Washington — President Trump stated the continued controversy over his administration’s dealing with of data associated to little one intercourse offender Jeffrey Epstein is a “Hoax” and “bulls***,” criticizing members of his personal celebration who’re calling for extra transparency as “weaklings.”
In a post on Truth Social on Wednesday morning, the president in contrast the uproar over the Justice Division’s dealing with of the so-called Epstein information to previous controversies, just like the investigation into his 2016 marketing campaign’s attainable ties to Russia and Hunter Biden’s laptop computer.
“[T]hese Scams and Hoaxes are all of the Democrats are good at – It is all they’ve – They’re no good at governing, no good at coverage, and no good at selecting profitable candidates,” he wrote. “Additionally, in contrast to Republicans, they stick collectively like glue. Their new SCAM is what we are going to endlessly name the Jeffrey Epstein Hoax, and my PAST supporters have purchased into this ‘bullshit,’ hook, line, and sinker.”
He continued: “I’ve had extra success in 6 months than maybe any President in our Nation’s historical past, and all these folks need to discuss, with sturdy prodding by the Faux Information and the success starved Dems, is the Jeffrey Epstein Hoax. Let these weaklings proceed ahead and do the Democrats work, do not even take into consideration speaking of our unimaginable and unprecedented success, as a result of I do not need their assist anymore!”
Mr. Trump’s assertion highlighted the deep divisions in his celebration over the dealing with of the Epstein case, together with amongst a few of his strongest supporters.
The present controversy started final week, when the Justice Division issued the findings of an inside assessment of the proof in opposition to Epstein, a well-connected financier who was convicted of intercourse trafficking and died in federal custody in 2019. The division stated the assessment discovered no “shopper record” or proof that Epstein had blackmailed outstanding figures.
The memo was met with anger from lots of Mr. Trump’s supporters, who’ve lengthy referred to as for extra transparency concerning the Epstein information, which they imagine may implicate different highly effective figures in Epstein’s crimes.
The assessment additionally uncovered inside divisions throughout the administration itself. FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino clashed with Lawyer Common Pam Bondi over the Justice Division’s dealing with of the case, and outstanding conservatives have referred to as for Bondi to be fired or resign over her resolution to withhold any extra information. The president has defended Bondi’s work on the case, telling reporters on Tuesday that she has “dealt with it very effectively.”
Outstanding Democrats have pressured their GOP colleagues to push for extra transparency from the administration, up to now unsuccessfully. Two procedural maneuvers within the Home that will have required the administration to disclose extra proof concerning the Epstein case failed to beat GOP opposition earlier this week.
However Mr. Trump’s supporters in conservative media and his fellow Republicans on Capitol Hill are persevering with to name for the administration to launch extra of what the federal government is aware of concerning the Epstein case. Home Speaker Mike Johnson, Mr. Trump’s closest congressional ally, advised conservative podcast host Benny Johnson that he’s “for transparency” in an interview on Tuesday.
“It is a very delicate topic, however you must put all the things on the market, let the folks resolve it,” the speaker stated. “Pam Bondi wants to return ahead and clarify it to the American folks. Let’s get this factor resolved.”
Different Republicans have referred to as on Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s former companion who’s serving a 20-year prison sentence on prices associated to intercourse trafficking, to testify earlier than Congress. GOP Sen. Josh Hawley stated that senators “must name her within the Judiciary Committee, put it beneath oath and have her testify.”
The president has tried to tamp down the controversy inside his celebration since final week, saying on Tuesday that the Epstein case is “fairly boring stuff.”
“I do not perceive it, why they might be so . He is [been] lifeless for a very long time, he was by no means an enormous issue by way of life. I do not perceive what the curiosity or what the fascination is,” he advised reporters. “I actually do not, and the credible info has been given.”
contributed to this report.
