Honestly, the best answer to Mark Epstein’s ‘they’ll scrub the files!’ is for Andrew’s next piece to detail how the Epstein Records Act is more than a file dump and was written with this in mind.
As I understand it, the files go straight to NARA, not DOJ. Every redaction needs a written defense. And the Review Board — which Trump would absolutely try to fill with his favorites, can’t be stacked. It isn’t an RFK Jr appointment with a majority congress approval. The act forces the President to pick only from candidate lists submitted by historians, archivists, legal groups, and victims’ advocates. In other words, no MAGA ankle-biters, no adult children who share his surname, etc.
Plus, the Board can subpoena anyone who tries to protect those named in the files and drag respective agencies into federal court if necessary. Granted, this would slow the process to a crawl but it also would leave a trail of receipts and embarrass everyone involved.
The real reply is to give this matter the Lownie Treatment. A working headline might be, ‘Why Scrubbing the Epstein Files Would Be the Dumbest, Most Detectable Crime in History.’
Rest assured, there's an email-function called Bcc (blind-copying), along with forwarding, which means an unknown number of recipients could have original versions of anything that's redacted, shredded or scrubbed. I have decades of filing cabinets full of emails from people near and far, spanning every aspect of my life. For eco reasons, I print only the keepers, such as memorabilia, but I've also kept a few from past jobs, where influential knobs entrusted me with access to their inboxes, while exploiting me or others. I've never blackmailed anyone, nor would I ever do so, but even in a Rule of Law democracy like Australia, most of us have experienced workplace bullying or other malfeasance, so we value record keeping. Ironically, the wider one's circle of influence, the weaker one's chance to control info. The more peers, clients, servants, slaves, victims or 'friends' someone uses, the harder it is to know who might have forwarded or blind-copied an email to someone beyond that circuit, anywhere in the world. (Hello, autocrats! Yes we know you're tracking us. We're also tracking you.)
They’re both under Trump control and a concerted effort had been made to fire or run out the most experienced and principled people. I think it was NYT that had an article about the exodus from both organizations. And it’s pretty scary
Can only see a bit of KK's article. But the loopholes of 'classifying' info surely presents an avenue to withhold info (EO 13526): Pres, VP, agency heads (like the Attorney Gen) & other designated officials to classify information as “Confidential,” “Secret,” or “Top Secret” if it could reasonably be expected to cause damage to natl security, foreign relations, or LE investigations. Trump has a history of using this power for political ends without pushback or legal restraint to stop him. So in addition that NEW Epstein investigation Trump ordered could be used as a pretext for classifying material as "investigative" & exempt them from further release at this time.
Enough foulness has gushed out about What America Hath Wrought to put paid to MAGA and its decaying cult leader. Turning away from the abject intimate destruction by Trump and Epstein, there’s the legacy of financial chicanery by cynical profiteers worldwide.
Where politics is concerned, nothing dodgy can ever really be excluded. The Americans have more to lose than anyone else so I am not holding my breath for full and frank disclosure. Dr. Lownie and a small group of trusted investigators are the only real hope for a revelation of the truth. I am still hoping that more victims will feel empowered enough to go public. NDA's need to be nullified to protect them from protracted legal action.
Not surprised at all! But furious nonetheless. Someone somewhere has a copy of the files. Hopefully at least the germaine parts of it will eventually surface. Justice must be served.
Far too many names in those files! I mean I read in your book Entitled that senator George Mitchell was included. That is big news for me as being from N.Ireland, he was involved in the Good Friday Agreement. They are actually referred to as the Mitchell Protocols..not a word in our very lame media! This is a huge story but nothing, silence!!
The survivors have been so incredibly brave to come forward, and they said there are many more who are too scared to do so. The survivors who have come forward said they would publish names. Yes, do it.
There are probably many so-called important people in the files, whose names would be familiar to most Americans, and these people are large donors, leaders in their fields. They will do anything to keep their names out. Money and power are treacherous, deadly duos.
The FBI already managed to lose most of the really incriminating evidence in their initial raid of his NYC townhouse. The FBI agent in charge found tapes labelled with girls names and various third parties, etc., but inexplicably did not take the evidence or secure the scene. The next day they returned to find his accountant had carted everything off. We'll never know where it all went as the FBI has been "losing" evidence at every scene and stage.
Do we know anything about Mark Epstein? Was he involved or investigated? Does he know where all the money came from? Did he receive a substantial inheritance from his brother once the survivors were compensated? So many questions….
Honestly, the best answer to Mark Epstein’s ‘they’ll scrub the files!’ is for Andrew’s next piece to detail how the Epstein Records Act is more than a file dump and was written with this in mind.
