The United States Department of Justice and the FBI have released a memo stating there is no evidence that disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein kept a “client list” or was blackmailing powerful figures. The document, made public on Sunday, also concluded that Epstein’s death in a New York prison in 2019 was a suicide, dismissing claims that he was murdered. This official stance marks a significant moment, being the first time Trump administration officials have publicly refuted narratives widely promoted by numerous right-wing figures, some of whom were later appointed to positions within the administration.
Within the fervent pro-Trump “Make America Great Again” (MAGA) movement, which has long maintained a belief that “Deep State” elites were protecting Epstein’s most powerful associates, often alleged to be in the Democratic Party and Hollywood, the backlash has been swift and intensely critical. The administration’s findings directly contradict deeply held convictions within this base, leading to widespread expressions of anger and disappointment directed towards various figures.
The controversy has prominently featured on Fox News, a network often reflecting the sentiments of the conservative base. On Monday night, host Jesse Watters dedicated a lengthy segment to the issue, expressing intense skepticism regarding the administration’s official narrative. While careful to avoid direct criticism of President Donald Trump, Watters stated, “this just reeks,” voicing a sentiment shared across parts of the right-wing media landscape.
Watters, who has previously promoted Epstein-related conspiracy theories, directed his frustration primarily towards “the feds” and Attorney General Pam Bondi. His segment demanded “answers” following the release of the unsigned, two-page memo from the Department of Justice and FBI, which explicitly stated that no one else would face charges related to Epstein’s sex trafficking and that a “systematic review revealed no incriminating ‘client list.’”
The memo further asserted there was “no credible evidence found that Epstein blackmailed prominent individuals” and that they “did not uncover evidence that could predicate an investigation against uncharged third parties.” It also cited video footage supporting the conclusion of suicide, noting it was from the common area of the Special Housing Unit where Epstein was housed.
However, Watters questioned these findings, referencing the 2019 raids on Epstein’s homes where surveillance footage, hard drives, disks, and tapes were seized. He pondered, “Epstein had hundreds of high-profile people spend time at his homes. Nothing bad happened? Was that another glitch?” drawing a parallel to the controversy surrounding a missing minute from the jailhouse video and other instances of lost information, such as emails.
He recalled that Pam Bondi and Trump loyalist Alina Habba had previously promised “shocking” evidence in the Epstein probe back in February, suggesting it would lead to criminal charges. Instead, Bondi subsequently released “Phase One” binders to a group of pro-Trump influencers, which were later found to contain largely already-public information. This disparity between promises and outcomes has become a focal point for critics.
During Monday’s White House press briefing, Fox News correspondent Peter Doocy pressed Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt on the apparent contradiction, asking, “According to the report, this systematic review revealed no incriminating client list. So what happened to the Epstein client list that the attorney general said she had on her desk?” Leavitt responded by stating Bondi was speaking in generalities, referring to “the entirety of all of the paperwork and relation to Jeffrey Epstein’s crimes.”
Watters also brought guests onto his show to speculate on the possibility of a vast “deep state” cover-up designed to protect potential Epstein clients, particularly those involved in government and foreign intelligence agencies. Former CIA officer John Kiriakou suggested, “We don’t know anything because the FBI does not want us to know anything,” adding, “I think that layer beneath them – that is part of what we like to call the deep state – has taken this bull by the horns, they have probably destroyed information.”
While Kiriakou expressed belief that FBI Director Kash Patel and Deputy Director Dan Bongino were not directly to blame, Watters ultimately concluded his segment by suggesting that the heads of the DOJ and FBI should face additional criticism for the handling of the matter. He stated, “There were no files? There were no dossiers? I’m sorry I don’t buy it. I know how these people operate,” before adding, “And Pam Bondi, Kash Patel, great Americans – but this stinks. This just reeks!” Notably absent from Watters’ commentary was any direct criticism of President Trump.
This approach of directing blame away from the president and onto his subordinates, particularly Bondi, Patel, and Bongino, has been a common strategy among MAGA media figures following the memo’s release. Will Cain, another Fox News host, echoed this sentiment earlier on Monday, expressing alarm over the DOJ’s findings and criticizing Bondi.
Cain told right-wing radio host Buck Sexton that it was “pretty hard to stomach where we sit today based upon the expectation set by the attorney general herself just a few months ago.” He raised fundamental questions about Epstein’s origins and connections, asking, “How did Epstein go from being a math teacher to a global financier moving markets and moving money?” and “How did he go from Westchester, New York, to all of these massive connections around the globe? Who is Ghislaine Maxwell?” He concluded that these questions remain unanswered and that the recent memo was unlikely to resolve the public’s concerns.
The focus on Bondi, Patel, and Bongino, who had previously promoted Epstein-related conspiracy theories themselves before their appointments, was anticipated. These figures have faced increasing criticism from conservatives in recent months for not delivering on prior promises and for now asserting Epstein’s death was a suicide. However, the situation has led to speculation regarding a potential point where the criticism might extend beyond these individuals and reach the president himself.
Adding complexity to the situation, President Trump recently responded defensively when asked about the Epstein probe. On Tuesday, he chastised Steven Nelson, a reporter for The New York Post, for asking about the “missing minute” in the jailhouse video. Trump called the Epstein queries a “waste of time” and a “desecration,” given the context of other recent events.
This public reaction from the president, seemingly attempting to shut down questions about a topic his supporters have long fixated on, has added fuel to the ongoing controversy. Conservative commentator Patrick Bet-David, a longtime Trump supporter, criticized the president’s response, calling it “the biggest fumble of the administration they’ve had thus far.” Bet-David noted that Epstein was highly trending on social media, indicating significant public interest, and suggested the administration was not presenting a united message on the issue.
Bet-David estimated that a substantial portion of Trump voters, around 20%, are interested in the Epstein files. He characterized the situation as a “big letdown,” warning that such defensive answers from the administration would only draw more attention to the issue. He speculated that the administration’s apparent nervousness could stem from wariness about the contents of the files or a desire to retain information for potential leverage.
The release of the memo and the subsequent reactions have occurred alongside other points of tension within the MAGA movement. Supporters have expressed anger over the announcement that weapons supply to Ukraine would resume, as well as previous actions such as the bombing of Iran nuclear sites and statements calling for an easing of immigration raids on farms. These disagreements highlight broader schisms emerging within the base.
The controversy also coincides with political pressure on Trump from other quarters, including the launch of a new political party by his estranged former aide, Elon Musk. Musk had a public disagreement with the president last month over federal spending. During that feud, Musk alleged on X that Trump was named in the Epstein files, a tweet he has since deleted.
