# Why is Epstein the scandal that has stuck, and why now? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Tags:** trump\ **Created:** [July 29, 2025, 11:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-epstein-the-scandal-that-has-stuck-and-why-now/1021460 "2025-07-29T11:47:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**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:** [August 9, 2025, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-epstein-the-scandal-that-has-stuck-and-why-now/1021460/141 "2025-08-09T18:28:59Z")
> [@PhillyGuy](#): > > What could really lose Trump support is tariff-driven inflation. But there’s no sense in highlighting it until it hits a lot harder. So I guess there’s no harm in focusing on Epstein now. Ain’t that the truth. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2025, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-epstein-the-scandal-that-has-stuck-and-why-now/1021460/142 "2025-08-09T19:03:30Z")
> [@BlankSlate](#): > > So you’re saying that ‘grand jury records’ are public? Indeed they are not, they need a court order to release. Nor did I “hand wave away” the files. As I have said several times here, there could well be stuff which is embarrassing to trump and others. But there is no solid evidence or smoking gun. ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2025, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-epstein-the-scandal-that-has-stuck-and-why-now/1021460/143 "2025-08-10T16:25:15Z")
The thing with Trump is that he’s obsessive about his image. It’s quite possible there’s nothing in those files that will legally hurt Trump, but his ego simply will not allow anything to be released that might make him look bad. This is a man who habitually lies, and not even well, to make him look greater than he actually is. He’s a petty man. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2025, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-epstein-the-scandal-that-has-stuck-and-why-now/1021460/144 "2025-08-10T21:13:23Z")
> [@Odesio](#): > > The thing with Trump is that he’s obsessive about his image. It’s quite possible there’s nothing in those files that will legally hurt Trump, but his ego simply will not allow anything to be released that might make him look bad. Yep, when his lawyers got Stormy Daniels to the stand, and she gave embarrassing details of his poor sexual performance, he was more angry that losing the lawsuit. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2025, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-epstein-the-scandal-that-has-stuck-and-why-now/1021460/145 "2025-08-11T15:23:47Z")
It would be hilarious is the Epstein files reveal that Trump is innocent of statutory rape because he kept asking fourteen year old girls to have sex with him and they all kept turning him down. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2025, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-epstein-the-scandal-that-has-stuck-and-why-now/1021460/146 "2025-08-11T17:11:24Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > > [@BlankSlate](#): > > > > So you’re saying that ‘grand jury records’ are public? > > Indeed they are not, they need a court order to release. > > Nor did I “hand wave away” the files. As I have said several times here, there could well be stuff which is embarrassing to trump and others. But there is no solid evidence or smoking gun. I don’t want to agree with you but I have to. So far I have seen no indication that Epstein kept lists or files of incriminating evidence. There is evidence of people spending time with him on the island and using his plane, but nothing that proves criminal activity. It’s clear Trump had a close relationship with Epstein that ended. It’s clear that the people around Trump overplayed the conspiracy about the case. Now they are worried that the full extent of the friendship will come out and it will also come out how much they lied about the conspiracy. It’s embarrassing but nothing that could lead to criminal charges. Makes me wish Epstein really did keep things for blackmail ---
**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:** [August 11, 2025, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-epstein-the-scandal-that-has-stuck-and-why-now/1021460/147 "2025-08-11T18:20:38Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > There is evidence of people spending time with him on the island and using his plane, but nothing that proves criminal activity. > > It’s clear Trump had a close relationship with Epstein that ended. It’s clear that the people around Trump overplayed the conspiracy about the case. Now they are worried that the full extent of the friendship will come out and it will also come out how much they lied about the conspiracy. Yeah, got to say so, what we can “prove” so far is a sort of high-level case of Rich and Influential Men Behaving Badly and Associating with Dodgy Characters, but not the fever dream of exposing and bringing down a grand pedoconspiracy of celebs and powerbrokers. At most, Epstein/Maxwell’s racket pimping teenagers to Rich Bastards involved having said Rich Bastards put in uncomfortable positions that could lead to lawsuits and possible professional ruin and personal disgrace (see: Andrew Duke of York). But not any actual record of the guests being involved in the criminal activity, apparently. Leave **that** be the trafficking victims’ word against the Respectable Influential Men’s. Good enough to ruin reputations but no need to convict. The thing is as we know Trump can’t be seen as having been _ **wrong** _ and the fans were expecting to see him deliver something, _anything_, on the files: I fully believe they would have accepted a whitewash if one had been offered up front as “the findings” – if Team Trump had bothered to work on properly producing said whitewash to begin with. But not to just say “forget I ever mentioned this, stop bringing it up!” ---
**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:** [August 11, 2025, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-epstein-the-scandal-that-has-stuck-and-why-now/1021460/148 "2025-08-11T18:27:57Z")
Acosta’s claim that he was told to not investigate further past Epstein, because he was intelligence asset, could point to something larger and, thus, explain the lack of a wider roundup. But it depends entirely on Acosta having been truthful during nomination proceedings and then lying about it later, as opposed to lying during nomination proceedings and then being truthful later. I’d have to go 50/50 either way. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2025, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-epstein-the-scandal-that-has-stuck-and-why-now/1021460/149 "2025-08-11T20:10:12Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > I don’t want to agree with you but I have to. So far I have seen no indication that Epstein kept lists or files of incriminating evidence. There is evidence of people spending time with him on the island and using his plane, but nothing that proves criminal activity. Right, and thanks. Stuff that would be surely embarrining, but not probable cause. True, we dont always agree, our opinions differ, but you like the truth. > [@Loach](#): > > It’s clear Trump had a close relationship with Epstein that ended. It’s clear that the people around Trump overplayed the conspiracy about the case. Now they are worried that the full extent of the friendship will come out and it will also come out how much they lied about the conspiracy. It’s embarrassing but nothing that could lead to criminal charges. Exactly. > [@JRDelirious](#): > > Yeah, got to say so, what we can “prove” so far is a sort of high-level case of Rich and Influential Men Behaving Badly and Associating with Dodgy Characters, but not the fever dream of exposing and bringing down a grand pedoconspiracy of celebs and powerbrokers. Yep. ---
