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Investing.com -- U.S. President Donald Trump criticized fellow Republicans on Wednesday for their reaction to the handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case, calling it a "hoax" pushed by Democrats.
Trump expressed his frustration both on social media and during comments in the Oval Office, targeting allies who he believes are falling for Democratic tactics.
"It’s all been a big hoax," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. "It’s perpetrated by the Democrats and some stupid Republicans, and foolish Republicans fall into the net and so they try and do the Democrats’ work."
Earlier on Truth Social, Trump wrote about Republicans raising concerns: "Let these weaklings continue forward and do the Democrats work, don’t even think about talking of our incredible and unprecedented success, because I don’t want their support anymore!"
The controversy emerged after the Trump administration reversed its earlier pledge to release documents it had suggested contained major revelations about Epstein and his alleged clientele. This reversal angered some of Trump’s most loyal supporters.
Epstein, a wealthy financier and convicted sex offender, died by suicide in jail in 2019 while facing federal charges of sex-trafficking minors. He had pleaded not guilty, and the case was dismissed following his death.
Former Trump adviser Mike Flynn contradicted the president’s stance on Wednesday, stating on X that the matter was not a hoax and recommending that Trump "gather your team and figure out a way to move past this."
The Justice Department recently concluded there was "no incriminating client list" or evidence that Epstein blackmailed prominent individuals. Their review also confirmed previous FBI findings that Epstein killed himself in his jail cell while awaiting trial, ruling out murder or other criminal acts.
The backlash over the Epstein case has revealed tensions within Trump’s coalition and is testing his ability to maintain loyalty and control the narrative across right-wing circles.
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