U.S. President Donald Trump sharply dismissed questions about Jeffrey Epstein during a recent cabinet meeting, condemning continued focus on the case as a distraction, even amid anger from members of his own MAGA base.
The remarks came a day after a joint FBI–Department of Justice memo concluded that Epstein died by suicide in custody and that no evidence existed of a “client list”—undermining persistent conspiracy theories. Even some longtime Trump allies had expressed outrage over the lack of new revelations.
When Attorney General Pam Bondi was asked whether a client list existed or whether more Epstein-related evidence would be released, Trump interrupted, asking incredulously:
“Are you still talking about Jeffrey Epstein? This guy’s been talked about for years…It just seems like a desecration,” noting that the nation was dealing with both “success and tragedy,” alluding to the recent Texas floods.
Bondi clarified that her earlier comment about having files “on my desk” referred to comprehensive case material—not a client-specific roster—and defended releasing recorded footage confirming Epstein’s suicide while explaining that sensitive materials remained sealed to protect victims .
Trump’s strong rebuke highlighted his desire to shift focus away from Epstein-related questions, despite some in the MAGA movement continuing to demand accountability and unanswered questions from the investigation.
With input from Al Jazeera
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