WASHINGTON — Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie criticized President Donald Trump over his handling of the Jeffrey Epstein controversy, warning that Trump’s support base may turn on him as calls grow for full disclosure of a recent Justice Department review.
“What Donald Trump is learning is when you start the fire, sometimes you can’t put it out,” Christie said during an interview with ABC, accusing Trump of shielding Attorney General Pamela Bondi from pressure to release the full findings of a 107-page review into Epstein’s death.
The review, completed June 30 and summarized in a brief circulated late Friday, reaffirmed that Epstein died by suicide and labeled online speculation as “unsubstantiated.”
However, the limited release triggered backlash from prominent influencers within Trump’s circle, including Kash Patel, FBI Director, and Deputy Director Dan Bongino, who both urged full transparency on Saturday.
Christie claimed Trump is withholding the full report to avoid alienating supporters who believe in more extreme theories surrounding Epstein’s death.
“We cannot let the president off that easily. He benefited directly from it. He fueled it. He encouraged it. And he certainly didn’t stop it,” Christie said.
The growing controversy has placed Bondi at the center of a widening internal power struggle in the Trump administration. Patel and Bongino, both appointed during Trump’s 2024 campaign after publicly backing his transparency pledges, are now viewed as pressuring the administration from within.
Despite calls for her resignation, Bondi has not commented publicly. Former White House adviser Ty Cobb said Bondi is expected to remain in her post, signaling ongoing friction among senior officials.