As I understand it, the files go straight to NARA, not DOJ. Every redaction needs a written defense. And the Review Board — which Trump would absolutely try to fill with his favorites, can’t be stacked. It isn’t an RFK Jr appointment with a majority congress approval. The act forces the President to pick only from candidate lists submitted by historians, archivists, legal groups, and victims’ advocates. In other words, no MAGA ankle-biters, no adult children who share his surname, etc.
Plus, the Board can subpoena anyone who tries to protect those named in the files and drag respective agencies into federal court if necessary. Granted, this would slow the process to a crawl but it also would leave a trail of receipts and embarrass everyone involved.
The real reply is to give this matter the Lownie Treatment. A working headline might be, ‘Why Scrubbing the Epstein Files Would Be the Dumbest, Most Detectable Crime in History.’
Rest assured, there's an email-function called Bcc (blind-copying), along with forwarding, which means an unknown number of recipients could have original versions of anything that's redacted, shredded or scrubbed. I have decades of filing cabinets full of emails from people near and far, spanning every aspect of my life. For eco reasons, I print only the keepers, such as memorabilia, but I've also kept a few from past jobs, where influential knobs entrusted me with access to their inboxes, while exploiting me or others. I've never blackmailed anyone, nor would I ever do so, but even in a Rule of Law democracy like Australia, most of us have experienced workplace bullying or other malfeasance, so we value record keeping. Ironically, the wider one's circle of influence, the weaker one's chance to control info. The more peers, clients, servants, slaves, victims or 'friends' someone uses, the harder it is to know who might have forwarded or blind-copied an email to someone beyond that circuit, anywhere in the world. (Hello, autocrats! Yes we know you're tracking us. We're also tracking you.)
Bcc! I can smell carbon paper here in Death’s waiting room! Fresh mimeograph fumes!
Oh yes I'm sure ! We all know Trumps name is all over the files. Dirty tricks are being played to scrub the files. Is it the FBI ????? OR DOJ ?????
They’re both under Trump control and a concerted effort had been made to fire or run out the most experienced and principled people. I think it was NYT that had an article about the exodus from both organizations. And it’s pretty scary
Can only see a bit of KK's article. But the loopholes of 'classifying' info surely presents an avenue to withhold info (EO 13526): Pres, VP, agency heads (like the Attorney Gen) & other designated officials to classify information as “Confidential,” “Secret,” or “Top Secret” if it could reasonably be expected to cause damage to natl security, foreign relations, or LE investigations. Trump has a history of using this power for political ends without pushback or legal restraint to stop him. So in addition that NEW Epstein investigation Trump ordered could be used as a pretext for classifying material as "investigative" & exempt them from further release at this time.
I’ve worked with Ken Klippenstein and he’s a terrific reporter. I’m sure he’s right about this.
Of course they've been scrubbed. Saw David Frum on Channel 4 News last night and he was lacerating about the "pseudo event" their release will be.
Enough foulness has gushed out about What America Hath Wrought to put paid to MAGA and its decaying cult leader. Turning away from the abject intimate destruction by Trump and Epstein, there’s the legacy of financial chicanery by cynical profiteers worldwide.
Where politics is concerned, nothing dodgy can ever really be excluded. The Americans have more to lose than anyone else so I am not holding my breath for full and frank disclosure. Dr. Lownie and a small group of trusted investigators are the only real hope for a revelation of the truth. I am still hoping that more victims will feel empowered enough to go public. NDA's need to be nullified to protect them from protracted legal action.
Not surprised at all! But furious nonetheless. Someone somewhere has a copy of the files. Hopefully at least the germaine parts of it will eventually surface. Justice must be served.
Far too many names in those files! I mean I read in your book Entitled that senator George Mitchell was included. That is big news for me as being from N.Ireland, he was involved in the Good Friday Agreement. They are actually referred to as the Mitchell Protocols..not a word in our very lame media! This is a huge story but nothing, silence!!
The survivors have been so incredibly brave to come forward, and they said there are many more who are too scared to do so. The survivors who have come forward said they would publish names. Yes, do it.
There are probably many so-called important people in the files, whose names would be familiar to most Americans, and these people are large donors, leaders in their fields. They will do anything to keep their names out. Money and power are treacherous, deadly duos.
The FBI already managed to lose most of the really incriminating evidence in their initial raid of his NYC townhouse. The FBI agent in charge found tapes labelled with girls names and various third parties, etc., but inexplicably did not take the evidence or secure the scene. The next day they returned to find his accountant had carted everything off. We'll never know where it all went as the FBI has been "losing" evidence at every scene and stage.
Do we know anything about Mark Epstein? Was he involved or investigated? Does he know where all the money came from? Did he receive a substantial inheritance from his brother once the survivors were compensated? So many questions….