We’re seeing what happens when conspiracy collides with reality.
For most of the past 10 years, Donald Trump’s hold on his party’s base has been unbreakable. Many of his supporters view him in quasi-religious terms. Which makes l’affaireJeffrey Epstein such a consequential moment. It’s the first time there’s been a break in the MAGA ranks. The fallout from it may linger.
For years, Mr. Trump raised questions about Epstein. He suggested President Clinton was involved with the financier’s sexual trafficking operations, questioned if Epstein committed suicide, and promised to release his so-called “client list.”
After assuming the presidency a second time, Mr. Trump was obligated to deliver. MAGA supporters expected to learn the clients of Epstein’s sex trafficking operation. They were certain indictments would follow and the Deep State’s high and mighty incarcerated.
Not so. Attorney General Pam Bondi, Federal Bureau of Investigation Director Kash Patel and Deputy Director Dan Bongino—all members in good standing of MAGA world—said there was no client list of powerful figures in politics, finance and media. They also confirmed Epstein wasn’t killed by a Deep State hit squad at midnight in a federal prison but committed suicide.
Many in MAGA reacted with incredulity and anger at Mr. Trump, the attorney general and the FBI leadership. There’s hell to pay when those who hyped the conspiracy have closed the books on the case.
Team Trump is now in damage control mode. They’ve also fought among themselves. That will leave scars.
To calm the waters, the president directed Ms. Bondi to “produce any and all pertinent Grand Jury testimony, subject to Court approval.” That won’t settle much even if that happens. Grand jury testimony is hardly the most relevant evidence in this case.
Other conspiracies await action by the White House. Some MAGA leaders believe the Jan. 6, 2021, assault on the Capitol was an inside job designed to embarrass Mr. Trump. They say government agent provocateurs encouraged otherwise innocent protesters to storm the Capitol, beat up law enforcement and interrupt a joint Congressional session. Moreover, the president and many MAGA followers insist the 2020 election was stolen by Democrats stuffing ballot boxes and discarding Trump votes.
Will the Trump administration now discover the perpetrators of these crimes and bring them to justice?
Team Trump could produce evidence that confirms the conspiracy advocates were right. They could reveal just how the 2020 election was stolen—computers in Europe, miscounted ballots, phony election returns, etc.—and identify the Deep State agents who conceived this crime against our democracy and bring them to justice. Team Trump could also produce the evidence that Jan. 6 was a Deep State plot to discredit the president by causing law-abiding Americans to breach police lines and storm the Capitol.
But in truth there is no “there” in either case. Neither happened. Years have passed, yet there has been no real evidence or successful court case proving the vast conspiracies around the 2020 election or Jan 6.
However, if Team Trump admits the election wasn’t stolen and government agents didn’t organize the Capitol assault, MAGA conspiracy theorists would be furious and the president’s base further weakened and fractured.
