William Brangham:
The handling of disgraced sex offender Jeffrey Epstein’s case continues to roil the MAGA world.
After repeatedly claiming that there were scandalous criminal details about Epstein being hidden from the public, now some of those same people, having joined the Trump administration, are saying there’s nothing to see. But key figures from the president’s base allege that a cover-up continues.
Leading that charge is far right activist and conspiracy theorist Laura Loomer. She told Politico that there should be a special counsel appointed to the Epstein case. Attorney General Pam Bondi, FBI Director Kash Patel, and Deputy Director Dan Bongino have each stoked ominous conspiracy theories about what’s referred to as the Epstein files, allegedly a secret list of powerful people who had connections to Epstein.
But Patel, once he became FBI director, tried to temper expectations.
