The Epstein files and calls for Attorney General Pam Bondi to fired dominated a conservative conference in Tampa this weekend.
On weekend President Donald Trump decided to chose biggest political battle to date with MAGA base he created in own photes thousands of his adherents were gathered together.
And the “Epstein files” were the only topic they desired to discuss at this Student Action Summit, which was organised by the conservative activist group Turning Point USA.
Podcaster Brandon Tatum told the gathered audience at the Tampa Convention Centre, “I — and I don’t know, for whatever reason, there could be reasons — but I don’t think they’re telling us the truth about Epstein.”
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“I believe that man was a part of a sinister scheme that involves numerous individuals. Additionally, I believe that the vast majority of people may be both our allies and those with whom we do not wish to have a negative relationship.
Trump stunned his followers on Saturday night by publishing a long social media post in which hedenied the importance of the problem that has dominated the right for the past week —
The Justice Department revealed this week that it would not make any more files pertaining to the case of Jeffrey Epstein, the late financier and convicted sex offender.
A medical examiner determined that Epstein’s death in 2019 was a suicide while he was in custody.
He was charged with conspiracy and sex trafficking.
In a two-page memo, Attorney General Pam Bondi stated that there was no “credible evidence found that Epstein blackmailed prominent individuals” and that the department’s investigation had not produced a “client list” of influential men who were allegedly involved in Epstein’s schemes.
Trump blamed the files on Democrats in a post on Truth Social that read,
“For years, it’s Epstein, over and over again.” “Why are we promoting files authored by Comey, Brennan, Obama, Crooked Hillary, and the Biden administration’s losers and criminals?”
Trump supporters were infuriated by the memo and swiftly turned against Bondi; this sentiment was evident at the Student Action Summit. Bondi herself told Fox News in February that the Epstein client was “sitting on my desk right now.”
For years, some high-ranking officials in the Trump administration had promoted baseless rumours regarding the Epstein files. Additionally, Trump has stated time and time again that he will make the Epstein files public.
Additionally, Bondi maintained the controversy in February by presenting Epstein documents to right-wing influencers at the White House.
However, the influencers and Bondi herself insisted that the FBI had more documents that it was withholding, release wasn’t sufficient.
Despite the White House’s efforts to portray unity, other famous MAGA World influencers persisted the issue Saturday afternoon.
“Until we complete the Jan. 6 committee on the Epstein Files, I won’t stop working.” Jack Psobiec, online supporter of Trump, told the conference Saturday afternoon that every single client involved should have an FBI agent at their door pursuing them in the same manner that they pursued the Jan. 6ers.
“We should pursue everyone on the Epstein client list in this manner.”
Megyn Kelly, a famous conservative commentator and Trump supporter, asked the audience a straightforward question on the main stage of the Student Action Summit on Friday night: Bondi or Bongino?
On Friday night, everyone in the crowd yelled, “Bongino!” together.
The weekend’s master of ceremonies, Charlie Kirk, a well-known conservative activist and the leader of Turning Points USA, retorted, “It’s 7,000 to 0.”
Trump’s post followed a day of White House efforts to quell simmering base anger.
Patel wrote on X on Saturday that reports that he was thinking about resigning were “conspiracy theories.”
the White House said in a statement on Friday that Trump still supports all parties involved.
According to White House spokesman Harrison Fields, “President Trump has put together a highly skilled and experienced law and order team committed to protecting Americans, holding criminals accountable, and delivering justice to victims.”
“This work is being done in unison and with ease. The genuine progress being made in restoring public safety and pursuing justice for all is being obscured by any attempt to sow division within this team, which is without merit.
.Steve Bannon, an outspoken Trump supporter, told a crowd at the summit, “Epstein is a key that picks the lock on so many things, not just individuals, but institutions, intelligence institutions, foreign governments, and who’s work and who was working with him on our intelligence apparatus and in our government.”
Bannon stated that he is supporting the appointment of a special counsel by the Trump administration to deal with the issue.
In a statement, he told NBC News, “I support Pam as AG but think a Special Counsel has to be named to take over the Epstein case; however audience sentiment during our live shows at the conference is running 100% against Bondi remaining as AG — never seen anything like it.”
Bondi maintained the controversy in February by presenting Epstein documents to right-wing influencers at the White House.
However, the influencers and Bondi herself insisted that the FBI had more documents that it was withholding, so even that release wasn’t sufficient.
Even though Trump made it apparent that he wants his supporters to move on, the Epstein files were a hot topic this weekend in Tampa, with many attendees and speakers demanding that Bondi be fired.
“To me, it’s not even about Pam Bondi. One attendee, Sharon Allen, 24, said,
“It’s like, look, Trump, we elected you because you were supposed to be different.” “You need to show us that you are different.
You can fire her [Bondi] and do whatever you want, but you are the president at the end of the day, Trump. We had faith in you to expose these individuals and get rid of them.
Anthony Sabatini, a former state representative from Florida who attended the event and was one of Trump’s staunchest supporters in the state legislature, described Trump’s Truth Social post as “out of touch.”
Trump also defended Bondi in his Truth Social message. Attendees of the summit nearly unanimously supported FBI Director Kash Patel and Deputy Director Dan Bongino, who both expressed frustration with Bondi’s handling of the Epstein documents, according to NBC News and other outlets.
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Before joining the Trump administration, Bongino and Patel used their significant conservative media platforms to spread the narrative that the Epstein case was a part of a government-planned cover-up to shield influential political figures.
“What’s up with my ‘boys’ and, occasionally, ‘gals?'” On Saturday night, Trump wrote. “Attorney General Pam Bondi is doing an AMAZING JOB, and they are all pursuing her!”