'A calamity for democracy': Lawyer slams Trump's grand strategy for Epstein files release

A progressive lawyer on Thursday slammed President Donald Trump's grand strategy for managing the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files.

The Trump administration is supposed to disclose some of the Epstein files to Congress on Friday. However, some of the administration's recent moves have raised questions about whether the administration plans on being transparent with Congress. For instance, a federal judge accused the administration of creating a diversion by attempting to release the grand jury files, which represent a small fraction of the files the federal government possesses.

Marc Elias, a progressive lawyer, discussed Trump's strategy for releasing the files on his podcast, "Democracy Docket."

"What I point out is that what they're going to do is strategically decide what files to put out in what order," Elias said. "So, I promise you the very first files that come out will not mention the name Donald Trump at all. Probably the next files that come out will not mention Donald Trump at all. Those are going to be the files that the Department of Justice does not turn over to the House or at least does not turn them over easily."

"It is a calamity for democracy," He added. "It is a tragedy for the people caught up in this. But from a purely political standpoint, Republicans are just not on the right page."

The mishandling of the documents could also have a big impact on congressional Republicans once they come back to town in September.

"They are they they got um they got off of their game plan around the Epstein files and they really have never regained their footing," Elias said. "They continue to be off balance, and I suspect that's going to continue when they come back into town."

"I think this is setting them up for a really bad fall from a political standpoint," he continued.

Watch the entire episode below or by clicking here.