Epstein File Release Sparks Mixed Reactions Amid Claims of Transparency and Political Division
Attorney General Pam Bondi posted on X claiming that former President Donald Trump is leading the most transparent administration, linking this to efforts to release documents related to Jeffrey Epstein and a July attempted assassination.
The Department of Justice's Friday release of the Epstein files was largely redacted and yielded little new material. The DoJ had previously stated that there is no Epstein client list and dismissed theories surrounding Epstein's death. The documents include images featuring high-profile figures with Epstein; however, these photographs were not presented as evidence of wrongdoing.
In response to media coverage, White House staffer Susie Wiles described a Vanity Fair piece about Epstein as a hit piece and argued that Trump has yet to solidify a lasting Republican majority. Supporting this perspective, a Manhattan Institute poll found that about one-third of Trump supporters are new entrant Republicans, and just over half of this group would definitely back a Republican candidate in 2026, highlighting a fragile coalition.
Following the release, conservative influencers invited to a Department of Justice binder event remained silent or divided; Laura Loomer claimed exoneration based on the documents. Congressional reaction was varied: Marjorie Taylor Greene criticized the release as "NOT MAGA," Representative Thomas Massie, who spearheaded the release legislation, accused Bondi of violating the law, while Ro Khanna supported greater transparency and suggested that discussions about inherent contempt might be warranted.
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche pledged that hundreds of thousands more Epstein-related documents would be released before the end of the year.
