Conservative commentators and MAGA diehards are up in arms over the calamitous launch of paperwork associated to the Jeffrey Epstein case by the White Home that noticed various right-wing social media influencers on Thursday given particular entry to supposedly declassified recordsdata, who then trumpeted info that had largely been within the public area for years.
On Thursday, the Justice Division, below orders from Lawyer Basic Pamela Bondi, launched a set of paperwork it dubbed The Epstein Information: Half I. The rollout of the paperwork was accomplished quite unusually through a bunch of right-wing social media stars, together with Mike Cernovich, Liz Wheeler, Jack Posobiec, Rogan O’Handley, often known as DC Draino, in addition to Libs of TikTok creator Chaya Raichik, who have been seen leaving the White Home with binders that presupposed to be the primary section launch of the Epstein recordsdata.
Extra from The Hollywood Reporter
(From L) Political commentator Rogan O’Handley, aka DC Draino, TikToker Chaya Raichik, US conservative activist Scott Presler, commentator Liz Wheeler and US conservative political commentator Chad Prather carry binders bearing the seal of the US Justice Division studying “The Epstein Information: Part 1” as they stroll out of the West Wing of the White Home in Washington, DC, on Feb. 27, 2025.
Based on varied media reviews, the restricted set of paperwork contained copies of flight logs from Epstein’s non-public airplane, which have beforehand been accessible in varied court docket circumstances. Additionally they included a closely redacted photocopy of an handle guide allegedly created by Epstein and his shut affiliate Ghislaine Maxwell, which has been referenced in media reviews for a few years.
Moreover, the Justice Division additionally revealed a redacted record of masseuses, together with an proof record detailing over 150 gadgets, corresponding to nude photographs, therapeutic massage tables, intercourse toys, and extra gadgets. It was unclear whether or not this record was associated to Epstein’s case, Maxwell’s case, or one other investigation.
The response from some outstanding Trump supporters on social media to the doc launch, notably the shortage of recent info, was swift and damning, with a number of criticism for the suitable wing influencers concerned — however a lot of the opprobrium reserved for Bondi.
“Influencers shouldn’t be getting the Epstein Information. That is absurd. They need to be launched to the general public all of sudden not used to become profitable for “insiders,” tweeted Jeremy Hambly, the true identify of standard right-wing YouTube commentator The Quartering.
In another tweet, The Quartering wrote, “When Pam Bondi went on Fox information final night time and mentioned that her workplace was releasing “new” Epstein flight logs, names and data,” saying, “It’s fairly sick what that man did. She already KNEW what was within the binders. She lied to the American Individuals. She ought to Resign.”
https://twitter.com/LauraLoomer/standing/1895290137283858765
Laura Loomer, a political activist and outstanding right-wing persona, didn’t mince her phrases over the farcical nature of the rollout and likewise known as on Bondi to resign. “I hate to say it, however the American individuals can’t belief the validity of the Epstein recordsdata launched right this moment,” Loomer wrote on X. “It was launched in an unprofessional method with paid, partisan social media influencers to curate their binders for us. I can’t belief something within the binder.”
Loomer additionally took photographs on the influencers who obtained the paperwork, writing in another tweet, “A lot of the influencers took selfies of themselves holding the binder and mentioned “unique” after which proceeded to not submit on-line for hours. That’s known as gate conserving.”
In one thing of a screed of tweets on Thursday, Loomer also wrote, “Sufficient is sufficient. Donald Trump wants some actual vetting in his admin. The complete world is laughing at our nation right this moment. And should you say they aren’t, you’re filled with shit otherwise you’re one of many influencers who obtained the binder. That is truthfully surprising ranges of incompetence.”
Barstool Sports activities founder Dave Portnoy, who supported Trump over the past election, also tweeted his frustrations concerning the Epstein recordsdata and the administration typically. “If I’m gonna be honest these questions must be requested right this moment. Why is the discharge of the Epstein record at all times a shit present?,” Portnoy wrote, including, “What’s the purpose of booting out illegals and criminals whereas one way or the other turning into a protected haven for the Tate brothers? Why is Crypto in the bathroom if Trump is crypto king? How far does [Tesla] inventory should crash earlier than Elon goes again to work?”
Actor Kevin Sorbo was disenchanted with the doc launch, tweeting, “So… nothing new was launched right this moment. A lot for presidency transparency.” In a a lot angrier followup tweet, Sorbo wrote, “Our authorities used youngsters who have been trafficked as a publicity stunt. Disgusting. Launch the recordsdata, now.”
Amongst elected officers, Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) was notably vocal, writing on X that the rollout a “full disappointment.” “GET US THE INFORMATION WE ASKED FOR!” Luna added.
https://twitter.com/kenklippenstein/standing/1895236100165378468
Additionally on Thursday, Raheem Kassem, a former editor at Breitbart, published a behind the scenes account in The Nationwide Pulse of what transpired with the Epstein paperwork rollout, which one in all Kassem’s sources described as a “clusterfuck.” “One of many extra intriguing particulars of right this moment is that President Donald J. Trump himself was in a room with these binders containing Epstein’s flight and telephone name logs. One of many pages even contained President Trump’s identify, having been listed in Epstein’s telephone guide,” Kassem writes.
“Once more, that info is just not new. However it’s embarrassing for the White Home, the overwhelming majority of which is unlikely to have had any eyes on the paperwork handed to social media influencers who believed they have been attending a easy collection of coverage briefings right this moment,” Kassem writes.
He added, “Lawyer Basic Pam Bondi and her staff are being blamed very clearly in at the least six conversations I’ve had this afternoon. Once more, they gave no heads-up to both the influencers attending or White Home workers about their intentions to distribute binders of knowledge that contained little new info, irritating each the administration and most of the people.”
In a while Thursday, Bondi, maybe reacting to the backlash to the doc launch, posted a letter she had despatched to newly put in FBI Director Kash Patel on X that intimated that extra data have been just lately found. Bondi ordered the FBI handy over “the complete and full Epstein recordsdata” to her by Friday morning, and directed the newly put in bureau chief to “conduct a direct investigation” into why her order to the FBI to show over all paperwork was not adopted.
In a submit on X, Patel dedicated the FBI to making sure that every one paperwork associated to the Epstein case are supplied to the Division of Justice.
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