![\"Attorney-general](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/https:\/\/d1e00ek4ebabms.cloudfront.net\/production\/f2e29f2e-54d6-4f80-8b99-bb24d0ea0d7f.jpg\")
Attorney-general Pam Bondi, centre, looks on as President Donald Trump speaks at the White House in Washington last week \u00a9 Andrew Caballero-Reynolds\/AFP\/Getty Images<\/p>\nUnlock the White House Watch newsletter for free<\/p>\n
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Donald Trump is struggling to contain a spiralling crisis over his administration\u2019s handling of files relating to late paedophile Jeffrey Epstein that has exposed a rare fissure in his Maga movement.<\/p>\n
During his election campaign, the president promised to release the so-called Epstein files, which have been at the centre of a long-running conspiracy since the disgraced financier died by suicide in 2019. <\/p>\n
But the Trump administration\u2019s handling of the case has provoked an uproar in the president\u2019s Maga base, with theories about Epstein\u2019s death and so-called \u201cclient list\u201d threatening to cast a long shadow over the White House.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen people voted for President Trump, releasing the Epstein files was something that was promised to the base,\u201d far-right activist and Maga influencer Laura Loomer told Politico on Monday. \u201cThe base is unhappy, and I think that this issue isn\u2019t going to go away.\u201d<\/p>\n
Trump\u2019s problems began when the justice department and the FBI last week published a two-page memo after what they described as an \u201cexhaustive review\u201d of material relating to the disgraced financier who in August 2019 was found hanging in a New York jail cell while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges involving dozens of underage girls.<\/p>\n
The memo concluded there was no \u201cclient list\u201d and no \u201ccredible evidence\u201d that Epstein \u201cblackmailed prominent individuals as part of his actions\u201d. It also stated he had died by suicide.<\/p>\n
The findings flew in the face of myriad conspiracy theories that have circulated in the years since Epstein\u2019s death, often at the hands of Trump\u2019s closest allies. <\/p>\n
Prior to entering government, FBI director Kash Patel and deputy director Dan Bongino publicly questioned whether Epstein killed himself or was murdered as part of a vast conspiracy to protect powerful people who had been associated with him.<\/p>\n
When asked about the list of Epstein\u2019s clients by Fox News in February, attorney-general Pam Bondi replied: \u201cIt\u2019s sitting on my desk right now to review.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bondi is now the focus of attack from Maga world, with Loomer and others calling on the president to fire her over the justice department memo.<\/p>\n
Attorney-general Pam Bondi, centre, looks on as President Donald Trump speaks at the White House in Washington last week \u00a9 Andrew Caballero-Reynolds\/AFP\/Getty Images<\/p>\n
So far, Trump has staunchly defended his longtime ally, who is seen as integral to the administration\u2019s efforts to overhaul the judicial system. <\/p>\n
\u201cAre you still talking about Jeffrey Epstein? This guy\u2019s been talked about for years,\u201d he said when a reporter last week tried to ask Bondi a question during a cabinet meeting. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe have Texas, we have this, we have all of the things, and are people still talking about this guy? This creep? That is unbelievable,\u201d the president said. <\/p>\n
Trump went a step further this weekend, saying in a lengthy post on his Truth Social account late Saturday: \u201cWhat\u2019s going on with my \u2018boys\u2019 and, in some cases, \u2018gals?\u2019 They\u2019re all going after Attorney General Pam Bondi, who is doing a FANTASTIC JOB!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cLET PAM BONDI DO HER JOB \u2014 SHE\u2019S GREAT!\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
But Bondi remains in the Maga crosshairs. Several of the loudest voices in the movement criticised the administration\u2019s handling of the Epstein case at a conference organised by conservative activist group Turning Point USA this weekend. <\/p>\n
Former Fox News host Megyn Kelly called the attorney-general the \u201cvillain in this story\u201d in a speech to the gathering. <\/p>\n
\u201cYou either believe that Pam Bondi was telling the truth then, or that she\u2019s telling the truth now, but both cannot be true,\u201d Kelly said, adding that the saga could \u201cactually cost Trump in the midterms\u201d.<\/p>\n
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Prior to entering government, FBI deputy director Dan Bongino publicly questioned whether Epstein killed himself or was murdered as part of a vast conspiracy \u00a9 Kayla Bartkowski\/Getty Images<\/p>\n