# The Epstein Files Question **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Tags:** trump\ **Created:** [July 17, 2025, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-epstein-files-question/1020997 "2025-07-17T23:21:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 14
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2025, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-epstein-files-question/1020997/261 "2025-10-09T19:47:12Z")
More precisely, who Epstein and Maxwell were running the honey trap for. I won’t be coy. Maxwell’s father was pretty tight with Mossad and other intelligence agencies. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2025, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-epstein-files-question/1020997/262 "2025-10-09T19:49:18Z")
Very interesting theory. And, it works. ---
**Author:** ![Win\_Place\_Show](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/win_place_show/32/13469_2.png) [@Win\_Place\_Show](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Win_Place_Show)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2025, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-epstein-files-question/1020997/263 "2025-10-17T12:57:03Z")
In response to the constant MAGA drumbeat of “Why didn’t Biden release the Files? He had four years”, is there legal evidence or justification to say that the Files were truly “sealed” for his entire term? How are others among you replying to that deflection (as well as “Let it go, if tRump were in the Files, the Democrats would’ve released them during the election”). ---
**Author:** ![OldOlds](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a3d4f5/32.png) [@OldOlds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldOlds)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2025, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-epstein-files-question/1020997/264 "2025-10-17T13:09:53Z")
I’m not sure if I’m understanding your question, but I have no difficulty believing that Biden was also protecting people or entities. I’m fairly confident that pedophilia isn’t going to fall neatly along party lines. I’m in the Mutual Assured Destruction camp. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2025, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-epstein-files-question/1020997/265 "2025-10-17T13:56:52Z")
> [@OldOlds](#): > > but I have no difficulty believing that Biden was also protecting people or entities. Was it really Biden’s job to deal with any of that? Back in the day (last year) if the DOJ didn’t have enough evidence to bring a case against anybody they didn’t just throw what they had to the press just to smear the President’s enemies. ---
**Author:** ![OldOlds](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a3d4f5/32.png) [@OldOlds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldOlds)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2025, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-epstein-files-question/1020997/266 "2025-10-17T14:10:27Z")
Again, I don’t follow. But let’s assume for the sake of argument one or both of the following is true: There’s damning information on people from both sides of the aisle, and other non-political entities. Trump, Clinton, Gates, McConnell, Cuomo, Dershowitz, they’re all in there. And it was all a Honey Pot/Blackmail campaign perpetrated by [pick an intelligence agency]. Presumably someone would tell Biden this and he decides to keep it all under wraps. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2025, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-epstein-files-question/1020997/267 "2025-10-17T14:39:44Z")
Using the government as ones own personal campaign organization is a crime. The Biden Campaign did not possess the Epstein documents, they were held by the serious and professional law environment organization, the FBI and the Department of Justice, both under Merrick Garland. It would be completely improper for the President to ask for FBI information about his opponent, or to try to use it. And on the date that he did so, it would be the job of the Attorney General to refuse to allow the President to use the DOJ as a campaign orifice, by the law and by duty to the Constitution. Biden was, to be fair, not entirely above abusing the law a bit with things like trying to find a way to forgive student debt or pardoning his son’s crimes. But, in general, he was elected to obey and execute the law and he generally did that within the parameters of most presidents. Asking the DOJ to help out on a campaign is past that line. One also notes that Trump is a man who pardoned one advisor (Bannon) for scamming MAGA supporters out of money, pardoned Democratic politicians for corruption, installed a painting of the founder of the Democratic party behind himself in the Oval office, was found guilty of stealing money from veterans and cancer kids via his charity, was on the record talking about how Epstein liked young girls years before the police were called in, had three other questionable connections to pedophiles, a lot of connections to sexual offenders, admitted on national TV that he’d generally accept foreign intel in a campaign and betray his own country in service to himself, etc. I mean, you have to really be an idiot who will judiciously bury their head in the sand at every opportunity to be a Trump supporter. What does a Democrat really get out of breaking the law, just to let his followers know what they already do know and have decided to collectively ignore? ---
