Trump, Biden, and Epstein Controversies Unfold

US President Donald Trump has defended Attorney General Pam Bondi amid calls for her resignation over the handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case. Trump took to social media to criticize those accusing Bondi of withholding information about Epstein's death and alleged "client list". A memo released by Bondi's justice department and the FBI stated that there was "no incriminating client list" or evidence of blackmail after reviewing over 300 gigabytes of data. Some of Trump's supporters, including Laura Loomer and Elon Musk, have criticized Bondi's handling of the case, with some calling for her resignation or questioning the administration's transparency. Trump expressed frustration that the Epstein case was still garnering public attention, stating it was "unbelievable" people were "still talking about this guy, this creep".

Miranda Devine argues that the ongoing controversy surrounding Jeffrey Epstein is an unnecessary distraction for the Trump administration, playing into the hands of Democrats. Despite clumsy handling by Trump officials, Devine believes it's plausible that FBI vaults may have been scrubbed of meaningful Epstein conspiracy information if Epstein was an intelligence asset. The controversy has led to calls for Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI officials to testify to Congress, with some MAGA influencers aligning with Democrats. Devine notes that while the truth about Epstein would be welcome, it's not worth tearing the administration apart. She suggests that other scandals, such as the alleged anti-Trump sabotage by the FBI and DOJ, are more pressing and warrant greater attention, citing Sen. Chuck Grassley's recent revelations about the FBI's attempts to entrap Trump and associates over the January 6 Capitol riot.

Former President Joseph R. Biden Jr. stated that he made the clemency decisions issued under his name at the end of his term, countering Republican claims that he might not have been in control due to his cognitive state. Biden said he orally granted all the pardons and commutations and had his staff use an autopen to replicate his signature on the warrants because of the large number of people involved. He reduced the sentences of nearly 4,000 federal convicts and pre-emptively pardoned dozens of politically prominent people, including General Mark A. Milley and Dr. Anthony Fauci, whom he considered potential targets of vindictive investigations by his successor, President Trump. Biden's comments come as part of investigations by the Trump White House, the Justice Department, and Congress into the clemency decisions and his mental acuity during his term. Tens of thousands of Biden White House emails are being reviewed as part of the investigation, which may shed more light on the extent of Biden's involvement in the pardon and clemency decisions.

Former President Joseph R. Biden Jr. discussed his clemency actions with The New York Times, defending his use of the device and denying claims that his staff conspired against him. Biden commuted the sentences of around 4,000 people, including nonviolent drug offenders and inmates on home confinement during the pandemic, and pardoned several high-profile figures, such as Dr. Anthony Fauci and Gen. Mark A. Milley. He stated that he made every clemency decision personally, and that his White House staff signed the warrants with an autopen due to the high number of decisions. He described Republican claims about his mental capacity as "liars" and stated that he granted pre-emptive pardons to protect his relatives and others from potential vindictiveness by his successor, Donald Trump.