Conservatives, led by key figures in the MAGA movement, have pressed unsubstantiated claims that Epstein was murdered and that “deep state” actors in the government are hiding lists of his clients, videos of crimes being committed and other evidence. Trump himself suggested there was a cover-up.

President Donald Trump is staring down a brewing civil war within his MAGA coalition stemming from his administration’s handling of evidence in the Jeffrey Epstein case, with limited options to tamp down anger.