Epstein-esia: Trump Officials Suddenly Change Tune on Existence of Infamous Client List

The Trump administration dropped a bombshell this week, claiming that an internal Department of Justice investigation found the infamous Jeffrey Epstein client list does not actually exist.

As part of what it called a "commitment to transparency," the DOJ released a brief, two-page memo Sunday evening stating that a systematic review uncovered no incriminating client list. "There was also no credible evidence found that Epstein blackmailed prominent individuals as part of his actions," the memo noted, directly addressing a long-held public assumption that powerful politicians, royals, including Prince Andrew, business leaders and celebrities were involved.

The memo also confirmed that Epstein died by suicide in his cell and, in a shocking twist, included surveillance footage from the day he died, a video the public was previously told did not exist. However, internet sleuths were quick to point out apparent discrepancies, including a claim that the cell door in the video doesn't match photographs taken at the time of Epstein's death. Additionally, one minute of footage was missing from the tape.

As conservatives lash out at the Trump administration over the memo's release, here's a look at the officials now abruptly changing their stance on the existence of the Epstein list, starting with the president.

President Donald J. Trump

While campaigning for his second term, President Trump acknowledged the existence of the Epstein client list and pledged to ensure its release. In a June 2024 appearance on "Fox & Friends," Trump initially said he would declassify the Epstein files before quickly walking back the claim.

"I guess I would," Trump said. "I think [Epstein] less so because you don't know, you don't want to affect people's lives if it's phony stuff in there, because it's a lot of phony stuff with that whole world. But I think I would, or at least—"

He then waffled on whether he would release the Epstein files as freely as the JFK assassination and 9/11 records.

"Yeah, I don't know about Epstein so much as I do the others. Certainly about the way he died," Trump said. "It'd be interesting to find out what happened there because that was a weird situation and the cameras didn't happen to be working... But yeah, I'd go a long way toward that one."

During a September 2024 appearance on the "Lex Fridman Podcast," Trump said it was "very interesting" that the list had not yet been made public, adding, "It probably will be, though."

"I'd be inclined to do the Epstein, I'd have no problem with it," Trump claimed in a clip circulating X at the time.

Trump lashed out at a reporter on Tuesday after questions of the Epstein files were raised. "Are you still talking about Jeffrey Epstein? This guy's been talked about for years. Are people still talking about this guy? This creep. That is unbelievable," he snapped during a Cabinet meeting.

U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi

Since February, Attorney General Pam Bondi has asserted that the DOJ would release the client list, stating during a February interview on Fox News that it was "sitting on my desk right now to review." She added, "That's been a directive by President Trump," in a clip posted on X.

When the first phase of the Epstein files was released in February, naming Donald Trump as an associate of Epstein and mostly containing information already available during the Biden administration, the DOJ supposedly provided initial redacted documents, such as flight logs and contact books, to conservative influencers. However, the promised "client list" was not included. Bondi blamed the Southern District of New York for withholding the more extensive records.

In April, a video surfaced in which Bondi told a constituent that there were "tens of thousands of videos" involving "little kids," explaining that the FBI had to review each one, according to AP News. When a conservative activist publicized the video in May, Bondi stated during a White House appearance, "There are tens of thousands of videos of Epstein with children or child porn."

However, Bondi's signature was notably missing from the brief memo released Sunday, prompting criticism from some MAGA influencers, including Laura Loomer, who called for Bondi's resignation or firing over the botched Epstein files release.

While defending the report during a White House press conference Monday, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt denied Bondi had stated the list was "on her desk," but clarified that Bondi was referring to "the entirety of all the paperwork, all of the paper related to Jeffrey Epstein's crimes." Leavitt added that she would let Bondi address her own comments directly, according to a clip circulating on X.

Director of the FBI Kash Patel

More than a year before he was appointed director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Kash Patel admonished Republicans, the DOJ and FBI for blocking the Epstein list's release.

"It's the same thing with Epstein's list, it's like, what the hell are these Republicans doing?" Patel said during an appearance on "The Benny Show" in December 2023. When asked why the FBI was protecting predators, Patel responded, "Simple: Because of who's on that list. You don't think that Bill Gates is lobbying Congress night and day to prevent the disclosure of that list?...I don't care about the list itself but release the names."

