In a Truth Social post highlighting the intense publicity surrounding billionaire Jeffrey Epstein’s sex trafficking activities, President Donald Trump called on Attorney General Pam Bondi to produce all relevant grand jury testimony—subject to court approval. Bondi responded by petitioning the court to unseal the grand jury transcripts.
I have not previously written about the Epstein case on Freedom and Reason, in part because much of the hysteria surrounding it reflects some of the more paranoid tendencies of the far right. On social media, I’ve said that while pedophilia is a serious problem (I have written quite a bit on that subject on this platform), we are not governed by a cabal of pedophiles. I urged people to step away from QAnon—a far-right movement rooted in a theory that the world is controlled by a Satanic cabal of pedophiles embedded in corporations, government, and popular culture. The theory reeks of antisemitism.
Moreover, if Epstein were such an urgent matter, why didn’t Democrats release the files during Biden’s presidency? They had four years. Why didn’t then-Attorney General Merrick Garland act? Why didn’t the media press the administration? Why didn’t Democrats in the House or Senate demand action? Their sudden interest now is highly suspicious.
While some documents have been released, many remain sealed or heavily redacted. No concrete evidence has emerged linking Trump to Epstein’s criminal activities. Elon Musk’s recent claim on X—that Trump is named in still-sealed files and that this is causing delays in their release—comes without evidence.
Suppose everything is released. After years of politicized investigations—remember the Steele dossier, the Russia collusion hoax, and the Biden Administration and media’s coordinated dismissal of the Hunter Biden laptop story—why should the public trust the integrity of these files? Democrats, Garland, Wray, and the Deep State had ample time to remove or insert names, scrub records, or manufacture evidence. They had cover, motive, and time.
Now, six months into Trump’s second term—and in concert with far-right paranoiacs—Democrats clamoring for release. They know what is and isn’t in those files. This feels orchestrated. Right on cue, The Wall Street Journal, owned by Rupert Murdoch, published a fabricated conversation between Trump and Epstein. Who was behind the forgery? Fusion GPS?
Trump has every right to be angry and frustrated. They tried to destroy him—and we still know little about the attempt on his life. We’re still uncovering details of the JFK assassination—61 years later. Now, elements of MAGA are turning on Trump because he dares say what anyone paying attention already knows: the establishment is hell-bent on bringing him down. We all know this is what lies behind the frenzy over Epstein.
It has long been publicly known that Trump had social ties to Epstein. His name appeared in Epstein’s contact lists and flight logs. The two were photographed together at social events in the 1990s and early 2000s.
Is there anything real here? The Epstein case sits at the intersection of criminal justice, political power, and class privilege. It reveals the flaws in our legal system, the power of wealth and influence, and the ongoing difficulty of holding elite predators accountable. Epstein’s crimes are among the most notorious in recent US history, involving the systematic sexual abuse of underage girls, a suspiciously lenient plea deal, and deep connections to powerful figures in business and politics. All this is real and important.
The saga began in the mid-2000s, under President George W Bush. Following reports from victims in Florida, the FBI and local law enforcement launched an investigation. Federal prosecutors, led by then-US Attorney Alexander Acosta (appointed by Bush in 2005), oversaw the case.
Epstein was accused of having abused at least 36 underage girls, some as young as 14. Yet in 2008, Acosta negotiated a remarkably lenient plea deal. Epstein pleaded guilty to two state charges—solicitation of prostitution and solicitation involving a minor. In exchange, he avoided federal sex trafficking charges and received immunity for himself and unnamed “potential co-conspirators.” The deal effectively shut down the FBI investigation. Epstein served thirteen months, with liberal work-release privileges.
The non-prosecution agreement (NPA) was controversial for several reasons: it was negotiated with limited input from victims (in violation of the Crime Victims’ Rights Act); Epstein’s high-powered legal team—led by Alan Dershowitz and Ken Starr—exerted heavy pressure on prosecutors; and its secrecy shielded powerful figures. Crucially, the deal only applied within the Southern District of Florida, not nationally. More on this in a moment.
Acosta’s role in the Epstein case resurfaced when Trump appointed him Secretary of Labor in 2017. Though academically and professionally accomplished (Harvard law, former Alito clerk), his handling of the Epstein case became a liability. Under mounting public pressure, Acosta resigned his post in 2019. A 2020 DOJ review found he had exercised poor judgment, though it stopped short of declaring legal or ethical violations.
As noted, Trump and Epstein were socially acquainted in the 1990s and early 2000s. But Trump reportedly severed ties in the mid-2000s. In a 2002 New York Magazine interview, Trump admitted “I’ve known Jeff for fifteen years. Terrific guy. He’s a lot of fun to be with. It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side. No doubt about it—Jeffrey enjoys his social life.”
