The way the GOP is fighting to keep the Epstein files under wraps suggests much of the GOP could go down with their

[Quixote1818]

release. They can’t be fighting this hard just to cover for Trump. The fact that Johnson is using procedural control, recesses, delaying oaths, and blocking votes, is particularly damning. There’s some bad stuff they don’t want out, and when I say bad, I mean this could be the scandal of the century.

The GOP may be toast when it’s all said and done. If it turns out that multiple Republican lawmakers, donors, or key political figures had direct or indirect ties to Epstein’s trafficking network, and that party leadership (past or present) worked to hide, suppress, or delay the truth, this could dwarf past political scandals like Watergate.

Those involved abuse of power, but Epstein’s network involves child trafficking and systemic corruption, which would ignite a moral firestorm far beyond normal partisan politics. This wouldn’t just destroy careers, it could completely reconfigure American politics.

Hopefully that’s not just wishful thinking on my part. It would certainly be demoralizing for MAGA.

[JBTaurus83]

1. I agree with you

They are moving heaven and earth to kill what should be a pretty normal procedural debate.

[tanyev]

2. Oh well.

[usonian]

3. One theory is that Trump "inherited" Epstein's global blackmail business when he conveniently croaked.

Global as in massive, involving ultra-wealthy, possibly heads of state or high officials, and various sleazebags in the U.S. After all, how did Epstein amass all that real estate, airplanes and so on?

No doubt, extremely powerful people, you might even imagine "supremely, nay Princely" important people were are being blackmailed.

Disclosure of the "clients" would not only demolish Epstein's (under new Trump management) blackmail goldmine, but would also expose the clients, possibly upending what might to be a largely RW clientele. (How many ultra-wealthy liberals are there? )

Trump DOESN'T CARE about being called out as criminal. He's a convict already and faced absolutely no consequence.,

HE IS ONLY ABOUT MONEY AND POWER to get more money and cover his crimes (which would eventually cost him money)

No doubt, if legislators were not among the clients, sleazy Bill Barr collected plenty of dirt, since the legislative zombie cult seems to have formed under his Hoover-like administration.

This would be will be the scandal of all history.

Caligula will look like a choir boy.

Whatever Putin holds on Trump may be separate. People who know aren't saying, but actions count.

[Cheezoholic]

4. Leverage is everything in business, politics and crime. I've been liking this theory more and more lately n/t

[Buckeyeblue]

10. If that's the case why didn't the Biden administration release the files?

I've gone back and forth over my thoughts on the Epstein files. I suspect the files contain damaging information about Trump and mostly Trump. That's all Trump cares about.

It's interesting to me how as the Epstein file controversy has heated up, Trump has completely changed his position on Ukraine. To the point that I think we are on the edge of a major Russia/NATO conflict. Why has Trump changed his mind on Ukraine? That's the part that puzzles me. And the timing of it.

And it could just be coincidence. But Trump rarely multitasks. Is support of Ukraine part of the deal with congress to keep the files under wraps?

[MagickMuffin]

5. Q: Speaker Johnson is your name in the Epstein files?

Q: Speaker Johnson, How many of your republican colleagues are named in the Epstein files?

Q: Speaker Johnson, Why are you protecting pedophiles?

Q: Speaker Johnson, Why are you delaying the release of the Epstein files?

Q: Speaker Johnson, Who ever is in the Epstein files doesn’t it look suspicious that you won’t release the Epstein files?

Q: Speaker Johnson, Why do you become hostile when asked about the Epstein files?

Q: Speaker Johnson, What would Jesus think of your betrayal of his teachings?


Yeah, I’ve considered that the Epstein files would expose too many pedophiles, which I believe also involves money laundering.


Someday, we’ll know the truth about the Epstein scandal and those involved.

[lapfog_1]

6. involves money laundering.

remember at the end of Trump 1 when the Saudis invested $2B with son-in-law Jared?

At the time many financial analysts were like "WTF - Jared didn't have the knowledge or experience to manage billions"

I was thinking then that this was a clever way to hide a payoff or bribe. The Saudi's didn't just "give" Jared a few hundred million, they "invested" $2B and Jared "earns" his fee managing this money... typically somewhere in the 5 to 10 percent range. Usually tied to how well the investment does. Jared pays taxes on the fees he earns... no illegality to the payoff. I thought it was a clever idea.

Before them, decades back, Epstein perfected this. Get rich people to come to his parties, entice them with "women on the younger side" that will give them a massage... reveal the true age of the girls involved... and the fact that there are now "secrets we all share" and invite the rich sicko bastard to "invest in the wealth management fund" where Epstein made millions for himself. He probably did OK with the investments too ( possibly making enough to cover his management fee )... thus the blackmailed rich bastard doesn't even mind the blackmail, at least not as much. And, if done right, other than the rich bastard participating in child sex abuse, no laws were broken... taxes paid ( well, taxes that can't legally be avoided are paid ), the rich bastard even gets his money back ( but not the interest that might have been earned had they given it to a legitimate investment advisor ).

Now I am thinking that Jared and Trump learned all about how to legally accept bribe money.

[Buddyzbuddy]

7. I think their greatest fear as a group is what they don't know.

Somebody has seen at least some of the information and may know who would surely fall. The question becomes who else has info. that has not come forward, yet. Remember, it's often the cover up that gets these guys in trouble. If they start denying everything on its own, it is one person's word against another. Until somebody comes up with a birthday book.
I think when Epstein was busted, he had his brother pick up incriminating evidence and now the brother could do the right thing or get rich.
The Democrats may be in just as much trouble. They had the opportunity to conduct their own independent investigation but we got crickets.
Why did Bill Clinton feel a need to congratulate and compliment the Felon?

I guess we'll have to wait and see.

[Hotler]

8. IMO. There's an underground river of perversion that runs through Washington, it's been there for decades going back

to the Bush 1 days. No one rats on each other because it has a revolving door. Everyone going in sees who's coming out. My question is who has taken Epstein's place as pimp?
Kid touching is big sport with these fuckers.

[no_hypocrisy]

9. GOP's fear about Epstein seems to surpass the prospect if

the names of attendees at Bohemian Grove were released.

[Renew Deal]

11. We should be talking about the "Epstein coverup" led by Trump and operationalized by Johnson

[ffr]

12. It would add up that the GOP congress-critters that are on an extended vacation

are probably also the ones on the Epstein's List.

[GoCubsGo]

13. Madison Cawthorn wasn't lying about the GOP cocaine orgies.

These people are guilty of EVERYTHING of which they accuse the Democrats, and more. This likely goes beyond the Epstein crimes. Releasing that evidence is going to open the floodgates, and they can't have that