Donald Trump allies have turned on each other over frustration at one of the president's campaign promises not yet fulfilled: making the so-called "Epstein files" public.
The case of Jeffrey Epstein, a wealth manager for the rich and famous who was charged with child sex trafficking and was later found dead of suicide in his cell in a Manhattan jail, has been a subject of bipartisan fascination and conspiracy theories for years. It is unclear exactly what "files" were concealed from the public, but Trump vowed to release them shortly after taking office.
On Thursday, the Justice Department appeared to deliver, handing out thick binders titled "EPSTEIN FILES: PHASE 1" to a handful of far-right influencers. But Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL), who has already made her anger over the delay public, took to X on Thursday to accuse Trump's newly-minted attorney general, Pam Bondi, of pulling a fast one.
"I nor the task force were given or reviewed the Epstein documents being released today… A NY Post story just revealed that the documents will simply be Epstein's phonebook," wrote Luna, who is herself facing a staff revolt. "THIS IS NOT WHAT WE OR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ASKED FOR and a complete disappointment. GET US THE INFORMATION WE ASKED FOR!"
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Conservative radio host Glenn Beck posted on X, "Who is subverting POTUS? The #Epsteinfiles are a total joke. I know Kash, Pam B and The President. This is not the file. WH tells me that they believe the usual suspects FBI/SDNY has the actual #EpsteinClientList and are refusing to turn it over. THIS IS AN INTERNAL CIVIL WAR if true."
Bondi, for her part, directed blame at Trump's newly-appointed FBI director, Kash Patel, demanding answers for the incomplete release in a letter to his office.
"I repeatedly questioned whether this was the full set of documents responsive to my request and was repeatedly assured by the FBI that we had received the full set of documents," wrote Bondi. "Late yesterday, I learned from a source that the FBI Field Office in New York was in possession of thousands of pages of documents related to the investigation and indictment of Epstein. Despite my repeated requests, the FBI never disclosed the existence of these files. When you and I spoke yesterday, you were just as surprised as I to learn this new information."
Bondi concluded by demanding that the FBI "deliver the full and complete Epstein files to my office" no later than 8 a.m. Friday, as well as to "conduct an immediate investigation into why my order to the FBI was not followed" and deliver a "comprehensive report" within two weeks.
