluded there's no evidence of a client list or foul play in Epstein's death.
Newsweek's live blog is closed.
Jul 14, 2025 at 07:48 PM EDT
Democrat Epstein files attacks hit the campaign trail
Democrat incumbents and challengers alike are using the Jeffrey Epstein files controversy to attack their Republican rivals ahead of the midterms.
Democrat Rebecca Cooke shared a post on X, by Republican incumbent, Rep. Derrick Van Orden, who she's challenging for his seat in Wisconsin, as she criticized MAGA for having "bailed out rich predators by refusing to release the Epstein files. Pathetic!"
Incumbent Sen. Jon Ossoff, of Georgia, who is vulnerable in next year's midterms, also laid into Trump and his administration over the files.
"President Trump promised to end the wars. He promised to release the Epstein files," she said referencing the president's former friendly relationship with Epstein and sexual misconduct allegations, which Trump have denied.
Did anyone really think the sexual predator president who used to party with Jeffrey Epstein was gonna release the Epstein files?" Ossoff said at a rally.
Jul 14, 2025 at 07:11 PM EDT
Tucker Carlson says MAGAs should not ‘be satisfied’ with Trump response on files
Tucker Carlson told the Turning Point USA's Student Action Summit in Florida over the weekend that they should not "be satisfied" with President Donald Trump and his administration's response on the Epstein files.
"The fact that the U.S. government, the one that I voted for, refused to take my question seriously and instead said, 'Case closed. Shut up, conspiracy theorist,' was too much for me," he said.
"And I don't think the rest of us should be satisfied with that."
Carlson has often suggested that Epstein was killed in prison and that he was blackmailing a list of high profile, powerful people.
The former Fox News anchor was one of many speakers who attacked the DOJ memo at the event.
Jul 14, 2025 at 06:32 PM EDT
California Democrats demand release of Epstein files
California lawmakers are calling for the Trump administration to release the Epstein files.
Democrat Rep. Ro Khanna said he was introducing an amendment to force a vote demanding "the FULL Epstein files be released to the public."
"Why are the Epstein files still hidden? Who are the rich & powerful being protected?" he wrote on X on Sunday.
Fellow California Democrats Rep. Jimmy Gomez, Rep. Eric Swalwell and Rep. Ted Lieu all shared photos of President Donald Trump with the convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein as they questioned why the files weren't being released.
"If you're now concerned about child exploitation release the Epstein Files. Your base wants to know," Gomez wrote.
Jul 14, 2025 at 05:45 PM EDT
Laura Loomer warns Trump’s Truth Social posts over Epstein are only making uproar worse
MAGA member, rightwing activist Laura Loomer, has warned that President Donald Trump's attempts to quell infighting over the Jeffrey Epstein files, are actually have the opposite effect.
Over the weekend, Trump tried to rein in some supporters who were attacking Attorney General Pam Bondi.
"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," he wrote on Truth Social.
However Loomer, who has significant influence over the Trump administration, said she didn't think "just putting out a Truth Social post is going to make this issue go away."
"It's kind of had a Streisand effect, actually, where people are focusing on this topic a lot more than they were before he posted a Truth Social," Loomer told POLITICO.
"I think that it would be wise for the White House to develop some type of a strategy in addressing the base's concerns, so that we can mitigate any fallout or damage done to the Trump administration.
Jul 14, 2025 at 05:10 PM EDT
WATCH: Epstein files either ‘lie’ or Trump Admin ‘cover Up’: Jeffries
Jul 14, 2025 at 04:53 PM EDT
Hakeem Jeffries asks what Trump admin, DOJ ‘is hiding?’
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries has slammed the Trump administration for its handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files.
Jeffries said the GOP officials' calls for the release of the files, only for the administration to then turn around and deny the existence of a client list, suggested a cover-up.
"What, if anything, is the Trump administration and the Department of Justice hiding?" Jeffries told reporters at a Monday press conference.
"There are only two things that are possible here ... Option one, they lied for years. Option two, they're engaging in a cover up. At this point it seems reasonable that can only be one of the two things," he added.
Jul 14, 2025 at 04:32 PM EDT
Democrat lawmaker introduces resolution to demand release of Epstein files
Democratic Rep. Marc Veasey of Texas announced he was introducing a resolution "demanding the Trump administration release all files related to the Epstein case."
"Either [Trump] and his acolytes fueled the rumors of the significance of these Epstein files to help his campaign, or something is there!" he posted on X on Sunday.
"Put up or Shut up."
