The likelihood that dozens of House Republicans will vote in favor of compelling the Justice Department to release the Epstein files has caused Trump to reverse his objections and urge House Republicans to back such a measure.
But this raises two questions that are the subjects of today’s Office Hours discussion.
First: Is Trump sincere about wishing to release the Epstein files?
Some say yes. He didn’t count on how strongly the MAGA base wanted the files released, and therefore how much opposition he’d run into from House Republicans. Trump’s announcement avoids a potential embarrassment for him. Now he just wants to get the Epstein matter behind him.
Others say no, he doesn’t really want them released. Calling for their release is just another Trump ruse to make it look as if he’s innocent.
If he genuinely wanted the files released, he could order the Justice Department to release them — rather than go through the circus of a discharge petition, which might not make it through the Senate.
He knows that if the Justice Department begins to investigate several prominent Democrats who have been linked to Epstein — which Trump has ordered the DOJ to do — the DOJ could refuse to release any further files related to Epstein by claiming that the disclosures could harm continuing investigations.
So today’s FIRST Office Hours question: Is Trump sincere about wanting the Epstein files released, or is this just another Trump ruse?
Which brings us to today’s SECOND Office Hours question: Assuming Trump is still trying to hide what’s in the Epstein files, why do you think he’s doing so? I’ve heard several theories:
1. He wants to protect the privacy of other victims. Although this is the argument that Fox News and various Republicans have been using to justify Trump’s reluctance to release the files, it might possibly be true.
2. He’s trying to hide the fact that he was a confidante of the late Virginia Giuffre. Giuffre, one of the most prominent survivors of Epstein’s sexual abuse, died by suicide in April. The redacted emails released last week by House Democrats included one from Epstein suggesting that Trump had spent time with Giuffre at Epstein’s estate. Giuffre had worked for Trump at Mar-a-Lago.
Perhaps Trump doesn’t want the embarrassment of having been a confidante of Giuffre, who was one of the earliest and loudest voices calling for criminal charges against Epstein and his enablers (other Epstein abuse survivors have credited her with giving them the courage to speak out).
3. He’s trying to hide the fact that he was also one of Epstein’s “clients” who had sex with underage girls. In the emails that have been released, Giuffre specifically and repeatedly denies that Trump had sex with her or any other girl, even as she made allegations against many other powerful figures.
But this hardly exonerates Trump. Giuffre might have been lying. She might have been paid off or intimidated.
The stakes for Trump are huge. If he was in fact one of Epstein’s clients, it could lead to his impeachment in the House and conviction in the Senate, because Trump’s MAGA base — to which congressional Republicans are solicitous — would probably turn against him. They can tolerate all sorts of wrongdoing by him but not pedophilia.
4. Not only is he trying to hide that he was an Epstein client who had sex with underage girls, he’s also trying to hide his involvement in Epstein’s and perhaps even Giuffre’s apparent suicides. I’m reluctant even to include this among the claims I’ve been hearing because it’s such a dark and extreme one. I’m mentioning it only because it is being discussed. Some people believe Trump would stop at nothing.
So what do you think? Why is Trump going to such lengths to hide his involvement with Jeffrey Epstein?
Robert Reich is a professor of public policy at Berkeley and former secretary of labor. His writings can be found at https://robertreich.substack.com/.