We Want a Special Counsel

Nine days ago DOJ announced that the investigation into Jeffrey Epstein and his death in a New York jail was over, and no action would be taken. But it’s not over in the minds of Americans. Tonight, on his show “All In,” Chris Hayes related that polling shows 75% of Republicans want the full Epstein files released. Seventy-nine percent of U.S. adults overall are in this camp. The number shoots up to 85% for Democrats. Their motives obviously differ, but in a divided country, the consensus is startling.

Now, there are reports that the Republican base, many of whom are desperately invested in the theory that releasing the Epstein files will reveal that many high-ranking Democrats participated in his provision of underage girls for sex, are calling for a special counsel to conduct an investigation. Right wing influence Laura Loomer has also joined that call.

Is it possible that there is some beef here? Or is it just more spin?

As more and more voices are raised, it’s hard not to wonder who exactly is behind the push. Could it be an effort to distract from the alleged existence of an Epstein list? Or is there some sincerity to it? The entire issue is passably strange. Epstein is dead, and the events in question occurred years ago. But still interest lingers.

Hakeem Jeffries, the minority leader in the House, has suggested that the calls for a special counsel are just a diversionary tactic. His position is that if the files exist, they should be released. He pointed out that Attorney General Pam Bondi has said the list exists and was sitting on her desk a couple of weeks ago. Trump promised during the campaign that he would release it. Jeffries is calling on him to make good on that promise. The Democratic Party seems to think this issue could gain traction against Trump where others have failed, launching a new account on Twitter under the moniker, “Has Trump Released the Epstein Files” where they post daily updates on the situation. This is their pinned Tweet.

We discussed what looked like an effort to make Attorney General Bondi the scapegoat in this matter in last night’s post. Although Trump came to her defense in a social media post, there still seems to be a major rift between her and the FBI’s leadership, making it hard to know what anyone’s real motives are here.

For the moment, it may be enough to enjoy the unfolding drama and see where this is headed. This has to be my favorite pitch for a special counsel: Appoint (former Congressman and failed Senate nominee) Matt Gaetz to run the show and subpoena Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s convicted coconspirator, to testify.

Maxwell was Epstein’s longtime companion before his arrest and her subsequent conviction. Trump and Melania appear in this February 2000 photo, taken at Mar-a-Lago, with Epstein and Maxwell. Five years later, in January 2005, Trump and Melania were married.

Over the weekend, Trump posted on Truth Social that “One year ago our Country was DEAD, now it’s the 'HOTTEST' Country anywhere in the World. Let’s keep it that way, and not waste Time and Energy on Jeffrey Epstein, somebody that nobody cares about.” His voters don’t seem willing to forgive his about-face, although as with all things Trump, that could change. But the bottom-line truth Trump’s supporters know is that it would be easy for Donald Trump to order the list released, yet he hasn’t done it. Instead of dying down over time, the furor seems to be growing. Grab your popcorn everyone, and let’s see where this leads.

We’re in this together,

Joyce

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