DR KOBBY BARDA -- In recent weeks, a bitter internal battle has erupted within the Trump administration over the Jeffrey Epstein files. What began as a legal question has become a flashpoint among conservatives.
Jeffrey Epstein, arrested years ago on charges of trafficking underage girls, was found dead in his cell under circumstances the authorities ruled a suicide. However, prominent far-right figures like Dan Bongino and Kash Patel have long claimed there's a secret “client list” of powerful people that’s being hidden from the public.
When Trump appointed longtime ally Pam Bondi as Attorney General in early 2025, many believed she would break the silence. Bondi hinted she had explosive evidence, including visuals from Epstein’s private island. Hopes surged among Trump supporters who believe in a “deep state” cover-up.
But a joint memo released recently by the Justice Department and FBI declared there was no client list, no wrongdoing by top officials, and reaffirmed the suicide ruling. The backlash was immediate: Bongino, now FBI Deputy Director, accused Bondi of whitewashing and misleading the public. Patel, now FBI Director and once a Bondi supporter, voiced disappointment and may even step down over it.