growing number of prominent conservative voices, including close allies of President Donald Trump, are raising alarms over the administration’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case, accusing the Department of Justice of mishandling the investigation and failing to fulfill promises of transparency.
The controversy reignited following the release of a federal report by the FBI and Department of Justice, which stated there was no evidence of a “client list” or foul play in Epstein’s death—long a subject of online speculation. The report reaffirmed the 2019 ruling by New York’s chief medical examiner that Epstein died by suicide while in federal custody. However, many within Trump’s political base have rejected the findings and expressed disappointment in the administration’s response.
Michael Flynn, Pam Bondi, and GOP Tensions
Former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn was among the first to publicly call out the administration. In a message directed at President Trump, Flynn wrote: “Please understand the EPSTEIN AFFAIR is not going away,” warning that unanswered questions could undermine broader political efforts.
Attorney General Pam Bondi, who previously said in a February Fox News interview that the Epstein documents were “on [her] desk,” faced particular backlash after clarifying on July 8 that she had been referring to the overall file, not a specific client list. Her comments triggered days of criticism from within the conservative movement.
The fallout extended to federal law enforcement. FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino reportedly did not report to work and was considering resignation, as per CNN and Semafor reports.
Bannon and Kelly Sound the Alarm
Former White House Chief Strategist Steve Bannon warned of potential electoral repercussions if the administration doesn’t take the issue more seriously. Speaking at Turning Point USA’s Student Action Summit, Bannon said:
“You’re going to lose 10 percent of the MAGA movement. If we lose 10 percent of the MAGA movement right now, we’re going to lose 40 seats in [2026], we’re going to lose the presidency.”
Political commentator Megyn Kelly also expressed skepticism. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), she argued the situation presents two possibilities:
“Either there’s no major revelation in the Epstein files and Pam Bondi misled the public for attention—or there is a significant cover-up happening under Trump’s direction.”
Calls for Transparency Continue
Trump had previously vowed to declassify all files related to Epstein if re-elected, fueling expectations among his supporters for more disclosures. With the recent report falling short of those expectations, critics are demanding the administration provide greater transparency or risk alienating its core base.
The case remains a politically charged issue for the Trump administration, with internal divisions, public dissatisfaction, and fears of political damage surfacing ahead of the 2026 midterms and 2028 presidential race.