# 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:** 4
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2025, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-epstein-files-question/1020997/61 "2025-07-21T14:44:55Z")
Demanding the release of the ‘Epstein files’ is too vague and gives the Trump apologists too much room for obfuscation. We need specificity, one domino at a time. Let’s start with demanding the release of the Epstein island logs. We know they exist, and releasing them doesn’t require judicial approval. ---
**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:** [July 21, 2025, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-epstein-files-question/1020997/62 "2025-07-21T16:24:16Z")
Ah yes, the “Despite you promising to give me everything - all 100,000 pages - I’ll accept a trickle release of one page at a time, in your chosen order, at significant delay and like pulling teeth from an alligator for each and every one, because that’s just how serious I am, please sir, oh…I’m sorry sir…I mean, whenever you can.” Tactic. Wunderbar. ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2025, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-epstein-files-question/1020997/63 "2025-07-21T16:35:43Z")
uh wut ---
**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:** [July 21, 2025, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-epstein-files-question/1020997/64 "2025-07-21T16:44:49Z")
“Everything” isn’t vague. If someone promises to give you every potato chip they have, then it’s every potato chip that they have. You should be able to go through their house, through their safe, their storage unit, and verify that there’s no single chip left over that they haven’t given to you. That’s the plain, obvious, and unambiguous meaning of “every potato chip”. Pam Bondi has confirmed that there’s 300GB of electronic data and several tens of thousands of paper documents. Why would you accept less than that, when that’s at least the smallest bounds of what’s already been promised to you? ---
**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:** [July 21, 2025, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-epstein-files-question/1020997/65 "2025-07-21T18:01:53Z")
> [@Love\_Rhombus](#): > > The first thing Republicans will say if this situation arises is “why do we have to bring up all of this old stuff? You got it. As you may have noticed, their position regarding ANY unpleasant thing in past history. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2025, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-epstein-files-question/1020997/66 "2025-07-21T18:39:49Z")
> [@Sage\_Rat](#): > > “Everything” isn’t vague. If someone promises to give you every potato chip they have, then it’s every potato chip that they have. They didn’t say it wouldn’t be one chip at a time. After they crushed it. ---
**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:** [July 21, 2025, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-epstein-files-question/1020997/67 "2025-07-21T18:40:45Z")
Then hammer them on that point. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2025, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-epstein-files-question/1020997/68 "2025-07-21T18:46:46Z")
How? We have an insurrectionist that tried to overthrow the government, and the powers that be can’t even give him a slap on the wrist. Hammer him because he won’t release some documents? ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2025, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-epstein-files-question/1020997/69 "2025-07-21T18:52:27Z")
Ha ha, good luck with that. Maybe there will be a little Jeffrey Epstein hard drive under your Christmas tree. ---
**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:** [July 21, 2025, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-epstein-files-question/1020997/70 "2025-07-21T18:56:01Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > How? Let’s assume that the 90th percentile voter is a sports-loving, People-magazine buying, reality TV watching …completely normal, everyday person. What do they want more than anything? To see the great pulled down in scandal. By all means, promise that you’ll do calculator and spreadsheet BS to make America prosperous. Great. So is the other guy. But who’s going to release ALL of the Epstein files? Who’s going to finally force the government to stop hiding all the scandals? The girls, the embezzlement, the hidden medical reports? You’ll get Trump’s tax returns, you’ll get his school records, you’ll get the Epstein files. We’re going to find out who this man really is. Run with that during the midterms and you’re liable to do pretty good. People like Trump because he brings the headlines. Be the person who brings the juicier headline. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2025, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-epstein-files-question/1020997/71 "2025-07-21T19:01:43Z")
I’m not sure what you mean by ‘Hammer them on that point’ It will NOT make any difference. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2025, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-epstein-files-question/1020997/72 "2025-07-21T19:03:16Z")
This impresses me as such a distraction. If you asked me to identify the 500 most egregious, offensive, inexcusable things Trump has done, I doubt whether or not he had sex with underage girls - or associated with people who did - would even make the list. If I saw irrefutable proof of his having done so, it couldn’t make me think any less of him. And I cannot imagine any such proof changing anyone’s minds about him one way or another. He has so successfully flooded the zone with evil, cruelty and corruption, and has such eager abettors in Congress and the Courts, that this is IMO simply a non-issue. Someone asked me recently whether something “legally” had to be released. It is so weird - and sad - for me to say this after 40 years as a lawyer and being married to a lawyer, but Trump has succeeded in convincing me that whether or not something is “legal” is irrelevant. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2025, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-epstein-files-question/1020997/73 "2025-07-21T19:05:01Z")
> [@Sage\_Rat](#): > > But who’s going to release ALL of the Epstein files? The files have been in the hands of Bondi and crew. If there is anything really incriminating for trump, it will be deleted and/or shredded before anything is released. Not to mention, do we trust them not to change things so - for example- Bill Clinton is implicated? I don.t ---