**Author:** ![knavette57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/knavette57/32/3871_2.png) [@knavette57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/knavette57)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2025, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-epstein-files-question/1020997/268 "2025-10-17T19:23:47Z")
Correct me if I am wrong here, but wasn’t Bill G at that Tech Dinner recently, slavering all over himself, complimenting Orange One?? I frankly don’t care if any of the Democratic “faves” (as Nancy Pelosi described them) are on the list. They should be held accountable. I think there are far far more on the other side in the files….and why would they refuse to release them? If it was Dems and nothing but Dems, they would not hesitate to do so! ---
**Author:** ![OldOlds](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a3d4f5/32.png) [@OldOlds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldOlds)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2025, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-epstein-files-question/1020997/269 "2025-10-17T19:33:06Z")
> [@knavette57](#): > > Correct me if I am wrong here, but wasn’t Bill G at that Tech Dinner recently, slavering all over himself, complimenting Orange One?? Yes, and his sudden divorce came just after the Epstein thing blew up, as I recall. And I too give no fucks who goes down with this ship. Indeed, a nice bipartisan disaster might help bring the nation together. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2025, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-epstein-files-question/1020997/270 "2025-10-17T19:40:38Z")
> [@OldOlds](#): > > There’s damning information on people from both sides of the aisle, and other non-political entities. Trump, Clinton, Gates, McConnell, Cuomo, Dershowitz, they’re all in there. I doubt that. Embarrassing, sure, but not damning. If there was Damning info on any Democrat, trump would have released it. And any bad stuff from trump has been erased by now. There’s nothing there anymore. And- it is not normal, ethical or legal to release info from a Grand Jury or Criminal investigation in order to embarrass political opponents. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2025, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-epstein-files-question/1020997/271 "2025-10-17T20:35:59Z")
I’m worried to what extent Bondi and Patel may have tampered with the evidence ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2025, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-epstein-files-question/1020997/272 "2025-10-17T20:47:32Z")
In theory, all of the documents have gone through the hands of at least a few people, each, and it’s unlikely that the name Trump wouldn’t have jumped out to each one in the post-2015 era. They might accept a redaction but any outright modification would almost certainly be met by a number of whistleblowers. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2025, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-epstein-files-question/1020997/273 "2025-10-18T00:35:37Z")
> **[Prince Andrew gives up royal titles including Duke of York after 'discussion...](https://www.bbc.com/news/live/cvgw31y75ywt)** > > In a statement, the prince says: "The continued accusations about me distract from the work of His Majesty and the Royal Family." > Prince Andrew will remain a prince, but will cease to be the Duke of York… as well as giving up membership of the Order of the Garter, the oldest and most senior order of chivalry in Britain. … > > Sarah Ferguson, his former wife, will no longer be known as the Duchess of York, but their daughters - Beatrice and Eugenie - will continue to have the title of princess. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2025, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-epstein-files-question/1020997/274 "2025-10-18T12:32:27Z")
Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell is predicting a drop of damning new Epstein evidence exposing Trump. > “It’s coming to an end guys. I’ve spoken to a lot of House Republicans this week and they’ve confided that Trump’s movement/support is fading. As one told me, ‘this Epstein bomb is about to drop and no want wants to defend a pedo-protector. It’s just a matter of time.’” > > … > > “One Republican just texted me that if there’s a discharge vote on Epstein they expect a ‘jail break’ of over 100 members. Trump will go nuts!” > **[Dem Rep. Eric Swalwell Claims An 'Epstein Bomb Is About To Drop' On Trump—And...](https://www.comicsands.com/swalwell-trump-epstein-bomb?utm_source=Bluesky&utm_medium=infeed&utm_campaign=linkprogram#Echobox=1760714118)** > > Please let this be true 🙏🏼 ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2025, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-epstein-files-question/1020997/275 "2025-10-18T13:06:34Z")
