On July 15th, local time, Republican House Speaker of the United States, John Boehner, in an interview called for the disclosure of “Epstein case” related documents. “I hope to make this case transparent. It’s a delicate topic, but I believe it should be discussed openly so that the public can decide.”
It is worth noting that President Trump is attempting to wrap up this case. Reports suggest that Boehner’s statement implies he openly contradicted Trump on the “Epstein case.”
Despite Epstein’s death in August 2019, the “Epstein case” has remained highly controversial due to his extensive connections within American and global political and business circles. On July 7th this month, the FBI and Department of Justice released a memorandum on the review of the “Epstein case.” Attorney General William Barr identified Epstein as having committed suicide in prison and stated that “no new documents will be released.” This statement immediately sparked intense discontent among Trump’s base, known as MAGA (Make America Great Again) supporters.
Reports indicate that over the years, Trump has been portrayed as a “deep-state destroyer” by himself. Now, under Trump’s presidency, his supporters are beginning to “backfire” on him, forcing him to give answers he does not want to provide. The “Epstein case” has plunged Trump into a crisis he has created himself.
Adding to the confusion surrounding the “Epstein case”:
The room where Epstein was held for seven months was claimed to be impossible for someone to hang themselves
Recently, Michael Franzese, who had been imprisoned in the same cell where Epstein was held for seven months, pointed out that the layout of the cell was impossible for someone to commit suicide. “It’s impossible for anyone to hang themselves because there are no fixed devices on the ceiling, and the bed is far from the ceiling, making it difficult for most people to reach.
According to previous reports, before Epstein’s suicide, the prison’s video surveillance system malfunctioned, with only one camera capturing the footage. (Related report:
Epstein case reignites “conspiracy theory”: Video exposure on the night of his death, where did the “missing minute” go?
Furthermore, it was reported that on the night of Epstein’s suicide, prison guards were said to have fallen asleep and later altered their work logs to cover up their negligence. Franzese questioned this, stating, “I was locked up in the cell for eight years and never encountered a situation where cameras broke down or guards weren’t patrolling.” Franzese claimed that even going to the bathroom was under constant surveillance by guards.
Why did Trump find himself in crisis?
After last week’s statement that there was no evidence to suggest Epstein had a so-called “client list” or extorted public figures, Bungee faced severe criticism from some Trump supporters. However, Trump strongly supported Bungee and called on his supporters to “stop wasting time and energy.” On July 15th, Trump praised Bungee’s handling of the case and stated that everything would be decided by her, “She should release information she believes is trustworthy.” Yet, Trump still questioned people’s continued interest in the case, “This is dirty and pointless, I don’t understand why anyone is interested in this.”
Meanwhile, Johnson, as Trump’s close ally, made an unusual public disagreement with the president, demanding the release of the case files. Republican Senator John Kerry also believed that supporters’ desire for the truth was a reasonable request. Before this, Elon Musk, the world’s richest man, also made a statement on social media, saying that his newly established “American Party” would prioritize exposing documents related to the “Epstein case.”
Reports indicate that around the handling of the Epstein case, Republicans and even entire Trump supporters within the party have experienced unprecedented debates and divisions, which has handed Democrats an opportunity to exploit. During Trump’s presidential campaign, he has consistently claimed to release hidden documents by his predecessors.
Many supporters firmly believe that once Trump returns to the White House, he will reveal those “secrets.” However, their current attitude is causing them to be angry.
Democrats are also aware that lack of transparency has become a major issue for Republicans in Congress. Whether it’s through sarcastic statements on social media or proposals in Congress, Democrats are attempting to leverage the chaos created by Republicans themselves to convey a message to voters: If we (Democrats) can reclaim the majority in Congress, we will certainly oversee and pursue the unlawful actions of corrupt politicians and billionaires.
Reports indicate that Trump is facing his own self-inflicted crisis. Matt Darleycke, a political scientist at George Washington University, analyzed that Trump and his team might mistakenly believe they could spread rumors without repercussions, “The Epstein case perfectly demonstrates what happens when you feed the beast.” Russell Moorehead, a professor of politics at Dartmouth College, stated that conspiracy theories are valuable because they help people gain political power. Trump needs to step forward and speak the truth. If he doesn’t, a significant portion of his most passionate and loyal supporters will lose faith in him.
The report mentions that conservatives are now very concerned about the impact of this case on the midterm elections. According to former Trump ally Bannon, if this case remains unresolved, MAGA would lose 10% of its strength.