Prominent conservatives aresounding political alarmsfor PresidentDonald Trump, accusing the Justice Department of botching areview and release of filesrelated to Jeffrey Epstein. Many of Trump's allies – and supporters across the country – have called for the government to share additional information on thecase of the disgraced financierand convicted sex offender. That includes two topics of widespread online speculation: a so-called "client list" as well as any evidence supporting claims that Epstein, who died while awaiting trial, didn't commit suicide. While New York's chief medical examinerruled in 2019 that Epstein died by suicide, Trump on the 2024 campaign trail said he woulddeclassify federal fileson the man. A new report released last week by the FBI and Department of Justice said officials found no such list or proof that Epstein was murdered in custody. Timeline:Trump's team promised transparency on Epstein. Here's what they actually delivered. Family feud:Trump at odds with MAGA movement on multiple fronts The findings quickly prompted pushback among some of Trump's supporters, who alleged the president's administration wasn'tliving up to its promisesof transparency with the American people. "Please understand the EPSTEIN AFFAIR is not going away," Trump's former National Security AdviserMichael Flynnwrotein a postdirected to the president. He warned that unanswered questions means that "moving forward on so many other monumental challenges our nation is facing becomes much harder." Well-known MAGA figures have been publicly airing their grievances with Attorney GeneralPam Bondifor days following the release of the government's memo. She drew particular criticism over an interview with Fox News in February during which she was asked a question about the so-called client list. "It's sitting on my desk right now to review," Bondi said at the time. But in a July 8 Cabinet meeting, Bondi clarified she was referring to the files in totality. The Epstein case falloutreached a fever pitchJuly 11, with even those inside the administration reportedly perturbed. FBI Deputy DirectorDan Bongino, the second-highest official at the bureau, did not come into work and was weighing resignation, according to CNN and Semafor. But major Republican voices have also said the management of the case has to go beyond Justice Department officials – reaching the president himself. "It's deeper than Epstein," former White House strategist and podcaster Steve Bannon told a crowd of young conservatives at Turning Point USA's Student Action Summit July 12. He went on to predict real electoral consequences for Republicans in the near future. "For this to go away," Bannon said, "you're going to lose 10 percent of the MAGA movement. If we lose 10 percent of the MAGA movement right now, we're going to lose 40 seats in (2026), we're going to lose the presidency." Another public figure typically in Trump's corner, Megyn Kelly also voiced skepticism about law enforcement's recent review of the Epstein files. "There are really only two options," Kelly, a political commentator who identifies as an independent,wrote on XJuly 12. "There's no huge undisclosed there there on Epstein, Bondi misled on it (until she didn't) & Trump is quick to forgive a loyal soldier for being desperate to get on TV," she said. Or, "There is a scandal that's being covered up & it's at his direction." This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Steve Bannon, Megyn Kelly slam Trump admin over Epstein case
