When I started this blog, there were a number of political and social topics I wanted to cover. A few I already have; many are either in draft or still in my head. But one topic I didn’t have an interest in covering was Jeffrey Epstein, his circle’s decades of abuse of young women, and the notable files. It’s not that I don’t find the uncovering of these important (we’ll get there), or that I doubt there are a few bombshells waiting to drop. I had just assumed, in some form or fashion, we would have found out more of what happened by now.
THE ELUSIVE FILES
If you somehow don’t know what I’m alluding to, it’s the highly politicized collection of files created and found during the Jeffrey Epstein investigations. In 2008, Epstein reached a plea deal with prosecutors after he was accused of molesting a 14-year-old girl. The police searched his property, conducted countless interviews, and for years we’ve known that testimony, photos, and other hard evidence were uncovered, with much of it remaining confidential.
Over the years, some materials have entered the public domain relating to both Epstein and his co-conspirator and ex-girlfriend, Ghislaine Maxwell. The most information came through a 1,400-page records release in January 2024. And through various reliable sources, we’ve heard names from these files, including high-profile politicians from Donald Trump to Bill Clinton, and notable others such as David Copperfield and Stephen Hawking.
In fact, publicly, there are hundreds of high-profile names that have been associated with Epstein in one way or another. But there’s no clear distinction between those who were publicly around him and those who were part of the circle of abuse—something victims have made clear extends beyond just Epstein and Maxwell.
No matter what we’ve learned so far, there’s a widespread belief that the government has much more information on high-profile individuals than it has shared. Or, as many refer to it: The Epstein List. An alleged document containing names of those who participated in the abuse and molestation of underage girls, kept by Epstein to protect himself from fallout with those individuals.
THE POLITICAL PUSH
This list became highly politicized following Epstein’s death in 2019. Democrats believe his death was connected to the person frequently photographed with Epstein, listed on Epstein’s flight records, and coincidentally in power as President during Epstein’s mysterious prison death: Donald Trump.
Republicans, with help from Trump and MAGA influencers, believe the list is being covered up by Democrats to protect the Clintons and other high-profile liberal politicians and donors.
Since it seems to be a bipartisan issue, albeit for the wrong reasons, it would stand to reason that whichever candidate won the presidency in 2024, and whichever party held power this year, we’d have seen some additional information.
TRUMP’S SHIFTING STANCE
In fact, one of Trump’s 2024 campaign pillars was uncovering this mystery and releasing the files and the list. He echoed this plan in countless interviews between July and November 2024, including a September podcast where he stated it was “very interesting” that Epstein’s client list wasn’t public.
And when he won, the sentiment continued. In January 2025, Trump’s appointed FBI Director, Kash Patel, stated “absolutely” he would expose those involved in Epstein’s sex trafficking ring. Multiple times in February, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi supported this stance, stating there was “a lot of information” to be released and that The List itself was on her desk “to review.”
Trump even gave some people a closer look when he allowed a group of right-wing influencers access to some files earlier in February. However, those influencers left disappointed, noting these “Phase 1” files were a collection of previously released documents with little to no new information.
Then everything changed in May and June, when the Department of Justice was reviewing documents and allegedly found Trump’s name in the Epstein files multiple times, a detail that was leaked in July. That gave more weight to Elon Musk’s (now deleted) June 5th accusation that Trump was in those files.
In the first week of July, Bondi and Patel changed course when discussing the files, and Trump publicly declared the files, most notably The List, a hoax.
THE SMOKING GUN
Is Trump’s name in those files? 100% yes! But we already knew that. As noted earlier, having your name in thousands of documents, logs, and interviews from the Epstein investigation doesn’t confirm guilt. How and why the name appears, however, could.
We know Trump was an associate of Epstein’s. And although Trump has spent much of 2025 trying to distance himself, the numerous photos of the two together, the news article about Trump’s inappropriate birthday card to Epstein, and countless independent investigations linking them continue to tell a consistent, and different, story.
But Trump is now making it clear, coincidentally since the DOJ combed through those files, that the bombshell hiding in the Epstein files, most notably The Epstein List, is a hoax crafted by Democrats. According to him, there’s nothing more to find and we need to stop talking about this.
THE POSITION OF CONGRESS
Much like Trump’s shifting stance, much of Congress has followed suit. After all, regardless of political affiliation, elected Republicans haven’t hidden their undying loyalty to Trump over country.
But while much of Congress may be shifting gears, some Republicans are not. Those on subcommittees and even some on the floor are still calling for the public release of these files and for those named to be held accountable. Speaker of the House Mike Johnston will do what he can to block that, but some Republicans are joining with Democrats to force a vote on the matter.
Johnston has doubled down. After meeting with Trump, he declared he doesn’t want the files released, for the safety of the victims, and because the White House is handling the matter to release them. Yes, the same White House that now refers to these files as a hoax.
THE IMPORTANCE OF THE TRUTH
Democrat or Republican, one thing is certain: the incredibly wealthy play by a different set of rules. Yes, sometimes they get too confident and put themselves in positions they can’t escape, Epstein being a notable example. But for the most part, when the wealthy elite stand united, they protect themselves from the rules and laws that govern the rest of us.
But does it matter if these files come out now? Those loyal to Trump can shift their stance and beliefs, but those who’ve been paying attention know there’s more to this story. Yet even if there’s a bombshell in the unreleased files, specific to Trump, will it change anything? Before he was elected the first time, we heard a recording of him bragging about assaulting women. Before he won again in 2024, he was found guilty of assaulting women. He mocked a mentally challenged reporter, he’s been caught lying, he hurls hateful rhetoric and insults, and he’s spent eight months abusing the power of the presidency unlike any president before him.
Yet none of that matters to either MAGA or mainstream Republicans.
I do think it’s incredibly important these files get released—even if they’re a truncated version. We know there were more people involved in this sex trafficking ring than Epstein and Maxwell. And we know many of them are still likely hurting others in some capacity.
The fact no previous “smoking gun” or bombshell has stopped Trump’s base from supporting him so far, means there is something incredibly damning in those files. Trump’s shift in narrative, even mockingly in the face of some of Epstein’s victims this week, makes it clear he’s protecting himself, or at minimum, someone close to him.
It is the responsibility of those elected to office to find out who those someones are and to start holding them accountable. Otherwise, this abuse will continue.
Political Geekery 