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On Feb. 27 , attorney general Pam Bondi “released” the first batch of Epstein files. I say “released” in quotation marks because the files within this release were already publicly available, containing information from years ago during the Ghislaine Maxwell trial.
The flight logs listed the same usual people that always come up in discussions such as Donald Trump, Bill Clinton and even Naomi Campbell and Eric Trump. As for the phone book, President Trump and Ivanka Trump’s name appeared in the log.
The release was disappointing to say the least, with people from all sides of the political spectrum rightfully calling out the files for lacking relevant information. In addition, the House Judiciary Committee of the Republican Party posted a link to the proclaimed files that turned out to be a distraction in a moment that was shockingly bad and drew outcry from everyone.
In my mind, the two things that the botched files most dangerously show is how the administration will use these types of events like the Epstein files to almost run the release of files like a false sense of transparency. Another poor decision in a quickly growing list of questionable decisions made by the Trump administration.
First, the way the government went about releasing the files was unquestionably bad. They did not release the files to an online database or even the media. Instead they invited a group of conservative influencers like Chaya Raichik and Rogan O’Handley, better known respectively as Libs of TikTok and DC Draino, to present the files on their social media platforms smiling like it was a landmark day despite the serious nature of the matter.
This group viewed the files and all posted messages of a similar nature, saying it was the most transparent administration in American history. That statement is far from the truth.
As we’ve already established, the files released were nothing but information that was already publicly available. The release contradicted every claim made by the president or attorney general that these files would have immediate information available about the people involved in Epstein’s circle of actions against women.
Bondi has claimed that the reasoning for this is due to the State Department of New York’s withholding of files, which if the case was delayed the files would’ve been the right thing to do. Going about it this way just further tanks what little credibility portions of the government has. Creating just another, in what looks to be a quickly rising list, of contradictory statements and actions from the government.
Lastly, this botched release shows what many have been thinking from the beginning, the highly talked about files are nothing burgers. All of them.
Trump has sold a big game talking about how the Epstein files are going to be released in full, however they’re being done in phases and with heavily redacted information in all of the phases. Even the new batch Bondi received has recently been redacted.
The reality of the matter is that these files were always going to be redacted. There’s a ton of information out there that would put way too many people at risk of incarceration or potentially be sensitive to an investigation.
The same should be expected of the JFK assassination files and MLK assassination files if we ever get them. It’ll end up being a long list of empty promises.
The botched files are just one of many examples of the Trump administration’s lack of ability to properly govern. We’ve seen countless examples from the Department of Government Efficiency. Whether it’s accidentally canceling Ebola protection and trying to laugh it off in a cabinet meeting, or cutting off other various initiatives because of DEI threats.
No matter which side of the political spectrum you are on, you should be even more concerned about the government going forward following the release and protection of these Epstein files.
Stone O’Bryant is a columnist. Contact him at [email protected].