**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:** [August 11, 2025, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-epstein-the-scandal-that-has-stuck-and-why-now/1021460/150 "2025-08-11T21:57:44Z")
It’s reached the point where the matter should be referred to a Special Counsel.. Unfortunately, the DOJ is as corrupt as the rest of the administration, so they’d probably appoint Jeanine Pirro or Rudy Giuliani or maybe even Kid Rock. ---
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2025, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-epstein-the-scandal-that-has-stuck-and-why-now/1021460/151 "2025-09-06T14:26:10Z")
Well, we finally have the real story. > **[Johnson Drops Bombshell About What Trump Really Knew About Epstein](https://www.thedailybeast.com/mike-johnson-drops-bombshell-about-what-donald-trump-really-knew-about-jeffrey-epstein/)** > > The House Speaker is suddenly claiming Donald Trump was an “FBI informant.” ---
**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:** [September 6, 2025, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-epstein-the-scandal-that-has-stuck-and-why-now/1021460/152 "2025-09-06T15:23:36Z")
And I fear that a large part of MAGA _ **WILL** _ “buy it” just so they can’t have been wrong. Because, you MUST hold on to your Faith. ---
**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:** [September 6, 2025, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-epstein-the-scandal-that-has-stuck-and-why-now/1021460/153 "2025-09-06T15:28:55Z")
Seems like something that would be very provable, via FBI and court documents. If only someone would release all those documents that they promised to release… ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2025, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-epstein-the-scandal-that-has-stuck-and-why-now/1021460/154 "2025-09-06T15:46:19Z")
Johnson just mispronounced “ignoramus”. ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2025, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-epstein-the-scandal-that-has-stuck-and-why-now/1021460/155 "2025-09-06T16:22:45Z")
> [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](#): > > Well, we finally have the real story. Assuming it was true, why would Trump become an informant? He doesn’t seem the type of person who genuinely cares about other people, so either it’s to save his own skin or to hurt someone he doesn’t like. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2025, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-epstein-the-scandal-that-has-stuck-and-why-now/1021460/156 "2025-09-06T17:05:06Z")
Not seeing anything on this in the NYT. Hopefully they’re doing a deep dive to see if it’s even remotely true. I can’t imagine Trump keeping anything secret when he can brag about it. And I’m absolutely sure that he put Johnson up to it in one of his late night calls. ---
**Author:** ![Chad\_Sudan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chad_sudan/32/4509_2.png) [@Chad\_Sudan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chad_Sudan)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2025, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-epstein-the-scandal-that-has-stuck-and-why-now/1021460/157 "2025-09-06T17:30:47Z")
Wow. I mean, sure, politicians lie, but a fabulism like this insults everyone’s intelligence. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2025, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-epstein-the-scandal-that-has-stuck-and-why-now/1021460/158 "2025-09-06T19:21:41Z")
It really shows some disdain for MAGA voters to throw out that piece of bullshit. There have were comics making fun of this idea weeks ago. Here’s one that comes close: > **[Tom the Dancing Bug: You'll be shocked by the True, Top-Secret Story of Trump...](https://boingboing.net/2025/08/06/tom-the-dancing-bug-youll-be-shocked-by-the-true-top-secret-story-of-trump-and-epstein-island.html)** > > — Coming soon! Volumes 1 and 2 of The Complete Tom the Dancing Bug! Sign up now to be informed when the Kickstarter launches later this summer! Volumes 3-8 of… ---
**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:** [September 6, 2025, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-epstein-the-scandal-that-has-stuck-and-why-now/1021460/159 "2025-09-06T19:28:07Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Trump keeping anything secret when he can brag about it. Technically, we do know that Trump was an FBI informant because he did brag about it back in the day, in one of his books. There’s a bunch of problems with that, though. 1. He’s basically admitting to being a rat. That’s the exact opposite, generally, of being something that gets you street cred. It’s also harmful to himself, since he can’t afford to have his own people turn rat. 2. To rat on something requires that you know something, and generally you come to know something because you were a participant who decided that the ship was going down and this was the best escape route. That is to say, you engaged in illegal activity. 3. As an informant, you have an amount of a “get out of jail free” power. So, as you’re being investigated for fraud, tax evasion, etc. you are liable to be calling in favors. It’s likely that this would have been recorded, so that your get out of jails properly balance the people that you sank. 4. The people that you sank might not look too kindly on that, if it came to light. So in the general terms of being a President, admitting to being a rat is bad. You are essentially going on the record as being a crook, and one who avoided jail time by throwing others under the bus. In Trump’s case, though, there’s currently no reason to believe that he was still serving as a rat at the time the Epstein case occurred (the evidence we have says that it was while he was trying to become a casino boss in New Jersey and failing), being complicit in pedophilia is much different from being complicit in fraud, and he’s been working against the idea that he actually knew anything - e.g. saying that he threw Epstein out because he was poaching employees, not because he was aware of what was going on. You can’t both not know what’s going on and also be a hero. And you can’t have known he was into underaged girls years before the DOJ investigated and also been a hero. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2025, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-epstein-the-scandal-that-has-stuck-and-why-now/1021460/160 "2025-09-06T21:32:54Z")
Seems like last ditch desperation, to me. I wonder what he has on Johnson. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-epstein-the-scandal-that-has-stuck-and-why-now/1021460.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-epstein-the-scandal-that-has-stuck-and-why-now/1021460.md?page=9)