# Epstein Files =\> Trump Impeachment & Conviction? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Tags:** trump\ **Created:** [November 10, 2025, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epstein-files-trump-impeachment-conviction/1024733 "2025-11-10T17:42:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 17
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2025, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epstein-files-trump-impeachment-conviction/1024733/321 "2025-11-17T18:15:16Z")
> [@IkesAcolyte](#): > > Wonder where the change of heart came from? I object to referring to a body part that clearly doesn’t exist. ---
**Author:** ![CoolHandCox](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/coolhandcox/32/16233_2.png) [@CoolHandCox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CoolHandCox)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2025, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epstein-files-trump-impeachment-conviction/1024733/322 "2025-11-17T18:19:02Z")
It’s possible to standup to Trump and win. You just have to never flinch and to see it through. He’ll chicken out at the last moment. There is now another proof of concept for that. ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2025, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epstein-files-trump-impeachment-conviction/1024733/323 "2025-11-17T18:24:12Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > He wants to have it both ways. Since the House will vote to release the files, he can still claim mastery over them since they’re about to do just that. But he can also suppress the files by virtue of his sham “investigation” into potential Democrats on the list. Yup, this is it. This was a two-step plan all along, as soon as the new congresswoman was sworn in and he knew the vote would go against him. 1. Order an investigation 1a. delay a couple days so people don’t immediately draw the connection 2. Support the vote to release the files. Oops, the files are part of an active investigation and can’t be released. ---
**Author:** ![Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiendish_astronaut/32/3295_2.png) [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiendish_Astronaut)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2025, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epstein-files-trump-impeachment-conviction/1024733/324 "2025-11-17T18:42:46Z")
Reports are that the FBI have been hard at work redacting the documents. Though every article I’ve read about this fails to provide a source. It would be a huge job, it’s hard to imagine there would not be a leak. My bet is that he is more afraid of deep financial links to Russia/Putin being revealed. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2025, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epstein-files-trump-impeachment-conviction/1024733/325 "2025-11-17T18:50:44Z")
> [@RitterSport](#): > > Maybe he’ll put Merrick Garland in charge, to make sure it takes that long. Ha!!! ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2025, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epstein-files-trump-impeachment-conviction/1024733/326 "2025-11-17T19:03:51Z")
> [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](#): > > My bet is that he is more afraid of deep financial links to Russia/Putin being revealed. YUP, this. ---
**Author:** ![CoolHandCox](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/coolhandcox/32/16233_2.png) [@CoolHandCox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CoolHandCox)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2025, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epstein-files-trump-impeachment-conviction/1024733/327 "2025-11-17T19:05:24Z")
I don’t think Trump is afraid of information, things he did, etc. I view him as a reckless sociopath. He’s just not capable. I can’t imagine he’s ever self-reflected. The only thing that Trump worries about is _ **other people** _. What do other people think about that information about Trump? If enough people are not concerned, it’s almost literally not an issue (philosophically speaking). If enough are concerned, then it’s a problem. Trump is used to strong-arming other people into not being concerned and doesn’t understand why people have morals/ethics that guide them. Here, enough are concerned about releasing the Epstein files. Whether they will be concerned about what’s in them or not is still up for debate. There can be no smoking gun (damaging info) on its own, there’s only a critical mass of other people agreeing there is a smoking gun. I’ve found it impossible to predict what a critical mass of Republicans/people will decide to care about enough to stand up to Trump. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2025, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epstein-files-trump-impeachment-conviction/1024733/328 "2025-11-17T19:13:17Z")
In related news, far-right hack [James O’Keefe](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_O'Keefe) has been painting Epstein as a CIA asset. > **[Jeffrey Epstein was CIA? DOJ responds, clarifies investigator's bombshell...](https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/us-news/jeffrey-epstein-was-cia-doj-responds-clarifies-investigators-bombshell-bill-clinton-claims-101758746580715.html)** > > The Donald Trump administration has been facing fire over the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files.   ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2025, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epstein-files-trump-impeachment-conviction/1024733/329 "2025-11-17T20:23:51Z")
> [@commasense](#): > > Do we think this means that Trump has had his minions launder the files so that whatever is officially released will not be damaging to him? Yes, this was well known. But there is a line between removing the worst stuff, and removing all mention. If that was tried, everyone would cry foul! > [@DWMarch](#): > > I would assume that whatever Congress has is not something the FBI can go in and selectively edit. Why would you think Congress has the whole files, and not before Bondi went over them? ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2025, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epstein-files-trump-impeachment-conviction/1024733/330 "2025-11-17T20:25:34Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Why would you think Congress has the whole files, and not before Bondi went over them? They aren’t. The point was that no _additional_ editing can be done. ---
