--- title: What Republicans Have Said About the Epstein Controversy description: The Trump Administration’s handling of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein’s case is opening divides in the GOP. canonical: https://time.com/7302441/epstein-trump-bondi-republicans-maga/ author: Solcyré Burga article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2025-07-16T16:37:35.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-10-19T08:09:00.084Z article:section: Politics og:title: What Republicans Have Said About the Epstein Controversy og:description: The Trump Administration’s handling of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein’s case is opening divides in the GOP. og:url: https://time.com/7302441/epstein-trump-bondi-republicans-maga/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt6d9a04940d4ba7cf/6998c84e7323af4dd72bcb0f/marjorie-taylor-greene-republicans-trump-epstein.jpg?branch=production&width=1024&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 1024 og:image:height: 576 og:image:alt: Delivering On Government Efficiency Subcommittee Holds Hearing On Foreign Aid og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: What Republicans Have Said About the Epstein Controversy twitter:description: The Trump Administration’s handling of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein’s case is opening divides in the GOP. twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt6d9a04940d4ba7cf/6998c84e7323af4dd72bcb0f/marjorie-taylor-greene-republicans-trump-epstein.jpg?branch=production&width=1024&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # What Republicans Have Said About the Epstein Controversy > Sponsored content. 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It explains the politics, personalities and power dynamics behind the headlines, twice a week. #### Where can I get analysis of Washington politics by email? D.C. Brief is TIME's free Washington politics newsletter, available at time.com/newsletters. It is written by a TIME senior correspondent who covers the capital full time. #### Who writes TIME's D.C. Brief? Philip Elliott, a senior correspondent at TIME, writes D.C. Brief. #### Is D.C. Brief free? Yes. D.C. Brief is free at time.com/newsletters. ### Sources * TIME Newsletters: [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3/newsletters?i=4ddf062f-5d32-4fef-b0ce-441ce54cf281&cr=time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3-v1) ## Video: Trump Decries ‘Jeffrey Epstein Hoax’ and Mocks Those Still Raising Issue [Watch (HLS stream): Trump Decries ‘Jeffrey Epstein Hoax’ and Mocks Those Still Raising Issue](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/W8YMWpKS.m3u8) (2:25)  _Published 2025-07-16. The outburst followed weeks of mounting pressure on Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi over the Justice Department’s reversal on long-promised disclosures related to the Epstein investigation. The Trump Administration has now insisted that no “client list” exists—despite years of signaling otherwise._  by [Solcyré Burga](https://time.com/author/solcyre-burga/)  ## Solcyré Burga Reporter Jul 16, 2025 4:37 PM UTC The outburst followed weeks of mounting pressure on Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi over the Justice Department’s reversal on long-promised disclosures related to the Epstein investigation. The Trump Administration has now insisted that no “client list” exists—despite years of signaling otherwise.  by [Solcyré Burga](https://time.com/author/solcyre-burga/)  ## Solcyré Burga Reporter Jul 16, 2025 4:37 PM UTC The Trump Administration’s handling of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein’s case is opening divides among Republican lawmakers, officials, and right-wing media figures as the President confronts a [wave of backlash](https://time.com/7302081/trump-epstein-files-maga-base-lose-supporters-conspiracy-theorists-transparency/) from his MAGA supporters. A [memo](https://www.justice.gov/opa/media/1407001/dl?inline) released by the Department of Justice and FBI that denies the existence of an Epstein “client list” and states that he died by suicide, aiming to put to bed conspiracies surrounding the disgraced financier harbored by those on the right, has sparked widespread outcry from President Donald Trump’s MAGA base. “I don’t understand what the interest or what the fascination is,” Trump told reporters at Joint Base Andrews on Tuesday, speaking of public interest in Epstein. “The credible information’s been given.” **Read more:** [_Trump Decries ‘Jeffrey Epstein Hoax’ and Mocks Those Still Raising Issue Are ‘Past Supporters’_](https://time.com/7302661/trump-jeffrey-epstein-hoax/) Amid