The Big Question: What If We Really Get the Documents?
As usual, we almost seem more concerned about the politics of the House voting nearly unanimously for the release the Jeffrey Epstein sex trafficking files than about what to do with the documents if they do appear.
Of course, obviously we also savor titillating tales with hopes of nailing some bad guys. Many truly want to provide the ignored women survivors a chance to see grievances aired.
Not to worry, there are plenty more of both to come, including from supporters of the assault survivors.
Much of the fascination with the recognizing that yesterday’s House rebellious vote to demand the release had centered on whether Republicans in Congress would defy Donald Trump’s wishes to close out concerns about the Epstein files. As we know, Trump, whose name apparently appears repeatedly in these files, saw the adverse public relations coming in the veto-proof result, and over the weekend decided to flip-flop to embrace the vote, a futile attempt wipe away any stain of a congressional loss.
Even before the vote, there were suggestions that Trump will use the opening of his ordered investigation of Democratic names only to shield his administration from the legal duty to release the information – it is unfair to defendants in an ongoing probe. Or that he will come up with another dodge.
The 427-1 vote (the objector wanted the House to control the release of documents) followed an emotional Capitol steps appearance by several Epstein survivors who made clear that they care nothing for politics and everything about being heard.
What was unclear was exactly how the Senate will move on this bill, though all concede that if it is brought to a vote, it will pass again. Then it would go to Trump, who when asked clearly remains uncomfortable about being linked as a former friend of Epstein, and how the Justice Department may seek to limit discovery.
What If We Get the Documents?
But if hundreds of thousands of raw documents do make their way into public view, can we trust that further rounds of political one-upmanship will give them all a fair, different read than the feds previously did?
What if we learn the names of accused sexual predators or some financial chicanery in the years-long Epstein campaign? Will we trust that the same Justice Department that ignored the obvious investigations will pursue names that may include Trump or other recognizable names? Will Trump tell us just which part of the thousands of pages are “hoax”?
For that matter, for all the commentary, it is not clear just what potential crimes can continue in federal or state legal systems past statutes of limitation on reported crime. Most jurisdictions have five years to act, but some states – these reported crimes occurred is in multiple states – have extended limits on sex crimes.
If anything, the documents might fuel more civil lawsuits either against the Epstein estate or individuals whose names surface. It seems unlikely that someone could sue the FBI and Justice for not filing other charges.
The documents could tell us what was investigated, but not what got short shrift. What will we do about the failures of the FBI and Justice to take the allegations of sexual survivors seriously enough to question those boldfaced names who now may face public shame? What will all the oversight committees choose to look at about a Trump administration cover-up of Epstein association for the president?
What will we do about the glaring contradictions between what we now know about Ghislane Maxwell and her tender, recent prison interview with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanch that appears to have been staged only to clear Trump from suspicions in return for favored treatment, up to a possible clemency ruling by Trump?
In the end, a vote to release the files will not end this saga. Zombie Epstein will dog Trump, distract Congress, create political fissures, continue to ignore the now-adult survivors and leave the questions of how we allow rich, prominent men to abuse young women without facing criminal accountability.
Searchable Epstein Documents
A name-searchable database of 20,000 subpoenaed emails and documents released by the Epstein file have been catalogued and made available here.
