The White House says President Donald Trump won’t push for a special prosecutor to probe Jeffrey Epstein’s criminal case, amid growing calls for more transparency on the late sex offender’s files.
Significance: Trump’s position poses a risk of distancing his staunch MAGA supporters who insist on full revelation of Epstein-related evidence. This stance could also heighten bipartisan discontent with the Justice Department’s minimal disclosures, potentially damaging confidence in Trump’s transparency commitments.
Current events: On Thursday, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt informed reporters that Trump concurs with congressional leaders regarding the necessity for any legitimate new information from Attorney General Pam Bondi and the DOJ to be made public. However, he isn’t pushing for the appointment of a special prosecutor.
- Calls for more Epstein files have intensified in Congress, with Laura Loomer and ex-advisor Steve Bannon urging a special counsel to bypass the “overwhelmed” DOJ and FBI.
- Bondi’s July decision against further disclosures has sparked backlash from Trump’s base and Democrats alike.
- The DOJ fired New York prosecutor Maurene Comey on Wednesday, who handled Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell’s cases; she’s the daughter of Trump’s fired FBI director James Comey.
Brief overview: In 2019, Epstein reportedly committed suicide following his arrest on charges of child sex trafficking, leaving behind substantial evidence linking prominent personalities such as Trump, Bill Clinton, and Prince Andrew. Trump, who was once an associate of Epstein, asserts that he ended their relationship years before. Initially, Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel vowed openness, releasing some records in April, but have since paused additional disclosures.
The intrigue: Trump’s Truth Social rant labeled the Epstein scrutiny a “Jeffrey Epstein Hoax” orchestrated by “Radical Left Democrats,” dismissing his own supporters as “PAST” for buying into it, revealing a rare rift with his base.
Between the lines: Despite early vows to “lift the veil” on Epstein’s “disgusting actions,” the administration’s reluctance suggests political calculations to avoid dredging up Trump’s past associations, even as bipartisan lawmakers like Reps. Thomas Massie and Ro Khanna push for a House vote on full release.
What they’re saying:
- “Their new SCAM is what we will forever call the Jeffrey Epstein Hoax, and my PAST supporters have bought into this ‘bullshit,’ hook, line, and sinker,” Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social, framing the issue as a Democratic ploy.
- “If a career prosecutor can be fired without reason, fear may seep into the decisions of those who remain,” Maurene Comey wrote in an email to colleagues, warning of tyranny and urging resistance to abuses of power. (LOL)
- “The best thing that the president can do is appoint a special counsel to handle the Epstein files investigation,” Laura Loomer, conservative activist, said Wednesday, echoing far-right demands for direct presidential oversight.
The bottom line: Trump’s refusal to back a special prosecutor could deepen divisions within his coalition, but if new evidence emerges, the White House signals it might still go public—though skepticism abounds given the DOJ’s track record.
