US Politics
‘Epstein client list’ doesn’t exist, feds say, despite Musk’s claim that Trump is on it
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Jeffrey Epstein had no “client list”, according to a new memo from the Department of Justice and FBI, just a month after Elon Musk accused President Donald Trump of being on it.
The convicted pedophile died by suicide in a New York City jail cell in August 2019, the new two-page memo confirmed, after conspiracy theories swirled about Epstein’s death for years.
“This systematic review revealed no incriminating ‘client list,’” the memo read. “There was also no credible evidence found that Epstein blackmailed prominent individuals as part of his actions. We did not uncover evidence that could predicate an investigation against uncharged third parties.”
The agencies also released hours of surveillance footage from the Manhattan prison where Epstein spent his final days in the hope of definitively establishing that no one else was involved in his death.
“The conclusion that Epstein died by suicide is further supported by video footage from the common area of the Special Housing Unit where Epstein was housed at the time of his death,” the memo, first reported by Axios, said. “As DOJ’s Inspector General explained in 2023, anyone entering or attempting to enter the tier where Epstein’s cell was located from the SHU common area would have been captured by this footage.”
After months of speculation over the release of the Epstein files, including a photo-op at the White House with right-wing influencers holding up binders that contained information largely already in the public domain, the new memo is clear that no new evidence has been found and no further investigation will be launched.
“No further disclosure is appropriate or warranted,” the memo concludes.
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Epstein’s associate Ghislaine Maxwell is serving a 20-year prison sentence for child sex trafficking offenses.
The mogul has long been the subject of conspiracy theories that he kept a secret list of wealthy and well-known public figures to whom he trafficked underage girls for sex. There has also been long-standing speculation that he was assassinated under the orders of someone powerful to stop him from revealing details of their crimes.
Before they were brought into the Trump administration, as influencers, FBI director Kash Patel and deputy director Dan Bongino were among the strongest voices in MAGAworld questioning how the disgraced financier died.
After taking up their FBI posts, Bongino and Patel stopped pushing the conspiracy that Epstein was murdered.
Since leaving the Trump White House, Musk has seized upon the Epstein files to attack the administration.
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Last month, during a bitter war of words with the president on social media, former ally Musk alleged that the reason there had been no update in the Epstein investigation was because Trump’s name was mentioned in the files.
“Time to drop the really big bomb,” Musk posted on X. “@realDonaldTrump is in the Epstein files. That is the real reason they have not been made public. Have a nice day, DJT!”
He followed up shortly after: “Mark this post for the future. The truth will come out.”
Trump denied being on the list and later shared a statement from former Epstein lawyer David Schoen that said the president wasn’t implicated. “I can say authoritatively, unequivocally, and definitively, that [Epstein] had no information to hurt President Trump,” said Schoen, who also represented Trump in his first impeachment trial.
Musk deleted his post and a few days later said he had taken things “too far,” but this weekend Trump reignited his feud with the world’s richest man, saying Musk had gone “off the rails.”
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The billionaire responded by posting a meme of a digital display set to zero to serve as “The Official Jeffrey Epstein Pedophile Arrest Counter.”
Last week, Musk renewed calls for the administration to release the Epstein files.
Since Trump issued an executive order demanding the government make documents related to cases of national interest public, including Epstein, Attorney General Pam Bondi has come under intense scrutiny, largely from MAGA, over the bungled release of the Epstein files.
A botched release of the “Phase 1” files saw MAGA influencers descend on the White House for what turned out to be a photo opportunity. Right-wing influencers posed, clutching binders containing information that was already in the public domain.
If you are based in the USA, and you or someone you know needs mental health assistance right now, call or text 988 or visit 988lifeline.org to access online chat from the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. This is a free, confidential crisis hotline that is available to everyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you are in another country, you can go to www.befrienders.org to find a helpline near you. In the UK, people having mental health crises can contact the Samaritans at 116 123 or jo@samaritans.org