the blowback, Trump allies from House Speaker Mike Johnson to right-wing activist Laura Loomer have broken with the Administration over its handling of the issue, while some other conservatives have voiced support—or sought to avoid the controversy. ## Prominent voices on the right clash with the Trump Administration **Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene** of Georgia, an outspoken MAGA voice in Congress, [told](https://www.cnn.com/2025/07/14/politics/video/mtg-epstein-trump-maga-raju-digvid) CNN that the Trump Administration’s mishandling of files related to Epstein’s case, which Trump pledged to release during his 2024 campaign, is “just a red line that it crosses for many people.” “This is something that’s been talked about by many people serving in the Administration, myself and many others on the right and the left of there needing to be transparency of the rich and powerful elites,” she added. Conspiracy theories about Epstein’s case were previously promoted by multiple high-ranking members of the Administration, including [Vice President J.D. Vance](https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/us-politics/vance-epstein-tweets-trump-bondi-b2784393.html) and [FBI Director Kash Patel](https://x.com/bennyjohnson/status/1737167456374862197?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1737167456374862197%7Ctwgr%5E0df928dff82ba756dbacc349eff506b74b84d249%7Ctwcon%5Es1%5F&ref%5Furl=https%3A%2F%2Fnypost.com%2F2025%2F07%2F13%2Fus-news%2Fkash-patel-insists-conspiracy-theories-just-arent-true-amid-epstein-firestorm%2F). Over the weekend, however, Patel said in a post on [X](https://x.com/Kash%5FPatel/status/1944101148903760317) that “the conspiracy theories just aren’t true, never have been.” **Sen. John Kennedy** of Louisiana told [_NBC News_](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/conservatives-congress-break-trump-handling-epstein-files-rcna218850) that he understands the public intrigue surrounding Epstein, “who he trafficked those women to and why they weren’t prosecuted.” “I think the Justice Department is going to have to go back to the drawing board in answering those questions,” he said. **Rep. Tim Burchett** of Tennessee told [The Hill](https://thehill.com/homenews/house/5402215-republicans-democrats-vote-epstein-files/) he “would just like the files to be turned over.” **Rep. Lauren Boebert** of Colorado, another outspoken MAGA lawmaker, on Tuesday called for the appointment of a special counsel in the matter, floating former Rep. Matt Gaetzfor the role. “We deserve the truth about the Epstein Files,” she wrote in a post on [X](https://x.com/laurenboebert/status/1945208754246394016). “I'm ready for a Special Counsel to handle this.” Right-wing media commentators have also contributed to the blowback.“The fact that the U.S. government, the one that I voted for, refused to take my question seriously and instead said, ‘Case closed, shut up conspiracy theorist,’ was too much for me,” right-wing commentator and former Fox News host **Tucker Carlson** said in a speech at Turning Point USA Student Action Summit on Friday. Far-right activist and Trump ally **Laura Loomer** warned that the “lack of transparency” would cost Republicans House and Senate seats in a[ post on X](https://x.com/LauraLoomer/status/1944168138511389121). In an [interview with Politico,](https://www.politico.com/newsletters/playbook/2025/07/14/trumps-epstein-headache-isnt-going-away-00450756?nname=playbook&nid=0000014f-1646-d88f-a1cf-5f46b7bd0000&nrid=0000014e-f115-dd93-ad7f-f91513e50001) Loomer called for a special counsel to “independently investigate the handling of the Epstein files.” **Read more:** [_The Jeffrey Epstein Scandal Is Snowballing and Trump Can’t Seem to Stop It_](https://time.com/7302426/jeffrey-epstein-files-trump-takeaways/) Attorney General Pam Bondi has faced particular ire. Bondi in February [stated](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/bondi-says-epstein-client-list-sitting-my-desk-right-now-reviewing-jfk-mlk-files) that Epstein’s alleged “client list” was “sitting on my desk right now to review.” The same month, the Justice Department released a cache of files related to Epstein’s case that were heavily redacted and mostly consisted of information that had previously been made public despite Bondi’s promises that the documents would include flight logs and the names of people involved, leaving many underwhelmed. Following the release of the memo last week, Bondi said that she had been referring to the case file on Epstein in the February interview as opposed to a “client list.” Trump defended Bondi, writing in a Truth Social [post](https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/114842356238631061) earlier this week that the Attorney General “is doing a FANTASTIC JOB!” But others on the right have voiced a much more critical sentiment. After initially [saying](https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2025/07/14/congress/mike-johnson-pam-bondi-epstein-00451588) he trusted the Administration to make the “right decision,” **House Speaker Mike Johnson** urged Bondi to “come forward and explain” what happened with the Epstein “client list” in an interview with youtuber Benny Johnson. “I’m for transparency,” the House lawmaker said. “It’s a very delicate subject but we should put everything out there and let the people decide it.” Still, he opposed Democratic efforts to release files related to Epstein. "I'm sure it's a relief for Pam Bondi to hear the president is still in her corner. Unfortunately, huge swaths of the party are not,” conservative commentator **Megyn Kelly** wrote [on X.](https://x.com/megynkelly/status/1944179015796896021) “She repeatedly misled on Epstein. Then didn't have the courage to explain herself. Suddenly, she's camera shy & no Qs allowed. Good luck!" Carlson blamed Bondi for the backlash facing the Trump Administration in an [NBC News interview](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/tucker-carlson-maga-trump-rcna217473) published earlier this week. Saying he now thinks the Justice Department doesn’t have “much relevant information about Jeffrey Epstein’s sex crimes,” Carlson told the outlet, “Rather than just admit that, Pam Bondi made a bunch of ludicrous claims on cable news shows that she couldn’t back up, and this current outrage is the result.” Inside the department, FBI Deputy Director **Dan Bongino**, who previously [promoted conspiracy theories](https://x.com/BlueATLGeorgia/status/1944053586561781814) about a government coverup related to Epstein’s case, has reportedly had a [falling out with Bondi over the issue and ](https://www.cnn.com/2025/07/14/politics/dan-bongino-epstein)[threatened to quit](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/12/us/politics/trump-bondi-epstein-bongino.html)[.](https://www.cnn.com/2025/07/14/politics/dan-bongino-epstein) Republican **Rep. Thomas Massie** of Kentucky, who has [clashed with Trump](https://time.com/7296692/thomas-massie-trump-mr-no-contrarian-obbb-iran-primary-campaign/) on issues from Iran to the President’s “Big Beautiful Bill,” on Tuesday announced he was launching an effort to force a vote on the release of files related to Epstein’s case alongside Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna of California with a procedural tool known as a discharge petition. “We all deserve to know what’s in the Epstein files, who’s implicated, and how deep this corruption goes,” Massie [said](https://massie.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=395739) in a statement, adding, “If your Representative won’t sign the discharge petition, ask why.” ## Some GOP members of Congress voice support—or dodge the issue Still, some Republican lawmakers, including **Chuck Grassley** of Iowa, have made public statements in support of Administration officials or are backing off from making any strong comments about the issue at all. Grassley said that based on what he knows he does believe Bondi provided enough information about Epstein, though he [told _The Hill_](https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5400808-epstein-files-trump-justice-department/)that he “always urge\[s\] the greatest of transparency.” **Sen. Jim Jordan** of Ohio, a strong Trump ally, told [_NBC News_](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/conservatives-congress-break-trump-handling-epstein-files-rcna218850) he trusted the President and his team. **Senate Majority Leader John Thune** and **Sen. John Cornyn** echoed the sentiment [by deferring](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/conservatives-congress-break-trump-handling-epstein-files-rcna218850) to Trump on the matter. **Rep. Darrell Issa** of California spoke more strongly in support of Trump, saying that much of what his base [believes about the case simply](https://thehill.com/homenews/house/5402215-republicans-democrats-vote-epstein-files/) isn’t true. “I trust the people who reported it to us and who looked at them,” Issa said. As a number of Republican lawmakers have looked to avoid the controversy, Democratic lawmakers have sought to take advantage of it by forcing their GOP colleagues to show their cards. Rep. Khanna introduced an amendment to a cryptocurrency bill that would have required Bondi to release the Epstein files. “This is a question of whose side are