**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:** [July 21, 2025, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-epstein-files-question/1020997/74 "2025-07-21T19:06:46Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > it will be deleted and/or shredded before anything is released. And the Coldplay people turned away to hide their identities. Delicious. ---
**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:** [July 21, 2025, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-epstein-files-question/1020997/75 "2025-07-21T19:10:12Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > It will NOT make any difference. Then keep banging down the Democrat path that y’all been on. If you won’t take advice from the Republicans on what to do about Conservatives, even still 8 years later, then what’s the chance that, that’s your problem? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2025, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-epstein-files-question/1020997/76 "2025-07-21T19:29:05Z")
> [@Sage\_Rat](#): > > If you won’t take advice from the Republicans on what to do about Conservatives, even still 8 years later, then what’s the chance that, that’s your problem? You don’t find Democrats taking advice from Republicans about how to handle conservatives to be a bit…problematic? Sounds a bit like Charlie Brown taking advice from Lucy as to how to kick properly. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2025, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-epstein-files-question/1020997/77 "2025-07-21T19:34:03Z")
> [@Sage\_Rat](#): > > If you won’t take advice from the Republicans on what to do about Conservatives, even still 8 years later, then what’s the chance that, that’s your problem? OK, so what hammer would you use to get to the bottom of this? SCOTUS? It is to laugh. YOU said to bring the hammer down. Where and what is this hammer? You must know, you recommended it. ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2025, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-epstein-files-question/1020997/78 "2025-07-21T20:51:30Z")
I endorse @Sage_Rat’s hold-their-feet-to-the-fire strategy, as well as, “Be the person who brings the juicier headline,” and adopting the perspective of someone other than a news junkie. The Dems have to focus on flipping the Senate and winning in Iowa and even Ohio. * * * NYT: “How Trump Deflected MAGA’s Wrath Over Epstein, at Least for Now.” Remember what David French said? That MAGA cares either about sticking it to liberals and the media or fighting sex trafficking? Trump has deflected attention against the WSJ story: > But when The Wall Street Journal published a story detailing a decades-old letter with a lewd drawing that Mr. Trump allegedly sent Mr. Epstein for his birthday, Mr. Trump got a respite from the revolt, as some of his core supporters rushed to his defense. … > “The Murdochs’ bizarre assault on the president galvanized his base because of both content and process,” Mr. Bannon said. “Now we are united as Trump goes on offense — against the Murdochs, the courts and the deep state.” ETA below: Trump is an historically unpopular President and was a historically unpopular President during his first term. Even an average midterm election would have the Dems taking the House. The needle moves even if we don’t observe a broad coalition collapse after Trump’s criminal behavior comes to light. I remain disappointed in the support Trump receives by those who should know better. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2025, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-epstein-files-question/1020997/79 "2025-07-21T20:56:43Z")
> [@Measure\_for\_Measure](#): > > I endorse @Sage_Rat’s hold-their-feet-to-the-fire strategy I agree with holding their feet to the fire. We have 34 felony convictions and 2 impeachments. Doesn’t move the needle a bit. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2025, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-epstein-files-question/1020997/80 "2025-07-21T22:19:21Z")
> [@Sage\_Rat](#): > > Ah yes, the “Despite you promising to give me everything - all 100,000 pages - I’ll accept a trickle release of one page at a time, in your chosen order, at significant delay and like pulling teeth from an alligator for each and every one, because that’s just how serious I am, please sir, oh…I’m sorry sir…I mean, whenever you can.” Tactic. @BlankSlate made a point you didn’t refute: > [@BlankSlate](#): > > Let’s start with demanding the release of the Epstein island logs. We know they exist, and **releasing them doesn’t require judicial approval.** (My bolding.) Calling for the release of (say) the island logs is NOT capitulation. It in no way equates to ‘you’re off the hook, Trump Regime.’ Instead, it emphasizes that the “grand jury” dodge isn’t working. We, the People KNOW that Trump could release some 99% of the material without having to ask any judge, and we happen to be asking, first, for (say) the island logs. It’s an excellent idea. Take away Trump’s pretense that he is actually working to release Epstein materials; show that his “grand jury” fakeout isn’t convincing anyone. As for the MAGA folks scurrying back to Donald: > [@](#): > > The key for Democrats in 2026 will be portraying Donald Trump, his policies, and his ideological project as a protection racket for the elites. Donald won’t release the Epstein files because he’s protecting himself and/or people on whom he depends for cash and flattery----his fellow elites. Some large proportion of Trump voters believed they were voting for the Regular Guy (however rich) who “got” them and who would smash down the insiders, the elites, the Deep State. The Epstein scandal–the scandal being Donald’s protection of the files–proves that Donald was never fighting the Deep State…he WAS the Deep State. Democrats can’t ignore this. > **[Democrats’ 2026 Rallying Cry Is Staring Them in the Face](https://www.thebulwark.com/p/democrats-2026-rallying-cry-is-staring-them-in-the-face)** > > Plus: The big difference in where money for the midterms is going so far. ETA: The full article is, sadly, paywalled, and I have no subscription. But you can read enough to be worth a look. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-epstein-files-question/1020997.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-epstein-files-question/1020997.md?page=5)