For years, the MAGA movement has leaned heavily on conspiracy theories surrounding Jeffrey Epstein, promising bombshell revelations and secret “client lists” that would expose the global elite. But with the justice department’s latest memo debunking those very claims, and Trump allies like Pam Bondi and Kash Patel backpedaling or contradicting their own past statements, the narrative appears to be unraveling.From Bondi’s now-disputed remarks about a “client list” and alleged Epstein videos to Patel’s resurfaced claims of a cover-up by “government gangsters,” the Epstein files have left MAGA scrambling for answers.The DOJ memo decisively debunked several popular conspiracy theories surrounding Epstein’s death and alleged blackmail operation. Among them: that Epstein was murdered, that a “client list” of elite abusers exists, or that video evidence shows prominent individuals engaged in illegal activity.It clarified that there was no evidence suggesting Epstein was murdered or that he maintained any kind of so-called “client list” that has long fueled speculation. The memo also confirmed the government had no plans to release any new materials related to Epstein, directly contradicting prior assurances from Bondi that explosive disclosures were imminent.
Bondi’s ‘client list’, video-related comments spark blowback
Bondi had strongly implied in a February Fox News interview that a long-sought “client list”, allegedly showing who Epstein trafficked underage girls to, was in her hands.“It’s sitting on my desk right now to review. That’s been a directive by President Trump. I’m reviewing that,” she had said, CNN quoted citing the interview.But the DOJ memo now makes clear no such list exists.Another falsehood Bondi promoted: the existence of “tens of thousands of videos” involving Epstein and child sexual abuse.“There are tens of thousands of videos of Epstein with children or child porn, and there are hundreds of victims,” CNN quoted her saying publicly on May 7.But FBI director Kash Patel dismissed that idea weeks later on the Joe Rogan podcast.
The ‘black book’ that Kash Patel wanted Trump to release
A 2023 video of Kash Patel shows him accusing the FBI and what he calls “government gangsters” of covering up key evidence in the Epstein case. Patel, in the video, claimed FBI blocked the release of Epstein’s so-called “black book” and urged Donald Trump to declassify it and other hidden files if re-elected. He also alleged that local law enforcement was pressured with funding threats to stay silent and that intelligence agencies overclassify documents to protect the “deep state.”“The FBI air mailed into that operation and said this is not getting out. Because they do that because they this is another government gangster operation. All these local law enforcement communities get funding from the DOJ and FBI for local programs. And if you don’t cooperate, you’re not getting your million dollars for this, and you’re not getting it. And that’s a lot of money to these local districts. That’s how they play the game. That’s why you don’t have a black book,” he said.Also read: Kash Patel’s old rant on Epstein files goes viral – watch
Trump defends Bondi
Donald Trump defended Bondi on Tuesday saying Epstein had “been talked about for years.” When a reporter attempted to ask Bondi about Epstein, Trump scolded the journalist and said, “Are you still talking about Jeffrey Epstein? This guy’s been talked about for years.” “I can’t believe you’re asking a question on Epstein at a time like this, where we’re having some of the greatest success and also tragedy with what happened in Texas — it just seems like a desecration,” he added.At a White House briefing, press secretary Karoline Leavitt clarified that Pam Bondi wasn’t referring to a specific “client list,” but rather to all documents related to Jeffrey Epstein’s crimes. “She was saying the entirety of all of the paperwork – all of the paper in relation to Jeffrey Epstein’s crimes. That’s what the attorney general was referring to, and I’ll let her speak for that,” Leavitt said.