MMA Fighter ‘King Bau’ Stirs Controversy: Trump Backing and Criticism of Precedence in Former President’s Indictment Amid Epstein’s Clients’ Omissions

Joel “King Bau” Bauman, a mixed martial arts fighter, has sparked controversy with his outspoken support for former President Donald Trump and his criticism of the authorities for indicting Trump before any of Jeffrey Epstein’s clients. Bauman, who lost a close split decision to Curtis Millender at Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA 6 on Friday, made a bold statement with his attire and his words before and after the fight.

Bauman wears a pro-Trump shirt and rips prosecutors

As he entered the ring on Friday, Bauman wore a black shirt with the following message: “Trump was indicted before anyone on [Jeffrey] Epstein’s client list.” All the words, short of Epstein, were white – “Epstein” was in red. Bauman later explained his choice of clothing in an interview with Fox News, saying that he wanted to show his support for Trump, who he believes is being unfairly targeted by the Biden administration and the media.

“I think it’s a disgrace what they’re doing to him,” Bauman said. “He’s the best president we ever had. He did so much for this country, for the economy, for the military, for the border. He exposed the corruption and the lies of the establishment. And now they’re trying to silence him and destroy him with these bogus charges.”

Bauman was referring to the federal indictment that Trump faces for allegedly mishandling classified documents, obstructing justice and making false statements. The indictment, which was unsealed in July, accuses Trump of retaining more than 100 classified documents after leaving office, storing them in insecure locations, and trying to conceal them from the government and his own lawyers. Trump has denied any wrongdoing and has filed a motion backing media requests for live television coverage of his trial, which is set for March 2024.

Bauman also took aim at the prosecutors for prioritizing Trump’s case over the investigation of Epstein’s sex trafficking ring, which involved many powerful and influential people, including politicians, celebrities, and billionaires. Epstein, a convicted sex offender and former hedge fund manager, died by suicide in jail in 2019, as he awaited trial on charges of sex trafficking of minors. His ex-girlfriend and alleged madam, Ghislaine Maxwell, was sentenced to 20 years in prison in June for her role in the scheme.

“Epstein was a monster who abused and exploited countless young girls, and he had a lot of accomplices who are still walking free,” Bauman said. “They should be the ones facing justice, not Trump. But the prosecutors are more interested in going after Trump because he’s a threat to their agenda. They’re letting Epstein’s clients off the hook because they’re part of the same club.”

Bauman did not name any specific individuals who he believes were involved with Epstein, but he said he was aware of the list of names that Maxwell allegedly kept, which has never been disclosed to the public. He said he hoped that the list would be revealed someday and that the truth would come out.

Bauman faces backlash and support from fans and fellow fighters

Bauman’s pro-Trump shirt and comments have drawn mixed reactions from fans and fellow fighters, some of whom praised him for his courage and honesty, and others who criticized him for his ignorance and disrespect. On social media, Bauman has received both supportive and hateful messages, some of which he has shared on his Twitter account.

One of the most vocal critics of Bauman was his opponent, Millender, who said he was disgusted by Bauman’s shirt and his political views. Millender, who is Black, said he felt insulted by Bauman’s support for Trump, who he accused of being a racist and a liar.

“I don’t care what he says, Trump is not a good person. He’s a con man who divided this country and incited violence. He’s a racist who doesn’t care about Black people or any people of color. He’s a liar who spread false claims about the election and the pandemic. He’s a criminal who deserves to be locked up,” Millender said. “Bauman can wear whatever he wants, but he’s not going to change my mind or anyone else’s mind. He’s just making himself look stupid and ignorant.”

Millender also said he was offended by Bauman’s criticism of the prosecutors for indicting Trump before any of Epstein’s clients, saying that Bauman was trivializing the seriousness of Trump’s charges and the impact of his actions on national security.

“Trump is not a victim. He’s a traitor who betrayed his oath and endangered this country. He mishandled classified documents that could have fallen into the wrong hands. He obstructed justice and lied to the American people. He tried to overturn the election and incited a riot at the Capitol. He’s facing serious charges that have nothing to do with Epstein or his clients. Bauman is trying to make a false equivalence and distract from the facts. He’s disrespecting the law and the Constitution,” Millender said.

Millender added that he was not defending Epstein or his clients, and that he agreed that they should be held accountable for their crimes. However, he said that Bauman was wrong to suggest that the prosecutors were ignoring or protecting them, and that he was confident that justice would be served in due time.

“Epstein and his clients are also criminals who deserve to be punished. I’m glad that Maxwell is in jail and I hope that the others will be exposed and prosecuted. But I don’t think that the prosecutors are covering up for them or letting them off the hook. I think they’re doing their job and following the evidence. I trust that they will get to the bottom of this and bring everyone to justice,” Millender said.

Bauman stands by his shirt and his words, says he will continue to speak his mind

Despite the backlash and the criticism, Bauman said he does not regret wearing his pro-Trump shirt or expressing his opinions, and that he will continue to speak his mind and stand up for what he believes in. He said he respects the right of others to disagree with him, but he also expects them to respect his right to voice his views.

“I’m not here to please everyone or to be politically correct. I’m here to be myself and to say what I think. I’m not afraid to speak the truth and to challenge the lies. I’m not ashamed to support Trump and to criticize the authorities. I’m not going to be silenced or intimidated by anyone,” Bauman said. “I respect everyone’s freedom of speech and freedom of choice, and I hope they respect mine. We can agree to disagree, but we don’t have to hate each other or attack each other. We can have a civil and honest conversation, and maybe learn something from each other.”

Bauman said he plans to keep wearing his pro-Trump shirt and other political clothing in his future fights, and that he hopes to inspire other fighters and fans to be more vocal and active in politics. He said he believes that MMA fighters have a unique platform and a powerful voice that can make a difference in the world.

“MMA fighters are not just athletes. We’re also role models and leaders. We have a lot of fans and followers who look up to us and listen to us. We have a lot of influence and impact that we can use for good. We can educate people and raise awareness about important issues. We can motivate people and inspire change. We can make a difference in the world,” Bauman said. “That’s why I’m not afraid to speak my mind and to stand up for what I believe in. That’s why I’m proud to support Trump and to criticize the authorities. That’s why I’m going to keep wearing my shirt and saying what I think. And I hope that other fighters and fans will join me and do the same.”