Washington’s latest Epstein saga has Trump’s inner circle seething. The Department of Justice and the FBI’s July 5 memo, declaring no evidence of a “client list” or murder in Jeffrey Epstein’s case, blindsided the MAGA faithful. This flop reeks of bureaucratic fumbles, not conspiracy.
The DOJ and FBI’s memo, dropped after the July 4 weekend, quashed hopes of a bombshell “client list” or murder plot. Attorney General Pam Bondi’s earlier tease about reviewing such a list fueled the mess. Her misstep set expectations sky-high, only for reality to crash down and cause internal administration strife and calls from some corners for resignations, as the Daily Caller reports.
Back on Feb. 21, Bondi appeared on Fox News’ America Reports. Host John Roberts pressed her on releasing a supposed Epstein “client list.” Bondi’s claim that it was on her desk, per Trump’s orders, lit a fuse among conservatives.
“It is sitting on my desk right now to review,” Bondi said, tossing in JFK and MLK files for good measure. Her words, meant to signal transparency, instead birthed a frenzy of speculation. The progressive media, ever eager to pounce, framed it as Trump chasing ghosts.
Six days later, on Feb. 27, conservative influencers like Chaya Raichik and Jack Posobiec were handed “Epstein Files: Phase 1” binders at the White House. Photos of them clutching these binders went viral, hyping a “Phase 2” or “Phase 3” reveal. The stunt backfired, inflating hopes for a smoking gun that never materialized.
Administration officials now admit the binder release was a colossal error. It shaped public perception that a grand exposé was imminent. Instead, it handed ammo to woke critics who mocked the lack of substance.
In May 2025, FBI Director Kash Patel and Deputy Director Dan Bongino took to Fox News, doubling down on the notion that Epstein's death was a suicide. Their defense aimed to tamp down conspiracy theories but only deepened the MAGA base’s skepticism. The FBI’s track record hardly inspires trust.
Bondi’s February comments, she now says, were a mix-up. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt clarified on July 6 that Bondi meant Epstein-related documents broadly, not a specific “client list.” A source close to Bondi admitted she was clueless about the documents’ contents during the interview.
Some allies of Bondi blame her team’s poor prep for the Fox News gaffe. Lower-level officials are said to have fed her vague talking points, leaving her exposed. Yet, Leavitt insisted on July 6 that Trump still backed Bondi, dismissing any talk of internal strife.
“President Trump is proud of Attorney General Bondi’s efforts,” Leavitt declared, swatting away rumors of discord. Trump’s confidence in Bondi, a seasoned prosecutor, remains unshaken. The woke press, predictably, spins this as chaos in the ranks.
A senior official revealed Bondi’s “client list” comment was made despite knowing no such list existed. The DOJ’s post-binder scramble was about damage control, not truth-seeking. Two officials called it a cover-up of their own blunder, not of Epstein’s secrets.
The July 5 memo left some MAGA influencers crying foul, with calls for Bondi’s resignation echoing on social media. A source noted that a few X accounts profited by peddling dark web conspiracies, not reflecting the broader party’s views. These grifters thrive on outrage, not facts.
“You can arrest all the drug leaders, but people want closure on this case,” one official told the Caller, urging Bondi to bridge the gap. The public’s hunger for answers clashes with the DOJ’s flat findings. Closure feels like a pipe dream.
Trump, during a July 8 cabinet meeting, signaled he’s done with the Epstein saga. “Are you still talking about Jeffrey Epstein?” he snapped at a reporter, pivoting to Texas tragedies and successes. His frustration mirrors a base tired of dead-end probes.
Sealed documents in ongoing cases keep the Epstein story murky. The July 5 memo emerged with little warning, leaving even insiders in the dark. For now, Trump’s team wants to move on, but the MAGA faithful may not let go so easily.
