# 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:** 20
**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, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epstein-files-trump-impeachment-conviction/1024733/381 "2025-11-19T01:14:48Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > This was he gets to pretend releasing the files was his idea all along and they did it because he told them to. Sure, he says that, but pretending that he is being magnanimous certainly won’t make him look good if there is damaging information in the files. So he either knows there isn’t or he will come up with a way to stall again. ---
**Author:** ![OttoDaFe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ottodafe/32/356_2.png) [@OttoDaFe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OttoDaFe)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2025, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epstein-files-trump-impeachment-conviction/1024733/382 "2025-11-19T01:16:26Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > 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. … About the only thing I recall from the one PoliSci course I took mumble-mumble years ago is a quote by Thomas Hobbes: “The reputation of power is power.” Meaning that if enough people think (or can be convinced) you have power, you do; if they don’t (or can’t), you don’t. I ran across it again in _How the Good Guys Finally Won_, a book on Watergate by Jimmy Breslin. As he put it: > As the level of regard for Nixon’s power dropped, the level of danger for his career rose. At the end, Nixon had not the personal political power of a city councilman. He sat tn the Oval Office, but he might as well have been in City Hall, in Dayton. The Orange Peril is nowhere near in the same position as Nixon was just before he resigned, and the political landscape of 1974 is barely recognizable from today; still, as @iiandyiiii said, a chink here, a crack there … it all adds up. ---
**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, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epstein-files-trump-impeachment-conviction/1024733/383 "2025-11-19T01:21:53Z")
> [@aurora\_maire](#): > > Sure, he says that, but pretending that he is being magnanimous certainly won’t make him look good if there is damaging information in the files. At this point I’m not sure he’s capable of planning that far ahead. Long-term planning has never been his strong suit in the first place and he’s not getting any sharper with age - he’s likely convinced himself he can deal with the fallout “in two weeks” or that he’ll be OK because something something Crooked Hillary ---
**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 19, 2025, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epstein-files-trump-impeachment-conviction/1024733/384 "2025-11-19T01:46:40Z")
There is zero chance the DOJ will release anything that mildly embarrasses Trump. They’ll release the rest, though. ---
**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, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epstein-files-trump-impeachment-conviction/1024733/385 "2025-11-19T02:07:32Z")
The act as written doesn’t give them much discretion. The entirety of everything they have on Epstein is to be made publicly available and searchable within 30 days of passage, including previously classified material and excluding only actual CSAM and personally identifying info on victims, and members of Congress are to have unrelated access to all “politically exposed” names in the files. > **[Epstein Files Transparency Act](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epstein_Files_Transparency_Act)** > > The Epstein Files Transparency Act is a bill proposed in the 119th United States Congress. It would require the United States Department of Justice to "make publicly available in a searchable and downloadable format" all files pertaining to the prosecution of the deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein (if needed, declassifying them to the extent possible) within 30 days of passage, and then to give the House and Senate Judiciary Committees an unredacted "list of all government officials and pol... [https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/4405/text](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/4405/text) ---
**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 19, 2025, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epstein-files-trump-impeachment-conviction/1024733/386 "2025-11-19T02:15:00Z")
The DOJ is corrupt. Who’s going to make them. But if they want a fig leaf there are exceptions for active investigations or if pertain to national security or foreign policy. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2025, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epstein-files-trump-impeachment-conviction/1024733/387 "2025-11-19T02:20:39Z")
If the DOJ doesn’t follow the law as passed, wouldn’t any other entity that has access to the files be legally allowed to make public what they have? ---
**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 19, 2025, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epstein-files-trump-impeachment-conviction/1024733/388 "2025-11-19T02:23:08Z")
This bill is only concerning the files the DOJ has. Which is quite a lot. late: Congress has some and they can release them anytime they want with or without this bill for any reason. They recently did. ---
**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, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epstein-files-trump-impeachment-conviction/1024733/389 "2025-11-19T02:29:46Z")
To the extent that Trump is acting on any advice whatsoever, it’s probably that the coverup is hurting him worse than whatever’s in the files would. There’s probably no smoking gun that shows he was personally involved in the sex trafficking. The worst of what’s in there is probably that he was aware of it and stayed friends with him for much longer than he now claims. To declare that he wants them published and then immediately start fighting it again won’t do him any favors. I don’t think he or his handlers expected Schumer to call for unanimous consent and for it to work, though. (I’d be surprised if even Schumer expected that to work.) It’s likely he was expecting it to die a slow death in the Senate so that he could wring his hands and do the aw-shucks-I-tried routine. I suppose there could still be shenanigans afoot. Johnson could adjourn the House again and let Trump “forget” to sign the bill so it gets pocket-vetoed. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2025, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epstein-files-trump-impeachment-conviction/1024733/390 "2025-11-19T03:31:23Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > If the DOJ doesn’t follow the law as passed, wouldn’t any other entity that has access to the files be legally allowed to make public what they have? The [Epstein Files Transparency Act](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/4405/text) has a provision that anything classified should be excluded. And the administration can classify anything, right? Wouldn’t the release of the kind of documents or videos Democrats on this board are hoping for weaken the President’s ability to conduct foreign policy? I suspect classifying document that would severely embarrass the President in front of the world and often classified even in a normal presidency. So it probably would be illegal for congressional Democrats to release what the Justice Department held back. ---
