The Wall Street Journal reports that the Epstein scandal unleashed a wave of internal turmoil in the Trump administration, as aides scrambled to contain political damage once Trump’s name began surfacing in Epstein-related files. What began as attempts to weaponize Epstein connections against rivals morphed into a defensive posture as Trump and his advisers found themselves under pressure from their own base and from Congress. The administration was plagued by missteps: Attorney General Pam Bondi’s sudden distribution of “Epstein Files: Phase 1” binders to conservative influencers backfired, communication lines within the White House frayed, and high-level figures — including Bondi, Deputy Director Dan Bongino, and others — clashed over strategy and messaging.


As the controversy deepened, conflicting impulses roiled the White House: some sought transparency to placate critics, while others pushed to suppress further disclosures. leaks, finger-pointing, and unforced errors intensified the chaos. In one pivotal moment, Trump himself became defensive, lashing out at supporters who demanded the release of more Epstein documentation even as the DOJ publicly declined further disclosures.


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source:

‘Bomb went off’: Report reveals moment Epstein files rocked the White House and why Trump is desperate to keep them secret | The Independent