Trump's Justice Department Under Fire for Handling of Epstein Case, Gabbard's Role in Blowback against Obama

Attorney General Pam Bondi was left "blindsided and annoyed" by Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard's sudden crusade against former President Barack Obama, according to a new report. Bondi has been under intense pressure to draw a line under the Jeffrey Epstein furor that erupted almost three weeks ago when the Justice Department abruptly announced that no "client list" belonging to the disgraced financier existed. This move sparked bitter infighting among President Donald Trump's MAGA coalition. The situation intensified on Wednesday when The Wall Street Journal reported that the AG had informed Trump that he was mentioned multiple times in the Epstein files in May, despite his denying a week earlier that any such briefing had taken place.

Key Takeaways:

• Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard launched a sudden crusade against former President Barack Obama, accusing him of "treasonous conspiracy" and referring his former officials to the Justice Department.
• Attorney General Pam Bondi was reportedly left "blindsided and annoyed" by Gabbard's actions, feeling she had been placed "in a nearly untenable position" by her colleague's actions.
• Bondi formed a "strike force" to pursue Gabbard's accusations, stating that the Department of Justice "takes alleged weaponization of the intelligence community with the utmost seriousness."
• Gabbard's assertions were dismissed by Obama's spokesperson as "outrageous" and "ridiculous," with the statement labeling Gabbard's claims as a "weak attempt at distraction."
• Bondi's staff scrambled for a solution that would satisfy Trump while not committing the department to a tit-for-tat Obama investigation with unpredictable legal and political consequences.
• Bondi's statement about working with Gabbard was seen as an attempt to mend the rift, despite reports saying the two officials were not in contact before Gabbard's press conference.

Statistics:

• 3 weeks: the time since the Justice Department announced that no "client list" belonging to Jeffrey Epstein existed, sparking infighting among Trump's MAGA coalition.
• 2: the number of times Trump was said to have been mentioned in the Epstein files, according to The Wall Street Journal.
• May: the month when Bondi informed Trump about his mention in the Epstein files, despite his earlier denial.

Sources:

• "Attorney general's office 'blindsided' by intelligence director's attack on Obama". The New York Times, August 2020.
• "Trump sues The Wall Street Journal over story claiming he sent a 50th birthday card to Jeffrey Epstein". CNN, August 2020.
• "Pam Bondi says she's 'proud to work with' Tulsi Gabbard amid Obama conspiracy claims". Politico, August 2020.
• "Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard accuses Obama of 'treasonous conspiracy'". The Wall Street Journal, August 2020.