# 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:** 19
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2025, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epstein-files-trump-impeachment-conviction/1024733/361 "2025-11-18T21:07:12Z")
> [@JRDelirious](#): > > Why does this give me the nagging feeling a lot of those people found their “courage” because they know it won’t mean anything? It’s either that or knowing they were going to lose anyways they chose not to lose AND look bad. ---
**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, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epstein-files-trump-impeachment-conviction/1024733/362 "2025-11-18T21:15:08Z")
Who knew Zapp Brannigan was a member of SD. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/xmCLueqe3Pk/maxresdefault.jpg "Futurama - If we can hit that bullseye, the rest of the dominoes will fall like a house of cards.") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmCLueqe3Pk) ---
**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, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epstein-files-trump-impeachment-conviction/1024733/363 "2025-11-18T21:48:05Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > 427 vote to release the files. 1 vote (Clay Higgins [R-LA]) against it. Higgins is a piece of work. Extreme right winger and conspiracy theorist. Married four times. ---
**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, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epstein-files-trump-impeachment-conviction/1024733/364 "2025-11-18T21:51:38Z")
Or he might be trying to win a Jeannette Rankin Award. ---
**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, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epstein-files-trump-impeachment-conviction/1024733/365 "2025-11-18T23:30:33Z")
It just passed the Senate by unanimous consent. Now on to Trump’s desk. > **[House and Senate move near-unanimously to release the Epstein files; bill...](https://www.yahoo.com/news/politics/article/house-and-senate-move-near-unanimously-to-release-the-epstein-files-bill-could-reach-trumps-desk-tonight-155140045.html)** > > Both chambers of Congress overwhelmingly backed a bill that would require the Justice Department to release all of its files related to the investigation of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. ---
**Author:** ![psychobunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/54ee81/32.png) [@psychobunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychobunny)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2025, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epstein-files-trump-impeachment-conviction/1024733/366 "2025-11-18T23:32:49Z")
So Trump gave the Republicans permission to vote for release so it won’t harm their reelection bids. He will sign the bill claiming that he always wanted transparency. Unfortunately, due to the ongoing Summers investigation, the DOJ will be unable to release any material. Such a shame since Trump and the Republicans wanted so badly to release the files. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2025, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epstein-files-trump-impeachment-conviction/1024733/367 "2025-11-18T23:36:23Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Maybe checkers… Another [Checkers speech](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Checkers_speech)? ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2025, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epstein-files-trump-impeachment-conviction/1024733/368 "2025-11-18T23:45:06Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > 427 vote to release the files. 1 vote (Clay Higgins [R-LA]) against it. After only 218 signed the discharge petition. The other 209 courageous Representatives have principals that could be carried away by a gentle breeze. ---
**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, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epstein-files-trump-impeachment-conviction/1024733/369 "2025-11-18T23:52:43Z")
> [@psychobunny](#): > > Unfortunately, due to the ongoing Summers investigation, the DOJ will be unable to release any material. That sounds like it _might_ backfire. I’m not counting on it, but telling people you are totally releasing them and then coming up with an excuse not to seems like a big risk. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2025, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epstein-files-trump-impeachment-conviction/1024733/370 "2025-11-18T23:56:06Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > That sounds like it _might_ backfire. I’m not counting on it, but telling people you are totally releasing them and then coming up with an excuse not to seems like a big risk. MAGAs will believe anything if it fits with their broken world view. Anything. ---
**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, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epstein-files-trump-impeachment-conviction/1024733/371 "2025-11-18T23:57:11Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > MAGAs will believe anything if it fits with their broken world view. Anything. I think you forgot that they’re the ones who seem to be yelling the loudest for the files to be released. For nearly any other subject that might be true, but not this one. And the Republicans seem to realize this, which is why they were going to defy Trump and vote for release before Trump suddenly “changed his mind” so he can pretend this is at his order. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2025, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epstein-files-trump-impeachment-conviction/1024733/372 "2025-11-18T23:59:38Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > The other 209 courageous Representatives have principals that could be carried away by a gentle breeze. Or a Trump Command. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2025, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epstein-files-trump-impeachment-conviction/1024733/373 "2025-11-19T00:07:51Z")
I’m surprised the Senate acted so fast. In his press conference today Johnson was practically begging them to either let the bill die or water it down to the point of uselessness. ---
