FBI director Kash Patel was adamant that “the conspiracy theories just aren’t true” amid a brewing MAGA firestorm over notorious sex predator Jeffrey Epstein.
Last week, an FBI and Justice Department memo concluded Epstein didn’t have a “client list,” and the administration released surveillance footage near Epstein’s Manhattan prison cell with a missing minute.
All of this reignited concerns from the MAGA base that the administration isn’t being fully transparent about Epstein.
“The conspiracy theories just aren’t true, never have been. It’s an honor to serve the President of the United States @realDonaldTrump — and I’ll continue to do so for as long as he calls on me,” Patel wrote on X, without referencing the Epstein drama directly.
Patel’s post follows reports that FBI deputy director Dan Bongino clashed with Attorney General Pam Bondi over the Epstein drama and is mulling whether to quit his job as a result.
Back in 2023, Patel told conservative pundit Benny Johnson that the reason the feds hadn’t publicly disclosed more about Epstein’s supposed clients was “because of who’s on that list.”
Both Patel and Bongino have publicly insisted that Epstein killed himself on Aug. 10, 2019, despite a flurry of popular conspiracy theories.
Their boss, Bondi, has been at the center of the current controversy. Back in February, the DOJ had given the first round of Epstein documents to a group of MAGA influencers, but it quickly became apparent that nearly of that information had already been released.
Additionally, earlier this year, Bondi was asked about the DOJ “releasing the list of Jeffrey Epstein’s clients,” and replied that “it’s sitting on my desk right now to review.”
That has led to interpretations that she claimed to have a client list on her desk despite the DOJ and FBI claiming earlier this month that no such list exists.
Numerous MAGA stars have since slammed Bondi and suggested that she should be pushed out of the DOJ, especially if she is at loggerheads with Bongino, a former conservative radio star. But Trump has stood by Bondi.
“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. We have a PERFECT Administration,” Trump fumed on Truth Social Saturday.
He also suggested that any remaining documents on the case were tainted because they were written by his political enemies.
“For years, it’s Epstein, over and over again. Why are we giving publicity to Files written by Obama, Crooked Hillary, Comey, Brennan, and the Losers and Criminals of the Biden Administration,” he added.
“They created the Epstein Files, just like they created the FAKE Hillary Clinton/Christopher Steele Dossier that they used on me, and now my so-called ‘friends’ are playing right into their hands.”
The Epstein drama has proven to be one of the most significant revolts from the MAGA base that Trump has ever faced.
Pressure has mounted from elements of Trump’s base, calling for all the Epstein files to be released. However, Bondi and others have raised concerns about protecting some of the victims’ privacy.
Trump’s former billionaire buddy, turned foe, Elon Musk, weighed in and ripped the president’s
“Seriously. He said ‘Epstein’ half a dozen times while telling everyone to stop talking about Epstein. Just release the files as promised,” Musk wrote on X in response to Trump’s Epstein screed.
Last week, when The Post confronted Bondi over the brewing Epstein sturm und drang, Trump bristled at the mere question.
“Are you still talking about Jeffrey Epstein? This guy’s been talked about for years,” Trump fumed. “Are people still talking about this guy, this creep? That is unbelievable.”
The president was previously acquainted with Epstein and alleged co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell; however, he had a falling out with the sex predator over a Palm Beach property before details about his alleged crimes became more widely known.
Meanwhile, Democrats have sought to capitalize on the growing rift within the MAGA movement over Epstein, claiming that something is fishy.
“Why are the Epstein files still hidden?” Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) declared on X. “Who are the rich & powerful being protected? On Tuesday, I’m introducing an amendment to force a vote demanding the FULL Epstein files be released to the public.”
“The criticism I am receiving is Biden should have done this. Fine. But what is good now for the public? When we have a future Dem President, if Rs say let’s support Medicare for All or tax the wealthy, I wouldn’t call them out about the past. I’d say great. Let’s get it done!”