Jul 14, 2025 at 04:09 PM EDT
The DNC launches X account to ask followers daily, ‘Has Trump released the Epstein files?’
The Democratic National Committee (DNC) has launched a new account on X, called "Has Trump released the Epstein files?"
The account posts messages daily reminding followers that President Donald Trump has now yet released the files, and also shares the previous criticism and calls from Republicans and MAGA figures to release the files under the Biden administration.
The account has also reposted critiques of Trump over Epstein and its own commentary on Trump posts.
The header image features the X post made by Elon Musk after his public falling out with Trump, when he suggested that Trump "is in the Epstein files. That is the real reason they have not been made public."
Jul 14, 2025 at 03:59 PM EDT
Lara Trump teases more Jeffrey Epstein files in new interview
President Donald Trump's daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, told conservative podcaster Benny Johnson that the Trump administration will release more evidence related to evidence in the Jeffrey Epstein case.
Lara Trump, the wife of Eric Trump, the president's middle son, told Johnson that President Trump hears his Make America Great Again (MAGA) base on the issue. She said he "hears all the noise" and will "set things right."
She said, in part, "There needs to be more transparency. I think that will happen. I know this is important to the president. He is frustrated."
"He is going to want to set things right. I believe there will be more coming and anything they are able to release they will try to get out. They hear it and understand it."
She continued, "To anyone worked up out there, there is no plot to keep this information away. I'm sure we will know down the line..."
Read the full story by Gabe Whisnant on Newsweek.
Jul 14, 2025 at 03:43 PM EDT
WATCH: Tucker Carlson claims Jeffrey Epstein worked for Israel intelligence
Jul 14, 2025 at 03:28 PM EDT
Megyn Kelly slams Chelsea Clinton over Texas flood relief post
Megyn Kelly reignited controversy around the Clinton Foundation this week, accusing Chelsea Clinton of being a "fake philanthropist" after the former first daughter promoted her family's flood relief efforts in Texas. Clinton posted on X that the Clinton Global Initiative was "on the ground" supporting search and rescue operations, prompting backlash from conservative commentators and social media users.
Kelly amplified the criticism, reposting Clinton's message and writing, "The replies to this post are AMAZING." She later added that "no one wants your family of grifters anywhere near those suffering in Texas, Haiti or anywhere else."
Clinton responded directly, defending the foundation's work and stating she has never received compensation from it. She urged Kelly to highlight relief efforts instead of fueling attacks.
The feud comes amid renewed scrutiny of the Clinton Foundation's past disaster relief work, including long-standing allegations about its role in Haiti, claims the foundation denies. Critics also resurfaced the Clintons' historical ties to Jeffrey Epstein, who was once linked to the Clinton Global Initiative.
While the online spat drew national attention, officials and aid groups continue to focus on the flood's aftermath in Kerr County, where more than 100 people were killed and search efforts remain underway.
Jul 14, 2025 at 03:12 PM EDT
Petition demanding Pam Bondi resign receives thousands of signatures
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A petition calling for U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi to resign now has more than 29,000 signatures in the wake of the backlash to how she and the Donald Trump administration have handled the Jeffrey Epstein files.
While the petition was not started over the current Epstein scandal, it has received a significant uptick in signatures over the past week, while the controversy has dominated headlines and social media.
Newsweek has contacted the Department of Justice (DOJ), via online contact form, for comment.
The petition was started over the perceived erosion of the DOJ's independence under Bondi's tenure.
Critics argue that Bondi has acted primarily as a figurehead, allowing White House adviser Stephen Miller to influence key departmental decisions despite his lack of legal training, citing a New York Times report that came out in May calling her a "TV messenger."
The piece quoted the Department of Justice's former pardon lawyer Elizabeth Oyer, who was fired for refusing to grant gun ownership rights to actor Mel Gibson.
"The decisions are being made at the White House, and then they're being pushed down to the Department of Justice, which is very, very atypical," Oyer said.
But, over the last seven days, while Bondi has faced renewed scrutiny following the announcement from the DOJ and the FBI saying that Epstein committed suicide, that there was no client list and no evidence of Epstein blackmailing powerful figures, more than 2,000 people have added their signatures.
Read the full story by Jordan King on Newsweek.
Jul 14, 2025 at 02:51 PM EDT
Charlie Kirk backs Trump’s defense of Bondi, urges MAGA to move on from Epstein memo
Conservative activist Charlie Kirk said he's "done talking about Epstein" after a weekend of backlash against Attorney General Pam Bondi over the Justice Department's memo on the Epstein investigation. Kirk's remarks came after a personal call from President Donald Trump, who defended Bondi on Truth Social and urged unity within the MAGA movement.