**Author:** ![DWMarch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dwmarch/32/1010_2.png) [@DWMarch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DWMarch)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2025, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epstein-files-trump-impeachment-conviction/1024733/374 "2025-11-19T00:09:08Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Not that far, but the worst stuff about trump will be gone. Is there anyone here who works in government who can confirm whether or not this is a risk? I would assume that materials under Congressional subpoena have some form of document control. I always thought it was silly on **24** when there was just one copy of some damaging information and it was Jack Bauer’s only lead and the terrorists end up winning because _dammit, there’s not enough time_! But when it comes to this, I assume Kash Patel can’t just saunter into Congress with a Sharpie and start making “corrections”. Trump and co. can put out their own version of the files but I’d assume an unaltered original continues to exist somewhere (and hopefully in many places). ---
**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 19, 2025, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epstein-files-trump-impeachment-conviction/1024733/375 "2025-11-19T00:13:01Z")
> [@DWMarch](#): > > Trump and co. can put out their own version of the files but I’d assume an unaltered original continues to exist somewhere (and hopefully in many places). I was thinking along these lines too. And that others have seen and documented these, including those not part of the Trump administration. If something is altered or redacted, there is likely a way to prove that, and people will know. It’s not like the chain of custody is Epstein =\> Trump =\> Public. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2025, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epstein-files-trump-impeachment-conviction/1024733/376 "2025-11-19T00:27:05Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > surprised the Senate acted so fast. In his press conference today Johnson was practically begging them to either let the bill die or water it down Precisely because he did. ---
**Author:** ![aurora\_maire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aurora_maire/32/328_2.png) [@aurora\_maire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aurora_maire)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2025, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epstein-files-trump-impeachment-conviction/1024733/377 "2025-11-19T00:28:31Z")
> [@JRDelirious](#): > > Why does this give me the nagging feeling a lot of those people found their “courage” because they know it won’t mean anything? Trump either has a plan to stop the release later or he has been convinced that his deeds have been sufficiently purged and the deeds of Democrats have been sufficiently fabricated, that he can bullshit his way through it. Of course, the lies will be clumsy and stupid but who is MAGA going to believe? It worked for him for the Russia investigation, the 2020 election and Jan. 6. No reason he won’t try the same blunt force approach here. He can absolutely convince MAGA that it was all Democrats involved by flooding the zone with those lies 24/7. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2025, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epstein-files-trump-impeachment-conviction/1024733/378 "2025-11-19T00:33:11Z")
The quick collapse of Republicans on this is an example of how all power is unitary - Trump has been looking a bit weaker in recent weeks, since the election blowouts, as well as his wild flailing on Epstein and other issues. A weaker Trump is suddenly less scary to Republicans in congress - on any issue. This is why Democrats should not let up, on this or any other issue, including fascism. Every blow they land makes Trump a little bit weaker - not just on a particular issue, but overall. IMO, of course. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2025, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epstein-files-trump-impeachment-conviction/1024733/379 "2025-11-19T00:37:26Z")
> [@aurora\_maire](#): > > Trump either has a plan to stop the release later or he has been convinced that his deeds have been sufficiently purged and the deeds of Democrats have been sufficiently fabricated, that he can bullshit his way through it. No, it’s simpler than that. Trump saw the vote was going to go against him, which in his mind would make him a “loser”. This was he gets to pretend releasing the files was his idea all along and they did it because he told them to. > [@JRDelirious](#): > > Precisely because he did. Honestly, I’m even more surprised that it was Chuck Schumer who got it passed. Who knew he was actually capable of accomplishing something besides rolling over and playing dead? What about the NORMS, Chuck?! ---
**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 19, 2025, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epstein-files-trump-impeachment-conviction/1024733/380 "2025-11-19T00:45:00Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > Honestly, I’m even more surprised that it was Chuck Schumer who got it passed. Who knew he was actually capable of accomplishing something besides rolling over and playing dead? What about the NORMS, Chuck?! I guess when the stakes are low, and an issue isn’t controversial, and you aren’t going to get much resistance from the other side, Chuck is the man to get it done! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epstein-files-trump-impeachment-conviction/1024733.md?page=18) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epstein-files-trump-impeachment-conviction/1024733.md?page=20)