Patel continued by admonishing House Republicans, who had the majority, for not getting the list, adding, "This is why America hates Congress."

"Put on your big boy pants and let us know who the pedophiles are," Patel passionately asserted. "We have an election coming up, and we need to adjudicate this matter at the polls. God knows the FBI and DOJ aren't gonna do anything..."

Patel's signature was also notably absent from the memo. While he has yet to address the backlash following its release, he did share a post on X regarding an attack at a detention center.

Deputy Director of the FBI Dan Bongino

As recently as last month, FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino revealed during an exclusive Fox News interview that "there's more coming" on the Epstein files, reaffirming that the FBI was continuing its investigations and would be releasing information shortly.

"On the Epstein files, listen, I know this is a hot potato for folks, I totally understand. The evidence we have in our files clearly indicates that it was in fact suicide," he shared, pointing to soon-to-be-released video evidence. "When you combine that with the other evidence we will be releasing in the coming weeks, we're still finalizing some of the products, I think it's pretty clear," Bongino added, referring to Epstein's suicide.

In a January 2024 episode of "The Dan Bongino Show," the now-FBI director claimed the Epstein files contained explosive information. He suggested there was additional undisclosed material implicating "powerful people."

Bongino argued that Epstein's case was not merely about child trafficking but a "national security nightmare." He raised concerns about the possible existence of tapes or recordings tying influential individuals to criminal activity.

He also claimed that credible sources, including someone he spoke to directly, told him there were "a multitude of tapes" linking Epstein's associates to wrongdoing. Bongino also implied that foreign intelligence and blackmail were involved, suggesting Epstein's trafficking network was part of a broader intelligence operation. Sunday's official memo, however, explicitly denied those claims.

U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey and Counselor to the President Alina Habba

Weeks after President Donald Trump started his second term, in February, Alina Habba, who has served as a legal spokesperson and attorney for Trump, claimed during a "Piers Morgan Uncensored" interview that the Epstein files were "incredibly disturbing."

"We have flight logs, we have information, names that will come out," Habba stated, adding that the information would be "shocking" since there were many individuals who had been "hidden and kept secret and not held accountable." "Now it's time for accountability," she added at the time.

When asked whether a man would be put in prison, Habba replied, "Absolutely."

"I think it would be negligent for us not to," she continued. "You have to hold individuals who are indeed rapists accountable. We have to have them tried, in my opinion, and I do believe in that. Nobody should be just dismissed....to hide lists, to protect political friends, all of that, we don't have time for that," the U.S. attorney for the District of New Jersey added.

MAGA Supporters Turning on the Trump Administration

Several MAGA supporters and political commentators have turned on the Trump administration following the release of the DOJ's memo and denial of the Epstein client list.

Infowars founder Alex Jones shared a tearful, nearly 10-minute video on X Monday, stating the administration's actions "tear my heart out." He suggested the Trump administration might be withholding the files' release because it would "bring down the CIA," which he alleged was collaborating with Israeli and British intelligence.

"NO ONE IS BUYING THIS!!" Jones wrote. "Next the DOJ will say 'Actually, Jeffrey Epstein never even existed." This is over the top sickening," he added.

Elon Musk, once a close ally of Trump, posted several messages on X Monday in which he accused the administration of withholding the client list to protect pedophiles. Just last month, Musk claimed the list hadn't been released because it included Trump's name.

GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene is also demanding answers after the Trump admin's seemingly contradictory Epstein findings.

"What about her little black book? The 97-page book, contains the names and contact details of almost 2,000 people including world leaders, celebrities and businessmen," MTG tweeted. "No one believes there is not a client list."

Many prominent MAGA influencers and commentators, including Laura Loomer, the Hodge Twins, Liz Wheeler, and Chaya "Libs of TikTok" Raichik, called for Bondi's resignation. Others, such as Mike Cernovich, Jack Posobie, and Rogan "DC Draino" O'Handley, accused the administration of deliberately covering up the information, an act many branded as "shameful."