Speaking on his show, Kirk acknowledged the controversy but said he would trust Bondi and other administration officials to resolve the matter. "Ball's in their court," he said, adding that he hoped the DOJ would unseal grand jury testimony but emphasized the need to focus on broader issues like Ukraine and NATO.
Kirk's Turning Point USA summit had featured sharp criticism of Bondi, including calls for more transparency. But following Trump's outreach, Kirk signaled a shift in tone, saying the MAGA coalition should avoid relitigating the memo and instead support the administration's efforts to move forward.
Jul 14, 2025 at 02:36 PM EDT
Justice Department faces backlash over Epstein file secrecy
The Justice Department and FBI are under fire after announcing they would not release additional records from the Jeffrey Epstein sex trafficking investigation. The decision, which included admitting that a rumored "client list" never existed, has sparked outrage among far-right media figures and Trump supporters, many of whom had expected explosive disclosures.
Tensions escalated when Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino clashed at the White House over the fallout. The dispute was fueled by a news report suggesting internal divisions between the agencies, which officials later denied.
President Trump weighed in with a social media post defending Bondi and urging unity within his MAGA base. However, Bongino's absence from public comment and reports of his possible resignation have added to speculation.
The Justice Department said further disclosure was inappropriate due to sealed court records and the need to protect victims. A video released to support the conclusion that Epstein died by suicide only intensified skepticism due to a missing minute in the footage.
The controversy highlights the administration's struggle to manage expectations it helped create, as conspiracy theories and demands for transparency continue to dominate the conversation.
Jul 14, 2025 at 02:32 PM EDT
Donald Trump said Epstein files ‘could destroy people’—Bill O’Reilly
Bill O'Reilly, a former Fox host, said he had a conversation with President Donald Trump earlier this year about the Jeffrey Epstein files, which the president said could "destroy" innocent people.
On NewsNation's Cuomo on Wednesday, O'Reilly said he had spoken with Trump "man to man, eye to eye" about the Epstein files on St. Patrick's Day.
"He said, and I agree, there are a lot of names associated with Epstein that had nothing to do with Epstein's conduct," O'Reilly said in the interview.
"They maybe had lunch with him or maybe had some correspondence for one thing or another," he added. "If that name gets out, those people are destroyed because there's not going to be any context."
Read in full from Khaleda Rahman on Newsweek.
Jul 14, 2025 at 02:18 PM EDT
Trump tries to quell infighting over Epstein
President Donald Trump has attempted to quell some of the infighting in the Republicans and MAGA over the Jeffrey Epstein files.
Over the weekend, Trump tried to rein in some supporters who were attacking Attorney General Pam Bondi.
"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," he wrote on Truth Social.
Jul 14, 2025 at 02:04 PM EDT
Donald Trump’s approval rating changes amid Epstein files backlash
Donald Trump's approval rating has dropped in two polls as he faces criticism for his administration's handling of the Jeffrey Epstein scandal.
The president lost six approval points in a Morning Consult poll and one point in a Napolitan News Service poll between surveys taken last month and this month.
Some Trump supporters feel let down after the president promised full transparency regarding the Epstein case, in particular over an alleged "client list" of people involved in the convicted pedophile's activities.
In June 2024, Donald Trump pledged to release the Epstein case files if elected president for a second term. Attorney General Pam Bondi fuelled speculation about a client list in February when she announced she would release records related to the case.
Read in full from Jordan King on Newsweek.
Jul 14, 2025 at 01:40 PM EDT
WATCH: Jeffrey Epstein ‘missing minute’ rocks White House
Jul 14, 2025 at 01:15 PM EDT
Donald Trump said Epstein Files could ‘destroy people’—Bill O’Reilly
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Bill O'Reilly, a former Fox host, said he had a conversation with President Donald Trump earlier this year about the Jeffrey Epstein files, which the president said could "destroy" innocent people.
On NewsNation's Cuomo on Wednesday, O'Reilly said he had spoken with Trump "man to man, eye to eye" about the Epstein files on St. Patrick's Day.
"He said, and I agree, there are a lot of names associated with Epstein that had nothing to do with Epstein's conduct," O'Reilly said in the interview.
"They maybe had lunch with him or maybe had some correspondence for one thing or another," he added. "If that name gets out, those people are destroyed because there's not going to be any context."
Newsweek has contacted the White House for comment via an email sent outside regular business hours.
Read the full story by Khaleda Rahman on Newsweek.
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