# 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:** 7
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2025, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-epstein-files-question/1020997/121 "2025-07-23T12:31:55Z")
I suspect it’s keep your mouth shut and if anyone asks you never saw Trump do anything wrong; in return he’ll pardon you in a couple of years. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2025, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-epstein-files-question/1020997/122 "2025-07-23T13:06:54Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > I suspect it’s keep your mouth shut and if anyone asks you never saw Trump do anything wrong; in return he’ll pardon you in a couple of years Ahh, yes, the Trump promise to someone he doesn’t give a shit about. Nail him to the wall Maxwell, you’ll be a hero. ---
**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:** [July 23, 2025, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-epstein-files-question/1020997/123 "2025-07-23T13:07:13Z")
It’s funny how all the MAGAts who are demanding all material be released can’t seem to figure out why trump would want to block their release. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2025, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-epstein-files-question/1020997/124 "2025-07-23T13:12:25Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > Nail him to the wall Maxwell, you’ll be a hero. Child sex traffickers and rapists usually aren’t motivated by gaining hero status. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2025, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-epstein-files-question/1020997/125 "2025-07-23T13:16:33Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > Child sex traffickers and rapists usually aren’t motivated by gaining hero status. I’m thinking more along the lines of “Let’s make a deal”. ---
**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:** [July 23, 2025, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-epstein-files-question/1020997/126 "2025-07-23T13:25:16Z")
She’s razor focused on whatever it takes to get her out. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2025, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-epstein-files-question/1020997/127 "2025-07-23T13:45:28Z")
Well, she’s perfectly safe. It’s not like anybody got murdered in prison. Since nobody can be trusted in this administration, even super secrete probation won’t help. Witness protection? Well… Maybe. I suspect there are still some good people that work there. ---
**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:** [July 23, 2025, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-epstein-files-question/1020997/128 "2025-07-23T13:52:34Z")
She should say that she made copies of all the most damning evidence, mailed it (somewhere), and only to be opened upon her death. That’s what they do in the movies. ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2025, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-epstein-files-question/1020997/129 "2025-07-23T13:53:26Z")
“They’re under a big W…” ---
**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 23, 2025, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-epstein-files-question/1020997/130 "2025-07-23T14:02:50Z")
Has Trump ever been asked, directly, if he ever visited Little Saint James Island? After all, Epstein bought it in 1998, back when they were still best buddies. There so much that’s still unknown about Epstein, like how, exactly, did a acquire that vast wealth in a relatively short span of time? I’m not one for conspiracy theories, but every aspect of this ongoing fiasco smells like a cover-up. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2025, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-epstein-files-question/1020997/131 "2025-07-23T14:03:43Z")
> [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#): > > She should say that she made copies of all the most damning evidence, mailed it (somewhere), and only to be opened upon her death. That’s what they do in the movies. And it’s a damn good idea. I wonder if that’s why she’s still alive? ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2025, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-epstein-files-question/1020997/132 "2025-07-23T14:38:07Z")
> [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](#): > > “They’re under a big W… Aw I was looking under the Big T > **[https://preview.redd.it/theres-millions-of-dollars-buried-under-a-big-t-v0-m1y0h...](https://preview.redd.it/theres-millions-of-dollars-buried-under-a-big-t-v0-m1y0h5bx0hte1.jpeg?width=500&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6e8566a7b4d40f90783c0b8996ff112c28586eed)** ---
**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:** [July 23, 2025, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-epstein-files-question/1020997/133 "2025-07-23T14:40:22Z")
That looks like a poorly cropped seedling of enormous dimensions. ---
**Author:** ![Kron](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kron/32/12444_2.png) [@Kron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kron)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2025, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-epstein-files-question/1020997/134 "2025-07-23T17:41:51Z")
> [@BlankSlate](#): > > Has Trump ever been asked, directly, if he ever visited Little Saint James Island? After all, Epstein bought it in 1998, back when they were still best buddies. > > There so much that’s still unknown about Epstein, like how, exactly, did a acquire that vast wealth in a relatively short span of time? I’m not one for conspiracy theories, but every aspect of this ongoing fiasco smells like a cover-up. _Behind the Bastards_ (podcast) did a good series of episodes on Epstein. Well worth checking out. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2025, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-epstein-files-question/1020997/135 "2025-07-23T19:26:30Z")
