MAGA influencers turn on White House over Epstein files, demand full transparency amid cover-up claims
WASHINGTON, DC: Fifteen prominent MAGA influencers were invited to the West Wing for what they believed would be a revelatory briefing on the long-awaited “Epstein Files.”
Among them was Mike Cernovich, a right-wing figure who had supported Donald Trump for over a decade. But what unfolded inside the White House that day has since sparked widespread disappointment, and even allegations of a cover-up, within MAGA ranks.
The meeting, originally framed as an informal introduction to administration officials like Vice President JD Vance, took an unexpected turn when Attorney General Pam Bondi arrived unannounced, carrying white folders.
MAGA influencers frustrated after Jeffrey Epstein file reveal falls flat
Conservative commentator Rogan O’Handley, also known as DC Draino, said attendees were initially excited. The night before, Attorney General Pam Bondi had teased on Fox News that a list of Jeffrey Epstein’s clients was “sitting on my desk right now to review.”
Inside the White House meeting, Bondi presented the binders, saying, “Hey, I’ve got a surprise for you guys, here are the binders,” according to O’Handley. However, the contents turned out to be far from explosive.
According to the Daily Mail, the so-called "Epstein Files: Phase 1" included only a fully redacted list of 254 “masseurs,” old flight logs that have been online since 2019, and Epstein’s heavily redacted address book.
One attendee later admitted they had to defend themselves against critics accusing them of acting like “shills” for the administration.
Pressure builds on DOJ as MAGA figures question Jeffrey Epstein secrecy
Five months later, frustration among MAGA-aligned influencers has only intensified. Mike Cernovich said the only way to repair the damage was for the Justice Department to release the original search warrant applications tied to Jeffrey Epstein’s 2019 arrest.
“This is more a job for an Inspector General,” he said. “A real hard-ass, by-the-book person who doesn’t have patience for nonsense, and can order everyone to testify under oath.”
Cernovich also pointed out that the DOJ doesn’t need a court order to unseal the documents. “To me that’s sus. Why don’t we have this basic stuff?” he added.
On Monday, July 7, Pam Bondi’s Justice Department released a memo stating there was no incriminating Epstein client list, no credible blackmail evidence, and that Epstein had not been murdered in prison. The DOJ concluded, “No further disclosure would be appropriate or warranted.”
Podcaster Tim Dillon, who had interviewed JD Vance during the 2024 campaign, said he recently attended a dinner with the Vance where the topic came up again.
According to Dillon, Vance told him that 10,000 hours of video files related to Epstein were explicit commercial videos and could not be released. Vance also claimed there were no videos of powerful people in compromising positions.
“That’s the party line that they’re going with?” Dillon recalled. “What I told Vance, I said, ‘If you don’t disclose everything, you’re done. Nobody will support you guys. You are fully and completely part of this coverup if everything doesn’t come out.’”
He added that Vance agreed with his assessment. “I think it paralyzes their presidency.”
White House tries damage control as Jeffrey Epstein backlash grows
The White House has launched a quiet pressure campaign aimed at calming criticism from within its own base.
Alex Jones, conspiracy theorist and 'InfoWars' host, said on Tim Dillon’s podcast that he had received a call from the White House. “I’ve had the White House call up and be like in the last week, ‘What do you want?’” Jones said. He claimed his response was, “I want you to do what you were elected to do.”
Charlie Kirk, another high-profile conservative, also said the White House reached out to him. While initially furious, Kirk later softened his tone: “Honestly, I’m done talking about Epstein for the time being. I’m going to trust my friends in the administration, I’m going to trust my friends in the government to do what needs to be done. Ball’s in their hands.”
On Tuesday, July 22, Pam Bondi announced that her deputy, Todd Blanche, would soon visit Epstein’s accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell at a federal prison in Tallahassee. That same day, the Republican-led House Oversight Committee revealed plans to subpoena Maxwell for testimony.
However, just hours later, House Speaker Mike Johnson abruptly dismissed the House for summer recess, avoiding a vote on a bipartisan measure to compel the release of Epstein-related files.
‘Not on Epstein’, MAGA base draws a line with Donald Trump
According to reports, DOJ officials had already informed Donald Trump in May that his name appears in a “truckload” of Jeffrey Epstein-related documents.
Mike Cernovich said no one from the White House had asked him to stop speaking out about Epstein, and that he wouldn’t comply even if they did.
“No one has asked me to stop or tried to shape discourse,” he said. “The whole thing is strange to me. Suddenly, we are supposed to stop talking about Epstein? Suddenly, Democrats and Massie (who hates Trump and did zero to try to unseal documents during Biden’s time) are saying they want the files. Bizarre all around.”
The White House confirmed to the Daily Mail: “We hold regular meetings and phone calls with influencers and new media individuals, which began at the start of the White House administration. We discuss a range of issues, including current news and stories that aren’t being covered.”
Cernovich offered a warning: “This might be the only issue where the MAGA base will truly assert itself. On about any other issue, Trump can drive the train wherever he wants. Not on Epstein.”
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