The Epstein case turned Republicans against Trump. What the media is writing
Republican supporters are split over the refusal of the administration of US President Donald Trump to publish the files of Jeffrey Epstein, a former financier accused of sexual crimes, around whom conspiracy theories have arisen. Trump's supporters are unhappy, as the release of the documents was his campaign promise. What the world's media write about the scandal is in the Izvestia digest.
The Hill: Trump said he doesn't understand the hype around Epstein
Trump said on July 15 that he did not understand why many of his supporters were so fixated on the case of disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein. The hype about the documents related to Epstein has caused discontent among members of his electorate, who believe in the existence of a compromising list of stars and politicians.
The Hill
"I don't understand why they are so interested. He died a long time ago. He never played a big role during his lifetime. I don't understand what this interest is and what its charm is. To be honest, I don't understand. And reliable information was provided," Trump told reporters as he left the event in Pennsylvania. — It's a pretty boring story. It's gross, but it's boring. And I don't understand why this keeps happening. I think only very bad people, including fake news, want this to continue."
Epstein, who is accused in several cases of trafficking girls for the purpose of sexual exploitation, communicated with people from the highest circles, including Trump, former President Bill Clinton, Britain's Prince Andrew and a number of other celebrities and super-rich people.
NBC News: Trump takes a Swipe at Epstein Conspiracy Theory
Trump has called on people to stop talking about Jeffrey Epstein, but they are not listening to him. Many in his administration are now facing the wrath of people prone to conspiracy theories, whom they considered their most ardent supporters. This anger was provoked by the Justice Department and Trump's own calls to stop asking questions about Epstein, whose name has become synonymous with widespread distrust of the government and the media.
NBC News
"A year ago, our country was dead, and now it's the hottest country in the world," Trump wrote on Truth Social on Saturday. "Let's leave it as it is and not waste time and effort on Jeffrey Epstein, a man no one cares about."
Trump's post only intensified the discussion. After its publication, the number of search queries about Epstein increased dramatically. The consequences of his case, which began to manifest themselves in early June and intensified over the weekend, have affected even some of the most loyal communities to Trump. Trump's post garnered more than 45,000 responses, with many of the most popular comments expressing dissatisfaction with the president.
The Washington Post: Johnson and other Republicans disagree with Trump on Epstein
One of the leading Republicans on Capitol Hill has spoken out against the Trump administration's decision not to release the late Epstein's files. Speaker of the House of Representatives Mike Johnson said he supported the publication of the documents, a few days after the Justice Department announced that the case was effectively closed. Johnson is a close ally of Trump and has never broken with the president so publicly on this issue.
The Washington Post
"I'm for transparency," Johnson told Benny Johnson [on the podcast]. "This is a very sensitive issue, but we have to put everything on public display and let people decide for themselves." Although Johnson has publicly called for the files to be published, he opposed a procedural proposal put forward by Democrats on Tuesday that would have called for a vote in the House of Representatives on the issue of their publication.
Johnson said Attorney General Pam Bondi "should come forward and explain" the confusion she created after she said earlier this year that Epstein's alleged "client list" was on her desk for review, hinting at its imminent publication. Bondi and other Justice Department officials are now claiming that this client list, which some claim reveals the names of influential individuals allegedly involved in Epstein's crimes, does not exist.
The Guardian: Republicans block Democrats' efforts to disclose Epstein's files
Republican lawmakers are blocking an attempt by Democrats to get the so—called Epstein files published, an almost mythological repository of undisclosed information at the center of an internal political war among US conservatives. The Democrats insisted on amending the legislation on cryptocurrency, which would require disclosure of information and physical evidence listed in the case of the disgraced financier.
The Guardian
Republicans on the rules committee of the U.S. House of Representatives rejected an amendment that would allow Congress to vote on whether to publish evidence, including micro cassettes, DVDs, CDs, including one labeled "naked photos of girls part 4," computer hard drives and three massage tables., beige and brown colors.
These events unfolded against the background of a recent poll showing that half of Americans are unhappy with the amount of information released by the Trump government on the Epstein case. The survey showed that the level of discontent among Democrats and independent voters was about the same (56% and 52%, respectively), while discontent among Republicans was 40%. Only 3% of the respondents said they were satisfied with the amount of information released by the government.
Associated Press: Democrats trolling Trump over Epstein
Democrats seized on the Epstein scandal, demanding the release of documents and troll Republicans on social media, news shows and in the US House of Representatives, enjoying a rare split between Trump and his loyal supporters. Conspiracy theories regarding Epstein's death in prison and potential evidence in his sexual exploitation case, including an alleged "client list," have largely become an obsession of the right, which was instigated by Trump himself.
Associated Press
Among those who joined the rally on Tuesday was Congressman Ro Khanna, a Democrat from California and a likely candidate for president in 2028. Hanna tried to embarrass Vice President J.D. Vance, who had previously called for the release of Epstein's documents. Khanna shared a post by 2020 Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, who called on the Trump administration to "release Epstein's documents and let everything work out as it turns out."
The committee working to elect Democrats to the House of Representatives names and shames Republicans who once demanded to provide records of the Epstein investigation, but voted against attempts by Democrats to make them public. The leader of the Democrats in the House of Representatives, Hakim Jeffries, said that if the Trump administration does not take any action, Congress should step in and help uncover what he called a conspiracy, which was described by the president and his supporters.
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