Man Of The Hour

Let’s chat about the man of the hour who, as I’m sure you have recognized, is Jeffrey Epstein. Yes, Epstein, dead (maybe) these past six years, has risen like a zombie to torment those left behind, especially his good buddy, Donald Trump. I say maybe, because I’m sure that there are a few denizens in some dark corner of MAGA-land who are convinced that he never died, but was spirited away from the Metropolitan Correction Center to some secret lair where he continues to prey on children. Is that idea really any more wild than that Trump would be elected president or, even more incredible, returned to that office?

For the past week, Trump has been trying ever more desperately to shove the Epstein scandal off-stage, a task made much more difficult by the past behavior of some of his most important appointments—like Ka$h Patel and Dan Bongino, Nos. 1 and 2 at the formerly-respected FBI—both of whom were vivid proponents of Epstein conspiracy theories before the Mango Mussolini returned to office. Not to mention Pam Blondie, who told Fox “News” that the files Epstein files were “sitting on my desk” in February.

If Trump were smart, or even minimally cogent these days, he would appoint a special prosecutor to look into the Epstein matter, with a full report to be made by December 31, 2026, conveniently after the mid-term election. Then he would get Blondie to appoint some tame Republican prosecutor who will be sure to bury everything until the week between Christmas and New Year’s next year, before issuing a report that says nothing. (I hear that Robert Hur is available for the job.)

Fortunately, given the firestorm that the Epstein matter has set off among the MAGA (formerly) faithful, it’s by no means clear that such a step, or any step short of, well, releasing the Epstein files, would calm things down on the right. It couldn’t happen to a more deserving group of folks.

Let’s be clear that there is a real issue here. Epstein was truly a monster, a very rich man who got away with doing absolutely horrible things to many girls and young women for many years. When he was originally prosecuted in 2005, after being accused of abusing a 14-year-old, he got a suspiciously light sentence that included much work-release. He was finally arrested again in July 2019, accused in federal court of the sexual trafficking of minors in New York and Florida. He died, allegedly by suicide a few weeks later, while in a cell in federal lockup. His long-time lady friend, Ghislaine Maxwell, was then convicted of sex trafficking in 2021, and her appeals have not yet concluded—which is a reason why the files were not released while Joe Biden was in office (as Trump conveniently forgets).

So, what should the Resistance do about the Epstein matter, if anything? Feed the fire. We should not fool ourselves into thinking that the MAGA faithful will welcome us as allies, but no matter. “Let’s you and him fight” is fine, but this no time to stand above the fray when we might add to it. Some observers have suggested that the whole thing will blow over, that Trump will find some new distraction for his followers, and that no one will remember Jeffrey Epstein in a month. We may not be able to keep that from happening, single-handed, but we can work to keep the issue on the front burner as much and as long as possible.

Congressional Democrats have stepped up by demanding that the files be released. That is all to the good, even if not likely to win much appreciation from the MAGA hard core. It has so far had the beneficial effect of leading the White House to continue its ham-fisted, silly approach. Just this afternoon, Press Secretary KKKaroline Leavitt chided the press for seeking more information, asserting that “some of the most trusted voices in the Republican Party movement” had reviewed the files before the Department of “Justice” decided not to release them. (The relevant lying starts at about the 1:00 mark of the link.) She carefully avoided noting that Patel and Bongino are widely believed to be at odds with the attorney general and Trump over the issue; numerous sources have said that Bongino threatens to resign over it. Also, an interesting tell: Leavitt’s words suggest that party credentials were more important than law-enforcement expertise or skill in the appointments of FBI leaders. Not that that should surprise anyone who has been paying minimal attention, but nice to have on the record.

The best idea I have heard to raise the pressure—I claim no originality—would be for congressional Democrats to announce that if they re-take one or both houses next year, they will launch immediately a full and fair investigation of the Epstein matter, even if that ensnares prominent Democrats. After all, why should we want to protect such people? Surely, we should be happy to have them out of our ranks. So, proclaim such an investigation—and ask why Republicans in Congress are not doing one already—and then ride that horse all the way to the finish line.

(As a legal matter, many, even almost all of the files could be released in at least redacted form even while what is left of Maxwell’s appeal continues.)

One more thought: It’s probably too late for today’s Good Trouble demonstrations, but nothing stops people from carrying signs reading RELEASE THE EPSTEIN FILES to future protests.

Oh, and pass the popcorn.

(Note for a truly sophisticated analysis of the Epstein brouhaha, see this from the wonderful Heather Cox Richardson.)

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