The White House refused to answer questions about whether President Donald Trump would consider pardoning the girlfriend of Jeffrey Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell, who was convicted of sex trafficking and other charges in 2021.
Trump supporters have refused to drop questions about the Epstein files that the president promised to release once he came into office. The Justice Department even went so far as to publish binders for far-right influencers, handing them publicly available information on the investigation with significant redactions. Attorney General Pam Bondi acknowledged that the files were real and existed, announcing that she had the files on her desk.
During the press briefing on Thursday, press secretary Karoline Leavitt refused to answer questions about the possibility of the pardon. It prompted conspiracy theory researcher and expert Mike Rothschild to comment, "That's not a no!"
"She has her cross on so she can’t answer any Epstein questions," quipped podcaster Jim Stewardson.
Leavitt was also hammered on whether Trump would appoint a special prosecutor over the Epstein files and investigation.
"The president has said he floated the idea of a special prosecutor in the Epstein case," asked the reporter.
Leavitt dodged that, too. “Well, the idea was floated from someone into media to the president," she said. "The president would not recommend a special prosecutor in the Epstein case. That’s how he feels. As for his discussions with the Attorney General...I’m not sure.”
The "Call to Activism" platform account questioned, "That’s how HE feels? How about the victims still waiting for justice? How about his voters who trusted he’d release them? What a crock."
"Nothing to hide, huh?" posted the anti-Trump organization, Republicans Against Trump.
"Oh, really? Why not, @realdonaldtrump?" asked The Lincoln Project.
Trump was asked Wednesday about whether he'd appoint a special prosecutor and he answered, "I have nothing to do with it."
Political commentator Brian Krassenstein pointed to the exchange Leavitt had with a reporter who asked what is stopping the president from releasing the Epstein files.
“A judge would have to approve it. That's out of the president's control," claimed Leavitt.
Krassenstein responded, "FACTS: The president or the Attorney General can easily request material be unsealed. Neither of them have done this."
