The Epstein scandal:   An overview

The Epstein case is rife with speculation, theories, accusations, and highly spun narratives.  It has been elevated to an existential threat in terms of the Trump presidency.  Is a significant part of President Trump’s base deserting him over l’affaire Epstein – and is it a permanent separation?  Let us take a closer look at the issue that is causing all this political ruckus.

It revolves around the case against Jeffrey Epstein – a scumbag pedophile who used sexploitation to gain access, power and wealth.  He created an elitist prostitution service for the rich and famous—and too often used underage girls as bait.  He had his own Fantasy Island – the Little Saint James in the Virgin Islands (you cannot make this stuff up) — to which he flew his “guests” for an occasional Bacchanal.

For his sins, Epstein was eventually held accountable.  He was indicted, but before he could stand trial, he took his own life in a federal prison.  Despite the suspicions of conspiratorial theorists, I think we can accept the stated events surrounding his death.  His cohort, Ghislaine Maxwell, did stand trial and has been sentenced to 20 years away from the glitz and glamour of her previous life.

Epstein was given what seemed to be an overly generous plea deal in 2008 that left him out of prison more than he was in it.  That created a public uproar and a continuation of the federal investigation.  He was arrested again in 2019 and indicted on much more serious charges.

In the meantime, public curiosity rose to a fever pitch over the names of the powerful people who might have been involved in Epstein’s obscene enterprise.  Who flew on his plane?  Who visited the island?  Would Epstein name names?  He did not, but names surfaced – Bill Clinton, Bill Gates (whose wife divorced him over his friendship with Epstein) and Donald Trump, to name just a few.  In the media sphere, it evolved into a list of prominent names – initially a figurative list and then a perceived literal list.  No actions were taken by the Department of Justice against the names circulating in the news media.  But no one other than Epstein and Maxwell faced Lady Justice.

The death of Epstein and the incarceration of his paramour accomplice did not tamp down public curiosity.   And, at various times, those not in charge promised to reveal all – and those in charge declined.  That included the first Trump administration, the Biden four years and now again the Trump administration.

Among the prominent people said to have flown on Epstein’s plane to various destinations are Trump (7 times), Bill Clinton (17 times), Bill Gates, Kevin Spacey, Naomi Campbell, Alan Dershowitz, Chris Tucker, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Stephen Hawking.   Trump and Clinton do not appear on any flight logs to St. James Island.  Both deny prior knowledge of his sex operations and broke ties with Epstein prior to his arrest.

What has been sealed in a judicial Pandora’s Box is the evidence and the voluminous records assembled during the Epstein investigation.  Virtually all of that has remained sealed for the past 20 years, since his initial arrest in 2005.  Tens of millions of data points on computers, online, videos and hard copy.

NOT making such records public is neither unusual nor unprecedented.  It is the practice of the FBI and the Department of Justice to keep records private unless they form the foundation for an indictment.  Most court records are public, but not grand jury testimony.  Records that deal with unindicted co-conspirators, innocent individuals, witnesses and victims that are not used and revealed in a trial are almost never made public – and especially when the information is salacious and/or involves underage children.

Neither the Trump nor the Biden administration – which has juxtaposed motivations for releasing or not releasing the information –chose to do so.

In his 2024 campaign, Trump said he would reveal the Epstein file. The conspiratorial theorist types assumed he meant ALL the files. Since some files cannot be released to the public under any circumstances — certain records deemed to be prejudicial to innocent parties, grand jury testimony (without a court order) and information regarding underage children.

Recently, Attorney General Pam Bondi said there is no there there.  There is no “list” – and never has been.  Virtually everyone associated with the investigations now confirms that.  It has belatedly been confirmed by Biden officials. Bondi confirmed that Epstein died by his own hand – and that there was no need to release any more than the volumes of information that has already been released.

The initial reaction came from the more MAGA of the MAGA team.  Having invested in the belief that there was a much larger scandal – and rich, famous, powerful people were being left off the hook.   The vest belief that Epstein was murdered was unshaken by Bondi’s statement.

As the MAGA reaction was calming down, Democrats rose and used the current situation to spin the issue against Trump and launch their political narrative into hyperspace.  They see is a gotcha moment.  Some even opine (hopefully) that l’affaire Epstein will bring down the Trump presidency.  They intimate — without proof or logic – that Trump, himself, was involved in Epstein’s sordid activities.

More likely it will become yet another political hot air balloon in the same spirit as those other false narratives – Russian collusion, the Hunter Biden laptop, the Steele Dossier, etc. 

As of now, the Trump administration has asked the courts to release the grand jury testimony.   That did not happen – as easily predicted.  Those who serve on or appear before grand juries are assured anonymity.  Those rules should only be violated in the most extreme circumstances — and this is not one of them.  Protection of the innocent trumps salacious curiosity.

Despite the clamor, I seriously doubt that we the people will see much more of the Epstein files – and we should not.  They are not likely to reveal anything of significance that we do not already know.  An unseen birthday card with a naughty drawing, even if you believe it came from Trump, is hardly a significant piece of information – except for those with prurient or partisan political interests.

Some MAGA personalities are clamoring for the Epstein information.  Personally, I do not care what the Tucker Carlsons, the Alex Joneses and the Steve Bannons of the world think – and never have.  They are nothing but showboating podcasters who use conspiratorial theories to line their pockets.

Is it possible that there is some incriminating information against some prominent, powerful person? I suppose so.  But most likely not – or that information would have been revealed or leaked by now.  I think that both the Biden and Trump Justice Departments have gone down the prosecutorial path as far as possible.  Why would they not have?

If Democrats did not have a corrupt press to advance their mendacious political narratives as fact-based truths, stories like l’ affaire Epstein would be treated for what it is — a nothing burger.

In terms of the Trump base, I think it will hold against the “slings and arrows of outrageous fortune” coming from the left.  If, perchance, something of criminal significance is revealed in the future involving Trump, I am fully prepared to eat that nothing burger.  I prefer it to crow.

So, there ‘tis.

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