USA TODAY readers are reacting to President Trump’s call to move on from the Jeffrey Epstein case, with many expressing dissatisfaction. Many readers believe an Epstein “client list” exists, and some think the Trump administration had access to it. Several people are expressing a sense of betrayal as they believe the President is protecting people on the list. Some readers who supported Trump are now urging him to release the list or resign.
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Former Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard has accused the Obama administration of orchestrating a “years-long coup” to undermine Donald Trump’s 2016 election victory, releasing declassified emails to support her claims. Gabbard alleges a “treasonous conspiracy” involving Obama and his officials regarding the investigation into Russian interference. These accusations have been met with criticism from Democrats, who see it as a distraction from the Trump administration’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files. Trump has supported Gabbard’s statements, while the intelligence community and other Democrats have dismissed her claims as baseless and politically motivated.
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Former FBI members have confirmed that the agency was instructed to search for mentions of President Donald Trump within the Epstein files. Approximately 1,000 personnel reviewed roughly 100,000 files, with individual analysts instructed to flag any Trump mentions in a spreadsheet. The process was reportedly disorganized and changed frequently, with the initial order to not redact anything changing multiple times. Despite preparations to release the files, the Trump administration ultimately decided against it, amidst growing scrutiny and calls for transparency surrounding the case.
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Following the cancellation of Stephen Colbert’s show, Jimmy Kimmel posted a social media message criticizing Donald Trump, referencing the Epstein case with a caption alluding to a phrase Trump allegedly used. Trump responded by celebrating Colbert’s cancellation and disparaging Kimmel’s talent, continuing his pattern of targeting late-night hosts critical of him. Kimmel has been a vocal Trump critic, previously expressing opinions on various issues, and his recent post followed his history of involvement in the Epstein saga where he had threatened legal action against Aaron Rodgers for false claims linking him to the case. Kimmel’s current criticisms also follow Colbert’s comments on a settlement between Paramount and Trump.
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A new report details an alleged “troubling encounter” between artist Maria Farmer and Donald Trump in Jeffrey Epstein’s New York office in the 1990s. Farmer claims she informed the FBI about this encounter, as well as others in Epstein’s social circle. The White House has disputed Farmer’s account, stating the president was never in Epstein’s office. This information could potentially be part of the Epstein files, the contents of which have been a source of controversy. Farmer stated that she also reported the sex offender to the FBI after learning that her sister had also been assaulted.
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Vice President JD Vance met with News Corp founder Rupert Murdoch and his son, Lachlan, in Montana. The meeting, attended by various Fox News executives, occurred hours before the Wall Street Journal published a story regarding a birthday letter President Trump allegedly wrote to Jeffrey Epstein. Shortly after the story’s release, Trump took to Truth Social to denounce the report, calling it a fake and threatening to sue Murdoch and the publication. Subsequently, Trump filed a $10 billion lawsuit against Murdoch and The Wall Street Journal.
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NATO members recently agreed to allocate five percent of their GDP to defense, with 3.5 percent dedicated to “hard defense.” Germany has committed to reaching the 3.5 percent spending target by 2029, necessitating significant constitutional reforms to facilitate borrowing. Chancellor Merz has engaged with Donald Trump multiple times, noting their weekly coordination regarding the war in Ukraine, but acknowledging Trump’s perceived indifference to European concerns. Merz emphasized the need for increased defense spending due to Germany’s military shortcomings.
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Over the weekend, Donald Trump shared a fabricated video depicting the arrest and imprisonment of former President Barack Obama on his Truth Social platform. This followed Trump’s numerous posts related to Tulsi Gabbard’s claims of an Obama administration conspiracy. The video, featuring AI-generated content and alt-right imagery, was set to the song “YMCA.” This incident occurred after Gabbard called for the prosecution of Obama administration officials, and Trump had been repeatedly posting about it since the announcement.
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In the wake of renewed scrutiny regarding Donald Trump and the Jeffrey Epstein investigation, Democrats have responded to Trump’s attempts to deflect blame by calling for the full release of the Justice Department’s evidence. Trump and his allies have accused the Biden Justice Department of tampering with evidence to implicate him, yet Democrats remain focused on transparency and releasing all relevant files. While Trump instructed the release of grand jury testimony, critics see this as a move to cover up his involvement, leading to calls for a more comprehensive disclosure. The controversy has exposed a generational divide within the Democratic party, with younger members showing less leniency toward Trump’s actions.
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Maria Farmer reported Donald Trump’s connection to Jeffrey Epstein to the FBI on two occasions, detailing her concerns about Epstein’s pursuit of young women and his association with powerful figures like Trump. In 1996, Farmer described an unsettling encounter with Trump at Epstein’s office, where she felt uncomfortable. While Farmer did not have direct evidence of Trump’s wrongdoing, she expressed concerns about his association with Epstein, which has been documented in photos, videos, and a 2003 birthday letter referencing a shared “secret.” These reports come amid increasing scrutiny of Trump’s relationship with Epstein.
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John Q. Hosedrinker