The Epstein files continue to wreak havoc among America’s (and the United Kingdom’s) wealthy elites — this week resulting in even more resignations (and, in the U.K., arrests).
The havoc seems to be getting closer to Trump. According to an analysis by The New York Times, the files fail to include key materials about a woman who in 2019 accused both Epstein and Trump of sexual assault when she was a minor. The FBI conducted four interviews in connection with her claims and wrote summaries of each, but the Justice Department released only the one describing her accusations against Epstein. The other three are missing, as are interview notes, although the department released notes of FBI interviews with other potential witnesses and victims.
This is eerily similar to Watergate. As a friend put it, the dam is leaking more every day, the shingles are dropping off the roof one by one, and there are even (gasp!) members of the president’s own party who want more disclosure. Somebody — like the fall guy who wrote the letter to Judge Sirica, or Alexander Butterfield, who told about the tapes, after saying, “Oh, I wish you hadn’t asked that question!” — is going to blow the deadly whistle. Maybe it’s the woman who accused Trump in 2019. When Trump says, “It’s time to move on from the Epstein files,” you gotta feel the ghost of Richard Nixon in the room.
Hence, today’s Office Hours question: Is the Epstein scandal finally about to destroy Trump?
Here are the most thoughtful responses I get to this question right now:
1. No. The public doesn’t care.
Epstein is by now old news. The public has moved on. Sure, almost every day we hear about another prominent person revealed in the files to be an Epstein crony who’s now pressured to resign their position. But the tempest won’t reach Trump. Even if evidence comes out that he molested a child, it won’t make a difference because there’s too much else going on, including his impending attack on Iran.
2. No. Unlike Nixon, Trump’s Republicans will stay loyal to him.
Regardless of what evidence comes out about Trump, Republicans in Congress will remain loyal to him. In the 1970s, congressional Republicans felt independent of Nixon and were willing to hold him accountable for Watergate. But Trump runs the Republican Party with an iron fist. Republicans won’t dare hold him accountable, because they’re scared of his vindictiveness.
3. Yes. A “smoking gun” is about to emerge on the one issue Trump’s MAGA base will hold against him.
Evidence of Trump’s sexual assault on a minor will soon emerge. Someone will leak it to the press. They’re already on it. Cover-ups never work. When the evidence emerges, Trump’s days are numbered, because pedophilia is the one issue that Trump’s MAGA base won’t forgive. After all, they demanded release of the Epstein files. And as the base goes, so will go congressional Republicans.
What do you think?
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/