Don’t get your hopes up. They don’t call him Teflon Don for nothing. How many nights has he spent in jail for his current felonies? ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2025, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-epstein-files-question/1020997/276 "2025-10-18T15:10:38Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell is predicting a drop of damning new Epstein evidence exposing Trump. > > > “It’s coming to an end guys. I’ve spoken to a lot of House Republicans this week and they’ve confided that Trump’s movement/support is fading. As one told me, ‘this Epstein bomb is about to drop and no want wants to defend a pedo-protector. It’s just a matter of time.’” Uh-huh. There are mostly people who protected Trump from charges of trying to compel the leader of foreign country to find or manufacture political dirt on his opposition’s family, prevented him from being held accountable for inciting an insurrection that caused many of them to flee for their lives, and who have this far demonstrated no backbone to protect the prerogatives of their own legislative body even as Trump and the Supreme Court, along with their own leaders, have drained the Congress of all effective power or independence. They House gave the regime the ‘clean resolution’ budget that Trump demanded, the Senate confirmed his clown car of completely unqualified nominees for the Cabinet and independent agencies, and with spare exceptions these gutless worms have avoided meeting with constituents, refused to investigate gross violations of executive authority, enforce the Emoluments Clause, even question the intent of the ‘Trump 2028’ campaigning, and have fled DC at the behest of leadership to avoid _doing the two things they have to do to keep the government functioning_, open Congressional session and pass a budget. The notion that _now_ they’re going to somehow find their resolve (did they leave it in a suit that got sent to the dry cleaners?) is risible at best, and even if they do compel the Department of Justice to release the files, so what? Kash Patel and Pam Bondi will just question the veracity of any compromising information for Trump and his followers will lick it up like a cat with buttermilk. All of this obsession with ‘The Epstein Files’ is, for the Trump regime, just a way of distracting the public from the disassembly of the administrative state that is really going on that isn’t simplistic and salacious enough for the corporate media to cover or the public to pay attention to, especially Russ Vought and the Office of Management and Budget. Stranger ---
**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:** [October 18, 2025, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-epstein-files-question/1020997/277 "2025-10-18T16:14:02Z")
News article is over a week old. IF (and it’s a big if) a discharge vote ever gets to the floor, my prediction is the R’s will circle the wagons and protect Dear Leader. IF (and it’s a big if) any files are ever released, Trump’s name will be scrubbed. Sure it will be obvious, and there will be strong evidence of tampering, but they won’t give a shit. “ **The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command**.” -Orwell ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2025, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-epstein-files-question/1020997/278 "2025-10-18T19:39:25Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell is predicting a drop of damning new Epstein evidence exposing Trump. Forts of all, anything truly damning would have come out-leaked if nothing else. Next the “files” have been purified by trump conies. There was likely some embarring stuff there, but nothing that would lead to criminal charges to anyone famous. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2025, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-epstein-files-question/1020997/279 "2025-10-19T04:13:14Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Forts of all, anything truly damning would have come out-leaked if nothing else. Next the “files” have been purified by trump conies. There was likely some embarring stuff there, but nothing that would lead to criminal charges to anyone famous. The only real possibility I could see for anything damning for Trump being released is if – a big **if** – there is a group within his Cabinet which is considering invoking the 25th Amendment, and removing him from office. If that were the case, they might simultaneously release such information to the public, in an effort to legitimize the move with Trump’s supporters. ---
**Author:** ![OldOlds](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a3d4f5/32.png) [@OldOlds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldOlds)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2025, 12:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-epstein-files-question/1020997/280 "2025-10-19T12:11:14Z")
We only recently learned about the birthday book and Trump’s poem. I recognize it wasn’t earth shattering, but it certainly would have been useful in the campaign. So while I don’t know anything, I remain open to the possibility that there is a there there. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-epstein-files-question/1020997.md?page=13) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-epstein-files-question/1020997.md?page=15)