Donald Trump has called his own supporters “weaklings” as he tries to subdue criticism of his administration’s handling of records about the Jeffrey Epstein case.
The notorious financier was found dead in his cell in New York in August 2019, shortly after he was arrested on sex trafficking charges.
Rumours have long circulated over who he may have supplied underage girls to, and who visited his private island.
Mr Trump once fanned the flames of the conspiracy theorists, blaming the deep state for the cover-up of unreleased details, while FBI boss Kash Patel and his deputy also suggested the previous administration concealed information.
The FBI and Justice Department last week said there was “no incriminating client list” or evidence he blackmailed influential people.
They also confirmed prior findings that he killed himself and wasn’t murdered, as some claim.
They said no more files would be disclosed – despite previous promises by attorney general Pam Bondi that “everything is going to come out to the public”.
The U-turn by authorities has caused outrage among some Trump supporters, who have turned their ire on Ms Bondi in particular.
Mr Trump hit out at the critics on Wednesday and claimed they were being duped by the Democrats.
The president knew Jeffrey Epstein socially in the 1990s and 2000s, with one well-known video showing the pair talking at a party.
In a post on Truth Social, Mr Trump wrote: “Their new SCAM is what we will forever call the Jeffrey Epstein Hoax, and my PAST supporters have bought into this bull****, hook, line, and sinker.
“They haven’t learned their lesson, and probably never will, even after being conned by the Lunatic Left for 8 long years.”
“Let these weaklings continue forward and do the Democrats work,” he added.
“Don’t even think about talking of our incredible and unprecedented success, because I don’t want their support anymore!”
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He doubled down on his criticism later in the Oval Office, telling reporters it was a “big hoax” and that he had “lost a lot of faith in certain people”.
Mr Trump said Ms Bondi had already released all “credible information”.
“If she finds anymore credible information she’ll give that, too,” he added. “What more can she do than that?”
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Far-right conspiracy theorist Alex Jones is among the influencers and podcasters who have criticised the president.
Jones called the Epstein situation “the biggest train wreck I’ve ever seen”.
“It’s not in character for you to be acting like this,” he said in a video this week. “I support you, but we built the movement you rode in on. You’re not the movement. You just surfed in on it.”
House Speaker Mike Johnson also told conservative podcaster Benny Johnson he wanted the Justice Department to “put everything out there and let the people decide”.
In a separate development, Maurene Comey, a prosecutor who worked on the Epstein case – as well as the Sean “Diddy” Combs trial – has reportedly been sacked.
Associated Press said three people familiar with the matter had confirmed her dismissal. Ms Comey, daughter of former FBI chief James Comey, has not yet commented.