> [@BlankSlate](#): > > Has Trump ever been asked, directly, if he ever visited Little Saint James Island? After all, Epstein bought it in 1998, back when they were still best buddies. This article says no- trump never visited the island > **[Explained: Did Donald Trump ever fly on Jeffrey Epstein’s plane? Here is the...](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/explained-did-donald-trump-ever-fly-on-jeffrey-epsteins-plane-here-is-the-truth/articleshow/122662685.cms)** > > US News: TL;DR• Donald Trump’s name appears seven times in Jeffrey Epstein’s flight logs from the 1990s.• The flights involved his then-wife Marla Maples, thei. _Donald Trump’s name appears seven times in Jeffrey Epstein’s flight logs from the 1990s._ _The flights involved his then-wife Marla Maples, their daughter Tiffany, and staff._ _There is no evidence Trump flew to Epstein’s private island or was involved in criminal activity._ ---
**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 23, 2025, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-epstein-files-question/1020997/136 "2025-07-23T20:05:53Z")
Solid opinion piece in the NYT. Gifted: > **[Opinion | I Covered the Epstein Case for Decades. These Are the 9 Questions...](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/23/opinion/epstein-files-fbi-trump.html?unlocked_article_code=1.Yk8.8a6Z.3Sq7ARngbGDP&smid=url-share)** > > You needn’t be a conspiracy theorist to have questions. The author advocates release of the files. I’ll list the first 6 of 9 questions that he thinks the files could shed light on: No. 1: How did Mr. Epstein make his money and how did he finance his sex trafficking over two decades? No. 2: Did Mr. Epstein have any ties to spy agencies? (Apparently Acosta claims that’s why he gave Epstein a sweetheart deal.) No. 3: Are there references to Mr. Trump in the files that add to our knowledge of his relationship with Mr. Epstein? No. 4: What about Bill Clinton? No. 5: Who were the clients implicated in Mr. Epstein’s sex trafficking operation? No. 6: Who helped Mr. Epstein overseas? … ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2025, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-epstein-files-question/1020997/137 "2025-07-23T20:21:31Z")
> [@Measure\_for\_Measure](#): > > No. 1: How did Mr. Epstein make his money and how did he finance his sex trafficking over two decades? Gee, two minutes on Google will answer that. > [@Measure\_for\_Measure](#): > > No. 3: Are there references to Mr. Trump in the files that add to our knowledge of his relationship with Mr. Epstein? > > No. 4: What about Bill Clinton? Both took rides on the Private jet. Maybe more but that is known. I mean, those arent difficult questions. The real question is- did Epstein keep any records of who availed themselves of his islands underage consorts? And I doubt that. ---
**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 23, 2025, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-epstein-files-question/1020997/138 "2025-07-23T20:29:52Z")
From the article: > [@](#): > > Back in 2008, as the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Mr. Acosta agreed to a lenient — and heavily criticized — plea deal that ended a federal investigation into Mr. Epstein. When asked in 2016 to explain that decision, Mr. Acosta [reportedly said](https://www.thedailybeast.com/jeffrey-epsteins-sick-story-played-out-for-years-in-plain-sight/), “I was told Mr. Epstein ‘belonged to intelligence’ and to leave it alone.” GW Bush would have been the President in 2008, for the record. (Not an accusation against Bush, just pointing out that Acosta wasn’t working to protect Hollywood and Liberal politicians.) ---
**Author:** ![OldOlds](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a3d4f5/32.png) [@OldOlds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldOlds)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2025, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-epstein-files-question/1020997/139 "2025-07-23T20:44:49Z")
Probably paywalled, but the WSJ is saying that DOJ briefed Trump that he’s mentioned in the Epstein files “many times” [https://www.wsj.com/politics/justice-department-told-trump-name-in-epstein-files-727a8038?mod=hp\_lead\_pos1](https://www.wsj.com/politics/justice-department-told-trump-name-in-epstein-files-727a8038?mod=hp_lead_pos1) ---
**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 23, 2025, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-epstein-files-question/1020997/140 "2025-07-23T20:44:56Z")
Jets landed on nearby islands, not Little Saint James itself, and went the rest of the way via helicopter or boat. Who flew on Epstein’s personal jet doesn’t tell the whole story. Part of the so-called Epstein files are logs detailing visitors to the island. Let’s start there. If someone’s name is on the list, let them explain what they were doing there. Reportedly, there some 70 employees working there, so many people named in the logs had non-sinister reasons to be there. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-epstein-files-question/1020997.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-epstein-files-question/1020997.md?page=8)