OPINION:
At last, Democrats have latched onto something that promises to derail the entire Republican agenda: Jeffrey Epstein. This shady multimillionaire was first investigated for engaging in unlawful activities with underage girls two decades ago. Despite holding the levers of power for much of this period, liberals never called for transparency.
Their sudden interest in openness is a bit too convenient. Unwilling to cede control of the House floor to these malcontents, Speaker Mike Johnson is adjourning the House early to avoid a vote on legislation requiring production of Epstein documents within 30 days.
“Republicans won’t be lectured on ‘transparency’ by the same Democrats who orchestrated one of the most shameless and dangerous cover-ups in history — Biden’s obvious mental and physical decline,” the Louisiana Republican said.
More disclosures certainly would be welcome, and President Trump surely realizes he will continue taking a political beating the longer he holds off on releasing details he and his family were talking about while the left looked the other way.
“You know who’s not on the Epstein list? My father … because if he was, it would have leaked in about half a second,” Donald Trump Jr. said in 2024. That’s likely why the president asked for the release of “all pertinent grand jury” testimony from Epstein’s trial.
On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Richard M. Berman responded to the administration’s formal request to unseal the files by giving the Justice Department until next week to redact the transcripts to protect the privacy of victims. His honor will then rule whether grand jury secrecy laws allow such revelations.
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche will meet with Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell to find out what secrets she has to share. “No one is above the law — and no lead is off-limits,” Mr. Blanche wrote on X.
No such conversations took place when Democrats were in charge. Epstein and Maxwell were jailed on Mr. Trump’s watch, not while Presidents Obama or Biden were in the Oval Office.
Mr. Trump’s recent moves are headed in the right direction, but many of his supporters who seek more information in good faith may wind up disappointed. A Washington Times investigation by our own Rowan Scarborough reached out to key sources, including the police chief who opened the original Epstein inquiry in 2005.
None saw anything that would be considered a catalog of the rich and famous who cavorted with minors on Epstein’s island. Presumably, the testimony of victims may provide answers.
That’s not what Mr. Trump’s opponents want. “Even if the Court gave its full and unwavering approval, nothing will be good enough for the troublemakers and radical left lunatics making the request. It will always be more, more, more,” Mr. Trump wrote on Truth Social.
The more attention is drawn to Epstein, the less the public will have a chance to review what Democrats have done to the country. Messrs. Obama and Biden unleashed a horde of illegal aliens who stole jobs, opportunity and affordable housing from citizens.
Epstein is a distraction, which is why Mr. Trump doesn’t want to play the left’s game. He understands that immigration, the economy and crime must come first. A reckoning for sleazy tycoons, most of whom were left of center, won’t improve the lives of ordinary Americans.
After decades of Democratic lies, however, Mr. Trump’s supporters want to know the truth. The sooner it comes, the better, so we can move on to what matters.
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