Conservative commentators and staunch MAGA supporters are furious over the controversial release of documents related to the Jeffrey Epstein case by the White House.
On Thursday, several right-wing social media influencers were granted special access to what were claimed to be declassified files, which they then promoted as new information, despite much of it already being public for years.
The Justice Department, acting on the orders of Attorney General Pamela Bondi, released a collection of documents labeled “The Epstein Files: Part I.”
This unusual rollout involved a group of right-wing social media figures, including Mike Cernovich, Liz Wheeler, Jack Posobiec, Rogan O’Handley (known as DC Draino), and Chaya Raichik, the creator of Libs of TikTok.
They were seen departing the White House with binders that were said to contain the initial release of the Epstein files.
Multiple media outlets have reported that the limited set of documents released included copies of flight logs from Epstein’s private jet, which have been available in various court cases before.
It also featured a heavily redacted photocopy of an address book allegedly created by Epstein and his close associate Ghislaine Maxwell, a document that has been referenced in media reports for years.
Additionally, the Justice Department published a redacted list of masseuses and an evidence list detailing over 150 items, including nude images, massage tables, sex toys, and other materials. It remains unclear whether this list pertains to Epstein’s case, Maxwell’s case, or another investigation.
The response from some prominent Trump supporters on social media regarding the document release, particularly the absence of new information, was immediate and critical. Much of the backlash was directed at the right-wing influencers involved, but significant criticism was aimed at Bondi.
“Influencers shouldn’t be getting the Epstein Files. This is absurd. They should be released to the public all at once, not used to make money for ‘insiders,’” posted Jeremy Hambly, known as The Quartering, a popular right-wing YouTube commentator.
In another post on X (formerly Twitter), he wrote, “When Pam Bondi went on Fox News last night and said that her office was releasing ‘new’ Epstein flight logs, names, and information,” adding, “It’s pretty sick what that man did. She already KNEW what was in the binders. She lied to the American People. She should resign.”
Laura Loomer, a political activist and notable right-wing figure, also expressed her disdain for the rollout, calling for Bondi’s resignation. “I hate to say it, but the American people can’t trust the validity of the Epstein files released today,” Loomer stated.
Loomer also took shots at the influencers who received the documents, writing in another post, “Most of the influencers took selfies of themselves holding the binder and said ‘exclusive’ and then proceeded to not post online for hours. That’s called gate keeping.”
In something of a screed of posts on X on Thursday, Loomer also wrote, “Enough is enough. Donald Trump needs some real vetting in his admin. The entire world is laughing at our country today. And if you say they aren’t, you’re full of shit or you’re one of the influencers who received the binder. This is honestly shocking levels of incompetence.”
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