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Thinking about the hundreds and thousands of documents in the Epstein files, I visualize Justice Department workers going through them. I have no idea how many people that is. One would imagine that whomever is going through these documents has been carefully selected as someone who is a serious Trump loyalist. But I also imagine, perhaps optimistically, that if these documents are so very disturbing— as we are led to believe they are— someone’s conscience might lead them to leak.
My gut response to the spare release of Epstein files yesterday: redaction redaction redaction. Photos of Bill Clinton. Little mention of Trump.
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It seems to me that Trump and his people think that we’re stupid. They’re scrambling, hoping this will go away. The Justice Department released over 13 thousand documents and photos yesterday (there are hundres of thousands more) lacking context, many of them blacked out completely. Reporters all over the country are sifting through all this material now; they didn’t release everything, which they were by law required to do so.
If the purpose of redaction is to protect Epstein's victims, why are whole pages blacked out?
This is so typical of trump. He doesn’t think laws apply to him. Witness the vandalism of the Kennedy Center yesterday, when he added his name on the building. This is as hurtful as the tearing down of the East Wing.
“The files made public on Friday appeared to include only rare mentions of Mr. Trump, but they did feature numerous photographs of people known to have associated with Mr. Epstein, including former President Bill Clinton; Mr. Epstein’s longtime associate Ghislaine Maxwell; Prince Andrew of Britain and his former wife, Sarah Ferguson; and celebrities, journalists and musicians like Michael Jackson, Mick Jagger and Diana Ross.”
Todd Blanche, deputy attorney general, said the government would hold back an unknown amount of material while its lawyers continue to comb through it. Rep Garcia, ranking memer on House Oversight Committee, said on CNN last night that we are only now getting 10% of what the DOJ has, and of that 10%, 5% we’ve already seen, and 5% is highly redacted.
Lawmakers criticized yesterday’s release. Rep Massie, the Kentucky Republican who broke from Trump to push for the release of the files, voiced his discontent in a social media post, saying the law requied all files to have been released. “Time’s up. Release the files,” Massie wrote in a follow-up post. House Oversight Ranking Members Garcia (D-CA) and Raskin (D-MD) said in a statement:
“We are now examining all legal options in the face of this violation of federal law.”
Representative Khana told CNN last night that they are considering impeachment proceedings against Attorney General Pam Bondi. He goes on to say that Bondi should be worried, as many MAGA supporters are furious about this release. It does seem like a breaking point right now: Trump loyalists try to maintain his base support, all while trying to protect him.
It's gotten to the point where that might not be possible.
Yesterday, I mentioned that I'm starting a new feature here called Deeper Seeing, for paying subscribers. I'm very excited about it. A few times a week, I will share work with you-- it could be cartoons, sketches, live drawing, photographs, ideas. Often I'll share thoughts on process, including reflections and concerns that are naturally a part of creative work. I hope it will provide enjoyment and a deeper look into what it means to see things. Check It out below, and let me know what you think!
Have a great day!...
