THE DAILY BLAST with Greg Sargent Trump’s Epstein Spin Collapses as Kash Patel Buckles Under Questioning
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Sep 18, 2025 
Historian Nicole Hemmer, an expert on the modern American right, joins to dissect the fallout from the Jeffrey Epstein scandal. She delves into Trump’s claims that the allegations are a Democratic hoax while analyzing Kash Patel's wobbly testimony during a congressional hearing. Patel's inadvertent revelations challenge the MAGA narrative, unveiling cracks within its ranks. Hemmer connects these events to a broader historical pattern of right-wing conspiracies and deceptions, questioning how long Trump's team can keep the scandal under wraps.
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Patel's Evasive Hearing Undermines Denials
- Kash Patel's hearing revealed he was evasive about whether Trump's name appears in Epstein files, undermining the administration's public denials.
- Patel's filibustering and inconsistent answers make MAGA's claim of a Democratic 'hoax' much harder to sustain.
The 'How Many Times' Slip Reveals Knowledge
- Under questioning Patel first claimed ignorance, then decisively ruled out very large counts, implying he knows how often Trump is mentioned in the files.
- That slip suggests Patel is familiar enough with the files to undercut public claims of no evidence linking Trump to Epstein.
Epstein Files Produce A MAGA Schism
- The Epstein files expose elite immunity and reinforce populist narratives, but Trump's inclusion creates cognitive dissonance for MAGA supporters.
- MAGA faces a split between those prioritizing loyalty to Trump and those demanding the transparency they once championed.
