Hyped release of 'Epstein Files' sparks anger and disappointment on right
A much-ballyhooed release of documents related to the Jeffrey Epstein case devolved into anger and disappointment Thursday, with conservative figures and even Attorney General Pam Bondi alleging FBI agents were hiding the full case files.
A much-ballyhooed release of documents related to the Jeffrey Epstein case devolved into anger and disappointment Thursday, with conservative figures and even Attorney General Pam Bondi alleging FBI agents were hiding the full case files.
Epstein, a New York City financier whose social circle included presidents and other rich and powerful figures, died by suicide in a Manhattan jail in 2019 after he was charged with running a sex trafficking ring involving minors.
His case has long been an obsession of those who are convinced that the names of prominent figures involved in his sex trafficking network have been kept secret. Conspiracy theorists have also speculated without real evidence that Epstein didn’t die by suicide but was in fact killed in his jail cell to prevent names from leaking out.
Thousands of law enforcement files have been released over the years with no such smoking gun revelations. (Some have been redacted or sealed to protect victims and because of ongoing civil and criminal litigation.) The content that was ultimately released Thursday appears to have already been public. Most of the material was exhibits used in the trial of an Epstein associate.
But people on the right pushed the new Trump administration for the latest release. And leading up to it, there was discussion in right-wing social media circles suggesting that this time, with President Donald Trump back in office, would be different.
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