Republican lawmaker further enflames burning MAGA house with new 'eye-popping' allegations

MS Now Opinion Columnist Ja’han Jones said Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) is lobbing more firebombs into an already burning MAGA house this week.

“Conspiracy theories are devouring any semblance of unity among the MAGA movement these days,” writes Jones, revealing never-before seen rifts tearing the formerly Trump-centric community to pieces.

“Massie made eye-popping, unsubstantiated allegations of political targeting involving FBI Director Kash Patel and FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino, who are well-known for spreading conspiracy theories themselves,” said Jones, which runs counter to President Donald Trump’s “absurd” post that the Republican Party “has never been so UNITED.”

“A quick look online shows that couldn’t be further from the truth,” said Jones. “Whether it’s theories surrounding the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk or bigoted allegations against Jewish people, the conservative movement can’t seem to get on the same page. And the divisions appear to be increasingly acrimonious.”

Massie has already garnered positive press for his battle to force the release of the Epstein files, in spite of Trump’s open opposition. But more recently, Jones said he “sat for a chummy interview with admitted Jan. 6 rioter Steve Baker,” who works for right-wing outlet The Blaze. The conversation discussed claims surrounding a pipe bombing suspect who allegedly sought to wreak havoc in Washington on Jan. 6.

“The congressman has been among several conservatives to fuel conspiracy theories about the incident – claims that have been disputed by the FBI and which have prompted an online war of words between Bongino and Massie,” said Jones.

During the interview, Massie alleged, without evidence, that a member of Patel’s staff threatened Massie’s staff with a criminal fraud investigation “if we didn’t straighten up and play ball,” suggesting political targeting by the nation’s top law enforcement agency. He went on to opine the alleged conduct from Patel’s staffer was probably illegal, though Jones said “some obvious caveats apply.”

“Massie’s claim shouldn’t be taken as gospel, even though we have ample evidence that the Justice Department has pursued politicized investigations against other critics of Trump and his administration,” said Jones, adding that The FBI declined to comment to MS NOW inquiries.

Jones said Massie’s accusation is already being “parroted by numerous pro-MAGA accounts on social media.” And while the spread of Massie’s allegations certainly don’t count as “irrefutable evidence of FBI wrongdoing,” Jones said it is “absolutely indicative of the unfolding infighting within the conspiracy-obsessed MAGA movement.”

Read the MS NOW report at this link.