you on?” Khanna [said](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1dOhoPGHYbeUKIw%5Fqsi3QMVuTuMt7IxKqjT0gx4cjnIE/edit?usp=sharing) on the House floor on Monday. [Most of the Republicans on the House Rules Committee](https://x.com/RoKhanna/status/1944969799123005732/photo/1)—Reps. **Virginia Foxx**, **Michelle Fischbach**, **Erin Houchin**, **Nicholas Langworthy**, **Austin Scott**, **Morgan Griffith**, and **Brian Jack**—voted to block the amendment. **Rep. Ralph Norman** of South Carolina was the sole Republican on the panel to vote to advance it for the consideration of the full House. Rep. Chip Roy did not vote. Langworthy defended his vote by saying that Democrats politicized the amendment. “He voted no because it was a pointless political gimmick, not a path to justice,” a spokesperson from Langworthy’s office [told](https://www.news10.com/news/ny-news/new-york-congressmember-defends-voting-not-to-release-epstein-files/) ABC News 10\. “I think most of us believe what's appropriate will be released when it is time for the president to release it,” [said Foxx](https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/07/15/mike-johnson-epstein-files-democrats-house-vote/), who chairs the committee. **Read more:** [_Democratic Congressman Introduces Resolution Demanding Trump Release Epstein Files: ‘I’m Very Concerned About the Way They Handled This Case’_](https://time.com/7302296/jeffrey-epstein-files-trump-marc-veasey/) A similar move by Democratic Sen. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland last week won more Republican support, however. Van Hollen [introduced](https://x.com/ChrisVanHollen/status/1945273694156173467) an amendment to a funding bill before the Senate Appropriations Committee that would force the Justice Department to retain Epstein files, and provide a report to Congress on the history of the case. The committee approved it unanimously with bipartisan support. ## Transcript [00:00] You said this was all a hoax. [00:01] Has your attorney general told you this was a hoax? [00:03] What evidence have you seen. [00:04] The attorney general know? I know it's a hoax. [00:06] It's started by Democrats. [00:08] It's been run by the Democrats for four years. [00:11] You had Christopher Wray and these characters and Comey before him, [00:14] and it's a bad group. [00:17] It started actually, look at the Steele dossier that turned out to be a total hoax. [00:22] The 51 agents, the intelligence, [00:24] so-called intelligence agents. It was a hoax. [00:27] It's all been a hoax perpetrated by the Democrats and [00:30] some stupid Republicans and foolish Republicans fall into the net. [00:35] And so they try and do the Democrats work. [00:38] The Democrats are good for nothing other than these hoaxes. [00:41] They're bad for policy. [00:43] They're bad for picking candidates. [00:45] They can get elected. [00:47] Like in New York. [00:49] We have a communist running. [00:50] He may get elected to, actually, [00:52] but he's going to he'll destroy the city. [00:54] No, no, it's I call it the Epstein hoax. [00:57] Instead of talking about the things we've achieved, [00:59] we've had tremendous achievement. [01:02] They're wasting their time with a guy who obviously has some very serious problems, [01:08] who died 3 or 4 years ago. [01:11] I'd rather talk about the success we have with the economy, [01:15] the best we've ever had, [01:16] and all of the things we've done, [01:18] including the Middle East. I mean, you see it. [01:21] Instead, they want to talk about the Epstein hoax. [01:23] And the sad part is it's people that are really doing the Democrats work. [01:30] Will you ask Attorney General Pam Bondi to [01:32] release more documents to finally put this controversy to bed? [01:35] Well, whatever's credible, she can release it. [01:38] If a document is credible, [01:39] if a document is there that is credible, she can release. [01:43] I think it's I think it's good, [01:45] but but it's just really it's just a subject. [01:48] He's dead. He's gone. [01:50] And, uh, all it is, [01:52] is the Republicans, certain Republicans got duped by the Democrats, [01:56] and they're following a Democrat playbook and no different than Russia, [02:01] Russia, Russia and all the other hoaxes. [02:03] They're they're started by the Democrats and some Republicans. [02:08] In this case, I was surprised, [02:09] but, uh, they got duped. [02:12] You mentioned past supporters when you were talking about the Epstein issue. [02:16] Does that mean that you're effectively disowning any supporters who are now? [02:19] But I lost a lot of faith in certain people. 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