Dems say voters were conned. Trump says it's time to move on. Latest on Epstein conflict.
WASHINGTON – Top congressional Democrats are continuing to pressure Trump administration officials to follow through on their long-promised release of the Jeffrey Epstein files. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump said the files were "made up" by his rivals, and he resisted calls to simply release them.
Here's the latest on the fallout:
For months, Attorney General Pam Bondi promised to release new information about financier and convicted sex offender Epstein, who died in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex-trafficking charges. New York's chief medical examiner ruled Epstein's death a suicide, but some – including many Trump loyalists – have questioned that finding and whether the government is shielding Epstein's potential clients from public view.
Bondi told Fox News host Sean Hannity on March 3 that she had a "truckload" of Epstein files delivered to the FBI, which were being reviewed as part of her plans to provide more sunlight.
"It's infuriating that these people (the Biden administration) thought that they could sit on this information, but they can't," Bondi said. "It's a new day, and we believe in transparency, and it's going to come out."
Then, on July 7, Bondi's Department of Justice released a memo stating that a "systematic review" of documents "revealed no incriminating 'client list,' " and "no further disclosure would be appropriate or warranted."
At a July 8 cabinet meeting, Trump suggested the topic was old news.
"Are people still talking about this guy, this creep?" he asked a reporter who questioned Bondi about the memo. "That is unbelievable."
Democrats seize on MAGA uproar over Epstein memo
The move, which followed years of Trump associates saying the Biden administration was hiding a list of Epstein clients from the public, caused an uproar from some within Trump's most loyal base.
"I'm going to go throw up, actually," right-wing radio show host Alex Jones said in a July 7 video in response to the news.
"No one believes there is not a client list," Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene posted on X July 8.
Democrats have seized on the splintering among MAGA loyalists, calling for the files to be released and pushing for a congressional vote on the matter.
"If you're not hiding anything, prove that to the American people," said House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries on July 15. "And if you are trying to hide something, as many of Donald Trump's MAGA supporters apparently believe, then the Congress should actually work hard to try to uncover the truth for the American people."
Trump says Epstein files were 'made up' by rivals
House Democrats have been pushing for congressional action this week to pressure the Trump administration into greater transparency.
Rep. Marc Veasey, D-Texas, introduced a resolution on July 14 that would demand Trump officials release all unclassified files related to Epstein and any of his known associates, with redactions only to protect minor victims and ongoing prosecutions.
Rep. Ro Khanna, D-California, brought forward an amendment to a cryptocurrency bill that would have required Bondi to preserve Epstein-related documents and release them within 30 days of the bill becoming law.
In a rare break from Trump, Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson said in a July 15 interview with right-wing media personality Benny Johnson, "We should put everything out there and let the people decide."
So far, the efforts have fallen flat.
A Republican-controlled House committee voted down Khanna's amendment on July 14, while Trump attempted to cast doubt on July 15 on whatever the files may contain. He told reporters the files were "made up" by people who oppose him, naming former Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden, as well as former FBI Director James Comey.
"Whatever she (Bondi) thinks is credible, she should release," Trump added.
'It's boring'
Speaking to reporters later in the day, Trump expressed frustration about the continued interest in Epstein.
"It's sordid, but it's boring, and I don't understand why it keeps going," he said. "But credible information, let them give it. Anything that's credible, I would say, let them have it."
The DOJ didn't respond to Paste BN's request for comment on whether, following the president's remarks, Bondi would be releasing more files.
Contributing: Sudiksha Kochi, Savannah Kuchar, Joey Garrison and Zac Anderson