**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, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epstein-files-trump-impeachment-conviction/1024733/391 "2025-11-19T03:36:23Z")
Are we hoping that Trump engages in further shitbaggery because it would be the worst thing he could do? Classifying the files, rewriting them, burying them in an investigation… none of that makes this go away. Epstein is never going away. There is absolutely nothing Trump can do to make people stop asking questions about it. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2025, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epstein-files-trump-impeachment-conviction/1024733/392 "2025-11-19T03:37:23Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > 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. That makes sense to me. Trump’s a malignant narcissist; with him it’s always about either profit or ego. And I can’t see how he’d make money from this. ---
**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, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epstein-files-trump-impeachment-conviction/1024733/393 "2025-11-19T03:42:51Z")
> [@PhillyGuy](#): > > The [Epstein Files Transparency Act](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/4405/text) has a provision that anything classified should be excluded. It also says; > To the extent that any covered information would otherwise be redacted or withheld as classified information under this section, the Attorney General shall declassify that classified information to the maximum extent possible. and; > All decisions to classify any covered information after July 1, 2025 shall be published in the Federal Register and submitted to Congress, including the date of classification, the identity of the classifying authority, and an unclassified summary of the justification. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2025, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epstein-files-trump-impeachment-conviction/1024733/394 "2025-11-19T05:04:53Z")
> [@DWMarch](#): > > 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. Did they get under Congressional subpoena before Bondi et al got their hands on it? > [@CoolHandCox](#): > > There is zero chance the DOJ will release anything that mildly embarrasses Trump Mildly, yes, since that is common knowledge. But anything really damaging will be gone. > [@CoolHandCox](#): > > This bill is only concerning the files the DOJ has. ---
**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, 8:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epstein-files-trump-impeachment-conviction/1024733/395 "2025-11-19T08:36:43Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Did they get under Congressional subpoena before Bondi et al got their hands on it? Well this is from a Youtube comment so take it as you will, but someone out there says that a lot of the evidence is held in the Criminal Records System at the Southern District of New York. SDNY is apparently renowned for their robust evidence control and integrity safeguards. This may or may not be true but this is exactly the kind of thing I mean. Some of these files exist in systems that are immune to Bondi etc. Also, if the files are carefully scrubbed of any negative references to Trump, _it’s going to be obvious_. There’s no point in making a move like this if everyone is watching and waiting for it. Remember when someone tried to [fake some documents](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killian_documents_controversy) about George W. Bush? That was found out in fairly short order and it ended careers. Ah, those were the days. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2025, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epstein-files-trump-impeachment-conviction/1024733/396 "2025-11-19T16:39:47Z")
> [@PhillyGuy](#): > > The [Epstein Files Transparency Act](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/4405/text) has a provision that anything classified should be excluded. And the administration can classify anything, right? > > Wouldn’t the release of the kind of documents or videos Democrats on this board are hoping for weaken the President’s ability to conduct foreign policy? I suspect classifying document that would severely embarrass the President in front of the world and often classified even in a normal presidency. > > So it probably would be illegal for congressional Democrats to release what the Justice Department held back. Can you cite the law you’re referring to? 'Cause I can’t find any law that makes it illegal to “embarrass the President in front of the world”. Also, if it is illegal to embarrass the President in front of the world then when does Trump get charged? ---
**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 19, 2025, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epstein-files-trump-impeachment-conviction/1024733/397 "2025-11-19T16:42:05Z")
It’s not illegal to embarrass the President; it is illegal to release classified documents. ---
**Author:** ![Mijin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mijin/32/9369_2.png) [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2025, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epstein-files-trump-impeachment-conviction/1024733/398 "2025-11-19T16:44:13Z")
That may be true, but it’s also true that Trump could just release the full files tomorrow; there’s no need for this process to continue if he genuinely wants the files released. So I think it’s clear there is still an attempt to stall (hoping people forget about it – heck he could declare war somewhere) or engage in shenanigans on what exactly gets released. The most benign interpretation is that he wants the time to engage in jedi mind tricks on his base: _“read the transcript_”, _”Russia, Russia, Russia”_ etc ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2025, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epstein-files-trump-impeachment-conviction/1024733/399 "2025-11-19T16:50:52Z")
> [@TroutMan](#): > > It’s not illegal to embarrass the President; it is illegal to release classified documents. Could a member of the House read those classified documents from the House floor under the protection of the Speech and Debate Clause of the Constitution (Art. 1, Sec. 6)? ---
**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 19, 2025, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epstein-files-trump-impeachment-conviction/1024733/400 "2025-11-19T17:23:41Z")
There is literally a provision of this bill that says the files should be released even if they cause “embarrassment, reputational harm, or political sensitivity.” Anyways. A good first tell on how Trump plans (to tell the AG how) to proceed will be the signing ceremony. Will the cameras and victims be there? Or will it be done in darkness. But again, there is no world where Pam Bondi is going to release anything that might cause embarrassment to Trump. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epstein-files-trump-impeachment-conviction/1024733.md?page=19) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epstein-files-trump-impeachment-conviction/1024733.md?page=21)