However, at a press conference in July 2019, a day after Epstein was arrested, Trump said, “I knew him like everybody in Palm Beach knew him. People in Palm Beach knew him. He was a fixture in Palm Beach. I had a falling out with him a long time ago. I don’t think I’ve spoken to him for 15 years. I wasn’t a fan.” In fact, Trump banned Epstein from Mar-a-Lago in 2007. Epstein’s membership was terminated after he was accused of “perving” on the teenage daughter of a club member and making inappropriate advances at the resort.
There is no evidence that Trump and Acosta had a personal or professional relationship during Epstein’s original prosecution.
Why was Epstein re-arrested under Trump’s Justice Department in July 2019? Prosecutors in the Southern District of New York charged him with sex trafficking of minors and conspiracy, focusing on crimes outside Florida’s jurisdiction. Renewed interest in the case came from investigative journalists, victim advocacy, and new evidence.
Epstein pleaded “not guilty” but died by suicide a month later in federal custody—shortly before trial. His death fueled intense speculation, with many believing he was murdered. It’s not an unreasonable suspicion. However, FBI Director Kash Patel and Deputy Director Dan Bongino have both said after reviewing the evidence that it was a suicide. Epstein’s longtime associate, Ghislaine Maxwell, was later convicted for grooming and recruiting underage girls for Epstein. In June 2022, she was sentenced to twenty years in prison.
Among the more sensational claims is that Epstein had ties to intelligence agencies—CIA, Mossad, MI6. These theories stem from his elite connections, unexplained wealth, and unusually lenient treatment. Some reports suggest Acosta was told Epstein “belonged to intelligence.” There is no record of this and there is no verified public evidence to support the underlying claim, but would such proof even be made public? Does anyone believe the CIA would allow evidence implicating itself to remain in declassified files?
The outrage over Epstein stems largely from the plea deal’s secrecy and leniency, and from the perception that it protected powerful people. Those concerns are legitimate. But the timing of today’s renewed hysteria strongly suggests yet another attempt to undermine Trump and the populist-nationalist movement.
Unfortunately, some elements of MAGA are playing into Deep State hands. Obama had eight years, Biden had four—plenty of time to tamper with files, delete evidence of Democratic involvement, and manufacture evidence against Republicans. Given the relentless onslaught against Trump—Crossfire Hurricane, Russia collusion, Ukraine, the “perfect phone call,” Charlottesville, “suckers and losers,” January 6, election interference, sexual assault allegations—is it unreasonable to be skeptical of the timing?
Maybe there’s nothing there. The Epstein saga has always been heavy on speculation, light on verified facts. It often veers into QAnon territory. Trump may well know this—and may be letting the left hang itself with its own rope. But the media hysteria has ensured that this issue won’t disappear. So, Trump has gone on the offensive.
Unsealing grand jury transcripts isn’t guaranteed. Grand jury proceedings are typically secret to protect investigative integrity, prevent witness intimidation, and shield the reputations of uncharged individuals. Courts only unseal such records when there’s a compelling public interest or credible allegations of prosecutorial misconduct. The Justice Department’s argument will certainly cite compelling public interest.
Even if the transcripts are released, it won’t satisfy the far right—or the Democrats. New York Congressman Daniel Goldman, who led Trump’s first impeachment, is already pre-bunking their release. Today, on X, he posted: “Grand jury testimony won’t include anything relating to any other people involved in the sex trafficking ring.” In another post yesterday, he said the real evidence—“videos, photographs, recordings”—is elsewhere. Does he know what’s in the files? Or more importantly, what’s not? He doesn’t seem concerned that Democrats might be implicated. He seems confident that Trump will be. That’s revealing.
Meanwhile, on the far right, anyone who questions the Epstein conspiracy becomes part of the conspiracy. And this is derailing the most successful presidency of my lifetime.
Sex trafficking is a serious issue. People are right to be upset about the fact that federal charges against Epstein were not pursued initially. Moreover, while justice cannot be taken out on a corpse, there are those who took advantage of Epstein’s sex network. Why they were never pursued is a relevant question.
However, what draws many to this case today is the possibility that Epstein was associated with intelligence. It’s alleged that Epstein lured powerful individuals into compromising situations—often with underage girls—and recorded them using hidden cameras installed at his properties. While there is no direct proof, it’s not irrational to ask questions. Epstein’s wealth has never been credibly explained. At least not to my satisfaction. Could blackmail have been his true business?
I remain curious about this piece. His 2008 sweetheart deal remains a staggering anomaly. Are the Epstein files being withheld for the same reason, namely because they implicate too many elites—perhaps enough to shake the Deep State to its core? If Trump is playing 4D chess, is this the angle?
For this reason, the grand jury record and how it is unsealed, in what manner evidence is shared, will be compelling news. As for the files accumulated by the Justice Department over the last several years or so, my confidence in their integrity is slim to none. I don’t trust the Democratic Party and what they left the Trump Administration to find.
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