Trump addresses growing firestorm over handling of Epstein case
US president says he supports releasing ‘credible’ details as his base questions administration’s efforts
Donald Trump said on Tuesday the US Justice Department should release all “credible” information from its probe into notorious sex criminal Jeffrey Epstein as he sought to douse a firestorm of criticism from his supporters over his handling of the case.
The president was facing the most serious split of his political career from his famously loyal right-wing base over suspicions that his administration was covering up lurid details of Epstein’s crimes to protect rich and powerful figures they say are implicated.
“The attorney general has handled that very well,” the Republican leader said of Pam Bondi, who leads the Justice Department, when he was asked about the case at the White House.
Trump repeated his claim that the Epstein files were “made up” by his Democratic predecessors in the White House - even though he said multiple times during the election campaign that he would “probably” release them.
“She’s handled it very well, and it’s going to be up to her,” Trump said. “Whatever she thinks is credible, she should release.”