The Epstein files must contain information to constitute the most salacious story of the decade. What on earth could Donald Trump be so ashamed of to refuse to let those files be released?
When he became a well-known TV personality, he went after women with reckless abandon, telling himself he could do anything he wanted with a woman. He was a Lothario by his own admission, which came out on the Access Hollywood tape. He was later adjudicated as a sex offender in the E. Jean Carroll case.
Much has evolved out of his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. He composed a ribald 50th birthday card for Epstein depicting a caricature of a woman with a contrived dialog between him and Epstein written on the torso. The parting remark alluded to a day with another wonderful secret and signed with his single first name, Donald. He routinely used that touch on personal notes in the ‘90s and early 2000s. The two men were known to have an appetite for hustling women and even very young women. It seems coarse to be referencing a secret between them and indicates there might be something to hide.
It is well known that Epstein was convicted of sex trafficking in 2007 and given a lenient sentence in Florida by prosecutor Alex Acosta. Why hasn’t Acosta been called to account for his sweetheart deal in the matter? Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s partner in crime, was the only one prosecuted, tried and convicted for sex trafficking. She was serving 20 years in a federal prison when she was interviewed by Todd Blanche, Trump’s defense lawyer, who was acting as deputy attorney general. Maxwell said all the right things to absolve Trump of offensive behavior and then was moved to a minimum security day camp in Texas. As a convicted perjurer, her word is not believable.
Several brave victims of Epstein’s abuse held a press conference calling for the release of the Epstein files. That group of women had the courage to come forward in the pursuit of justice and I don’t think they will go away until they see some accountability in this matter. The question is, will there be enough Republican congressmen to vote for the release of the files? Will they protect the victims or the predators?
If Trump has nothing to hide, he should let the files be released in the spirit of equal justice for all, not just for the wealthy.
Don Hiddleson, Millcreek
Donate to the newsroom now. The Salt Lake Tribune, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) public charity and contributions are tax deductible