**Author:** ![Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiendish_astronaut/32/3295_2.png) [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiendish_Astronaut)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2025, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epstein-files-trump-impeachment-conviction/1024733/331 "2025-11-17T21:37:06Z")
> [@Skywatcher](#): > > In related news, far-right hack [James O’Keefe](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_O'Keefe) has been painting Epstein as a CIA asset. This is another potential tactic. Trump and his supporters could claim that Epstein was a CIA-ran honey trap. Another example of the deep state persecuting Trump. It doesn’t matter that there might be Dems in the files, obsfucation and distraction will be enough to keep the gravy train rolling. They hope. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2025, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epstein-files-trump-impeachment-conviction/1024733/332 "2025-11-18T00:28:02Z")
> [@CoolHandCox](#): > > The only thing that Trump worries about is _ **other people** _. What do other people think about that information about Trump? He’s Patrick Bateman from _American Psycho_; not afraid of people finding out he’s a serial killer (and even boldly telling people he is, which they either mishear or assume is a joke), but obsessed with having the perfect business card, worried about what people think about his business card, and seething with envy when he sees someone else with a better business card. ---
**Author:** ![chappachula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2025, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epstein-files-trump-impeachment-conviction/1024733/333 "2025-11-18T05:03:23Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > > [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](#): > > > > My bet is that he is more afraid of deep financial links to Russia/Putin being revealed. > > YUP, this. Why would revealing his money ties with Putin make Trump so scared? Maga people love Russia. A country with no gays or woke people, led by a strongman leader. Make America more like Russia!! Suppose the Epstein files show that Trump owns real estate in Russia, or Trump helped Putin launder millions of dollars through the Trump casinos. That just proves what a smart businessman Trump is, and how he maintains good relationships with international leaders!! ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2025, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epstein-files-trump-impeachment-conviction/1024733/334 "2025-11-18T05:19:18Z")
> [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](#): > > My bet is that he is more afraid of deep financial links to Russia/Putin being revealed. I think worse… ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2025, 10:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epstein-files-trump-impeachment-conviction/1024733/335 "2025-11-18T10:20:05Z")
There’s an article in the NYT today that Trump (of course) could order the DOJ to release the files whenever he wants. So, him telling the House to vote for it is clearly to protect his (in his mind) non-loser status. I know it’s too much to ask the press corps to ask this question, or for the administration to answer truthfully (without calling the person asking a “piggy”), but it’s really quite a bizarre, contradictory position to hold. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2025, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epstein-files-trump-impeachment-conviction/1024733/336 "2025-11-18T15:56:40Z")
Today’s news on the topic used the word “unclassified” to describe the contents of what may soon be released. Which made me think: perhaps it just occurred to Trump that all he needs to do is classify the problematic parts of the files, and release the rest. Problem solved. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2025, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epstein-files-trump-impeachment-conviction/1024733/337 "2025-11-18T16:40:23Z")
News today is that Clinton’s Secretary of the Treasury Larry Summers has been caught out by Epstein emails. Does this mean the Republicans are ahead 1 to 0? ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2025, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epstein-files-trump-impeachment-conviction/1024733/338 "2025-11-18T16:52:16Z")
He’s a bit of big fish. He also worked in the Obama administration and was President of Harvard and Economics Professor. He is still a Harvard professor but has stepped back from all of the various public committees where he served. He was up to his neck with Epstein. They were good friends and he remained in close touch up until 2019. I can’t imagine that he keeps his professorship. ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2025, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epstein-files-trump-impeachment-conviction/1024733/339 "2025-11-18T16:56:38Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > He’s Patrick Bateman from _American Psycho_; not afraid of people finding out he’s a serial killer (and even boldly telling people he is, which they either mishear or assume is a joke), but obsessed with having the perfect business card, worried about what people think about his business card, and seething with envy when he sees someone else with a better business card. Exactly. See his obsession with his “decorating,” fabric swatches, and doodads. He thinks he has exquisite taste, but suffers deeply when visiting true palaces. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2025, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epstein-files-trump-impeachment-conviction/1024733/340 "2025-11-18T17:14:05Z")
> [@chappachula](#): > > Why would revealing his money ties with Putin make Trump so scared? > Maga people love Russia. Nah, not the MAGAts. Trump doesn’t worry or care about them. Broaden your vision. I’m talkin’ about trump’s oligarch pals and major donors. If there is solid evidence that trump is in Putin’s pocket, those donors could be subject to deep investigation into their own finances. If they gave $$$ to trump thinking the were gonna get big favors but he already owed his soul to Russia, they are going to feel duped and tricked. (And they WOULD have been duped and tricked.) If it turns out that their $$$ investments weren’t a sure thing, they’re going to be PISSED. If ties to Russia bring trump down, then they threw good money after bad and that good money is GONE. Trump won’t be able to deliver. Also, some of them probably had a patriotic “America First” intentions behind their donations (after their own profits, of course) and that will be gone, too. THOSE are the people trump needs to worry about, not the crowds in the red ball caps. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epstein-files-trump-impeachment-conviction/1024733.md?page=16) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epstein-files-trump-impeachment-conviction/1024733.md?page=18)