Last week, the Department of Justice announced that no further documents would be released concerning Jeffery Epstein.  They also denied the existence of any “client list” and maintain that even if the pedophile had lived and gone to trial, very little of the evidence would be released:

But after a months-long review of evidence in the government’s possession, the Justice Department determined that no “further disclosure would be appropriate or warranted,” the memo says. The department noted that much of the material was placed under seal by a court to protect victims and “only a fraction” of it “would have been aired publicly had Epstein gone to trial.”

“One of our highest priorities is combating child exploitation and bringing justice to victims,” the memo says. “Perpetuating unfounded theories about Epstein serves neither of those ends.”  (Fortune)

To say that the internet on the right erupted is an understatement.  Even though President Trump came to the defense of Attorney General Pam Bondi and the entire team at the DOJ, media outlets of all types proclaimed, amplified, and took glee in the fact that “base” Republicans are upset.

When Did We Stop Trusting

In November of 2024, Americans elected Donald Trump back to the White House because we trusted his leadership and his vision.  We also trusted those he enlisted as allies in the cause to fill positions high in his administration.  When others stood in the way – namely Republicans – supporters of the President at all levels rallied to get his team across the confirmation finish line.

In February of this year, the right went wild with the appointment of podcaster and conservative radio host Dan Bongino:

Thank you Mr. President, Attorney General Bondi, and Director Patel. pic.twitter.com/bJqIDbWLEE

— Dan Bongino (@dbongino) February 24, 2025

The appointment of Pam Bondi was met with equal enthusiasm, as she promised to bring the DOJ back in focus:

With the appointment of Kash Patel, Bongino and Bondi rounded out a domestic law enforcement dream team.   In just six months, they have taken down a $14.6 billion dollar healthcare fraud ring,  prosecuted a major corruption case in New York,  focused better resources on white collar crime and immigration, and stopped a money laundering scheme linked to China.  It seems there is not just one new sheriff in town – there are three.

Yet, according to one conservative podcaster at Turning Point USA’s conference in Tampa Bay, Trump and his team are no longer able to be trusted:

"I think that these people – and I don’t know, for whatever reason, there could be reasons – but I don’t think they’re telling us the truth about Epstein," podcaster Brandon Tatum said during the convention. "I think that that guy was involved in something nefarious that implicates a whole lot of people. And my guess is that the whole lot of people may have, may happen to be some of our allies and some people that we don’t want to have a bad relationship with."

When did we stop trusting leaders who just six months ago we hailed as a major part of the answer to this country’s law and order problem?  People whose word we took as Gospel over the airways, and who we looked to as role models have now been cast as part of a deeper coverup conspiracy to protect rich child predators simply because nothing was found as part of their investigations.  These people – at all levels in President Trump’s administration – have bared their souls to investigate debauchery and evilness are now stamped with the same titles of those they investigate simply because the outcome of their labor does not match what the public anticipated.

It makes no sense.

A Problem of Hyped Expectations

We cannot blame the whole problem on the clamoring found on social media.  Attorney General Bondi needs to own up to her own failings to manage expectations on this matter.  In February 2025 she released binders of declassified files regarding this case to a group of conservative influencers.  Yet those binders contained nothing new other than previously leaked material that is now formally released.  In a Fox News interview from February 21, 2025, she was asked about the Epstein client list and file.  She indicated that “it was on my desk.”  After the fallout, she had to clarify what she said:

"I was asked a question about the client list, and my response was, 'it's sitting on my desk to be reviewed,' meaning the file along with the JFK, MLK files as well," Bondi said, referring to an interview she had on Fox News in February and was asked about the allegedly Epstein client list. 

If there is a problem to be fixed in this instance it stems from an overwhelming desire to play this case to the masses.  While there is nothing titillating at all about Epstein, many Americans are drawn to it because it seems to be yet another instance of a rich guy getting away with the most debase of actions.  Kash Patel, Dan Bongino, Pam Bondi and even the President himself have spent years talking about the Epstein case.  The frustration is the result of much overpromise and hype followed up with the grim reality that nothing else has been found.

While we have to understand that a large portion of the outrage may be coming from bots on social media designed to create turmoil, the administration needs to concede that much of this disappointment is of their own making.

It needs to be fixed.

The Creative Fix In Transparency

To answer a problem caused by social and legacy media hype is to answer it with the same.  Let’s give the voices from across the political spectrum the answer the answer they have been looking for this whole time – transparency.

One way of doing that is to invite three journalists who represent the right, the middle, and the left.  Imagine Tucker Carlson (on the right), Brett Bair (who is unbiased), and Nora O’Donnel (on the left) given complete access to the entire file.  They would see everything the government has seen.  They then would be allowed to report on whatever they wanted except for:

• names of victims
• confidential sources cleared of any wrong doing
• child pornography and other illegal material

In this way, all aspects of the case would be revealed to the public by at least one person they trust.  They would see the processes, read the interviews, and watch the videos.  Tucker Carlson and Nora O’Donnel by their actions and words have put themselves up as government watchdogs who are out for the truth.  Now would be their time to prove they are more than clickbait material on the internet.

Conspiracy Theories Live In The Gaps

No matter how much the government proves its case, however, there are enough gaps in the evidence that will allow conspiracy theories to live on for ages.  Consider:

• No evidence of a client list. In a court of law, no evidence of a crime means that a crime cannot be prosecuted. In the heart of the conspiracy fanatic, no evidence means something exists but is being actively covered up.
• Claims of seeing the list.  As a result of all of this, some have come forward claiming to have seen the list but have been blocked from releasing it.  While their claims may or may not be true, it falls into the same claim as seeing the missing 18 minutes from the famous Nixon videos.  None of it can be proven – but that does not matter to those who see conspiracies around every corner.
• The missing minute in the video of Epstein’s jail. It does not matter that Attorney General Bondi is able to explain that gap. It is missing – so naturally something nefarious MUST have happened in those 60 seconds.
• Redacted documents. There are many documents and names the government cannot release due to court orders or a directive to protect the privacy of victims and those who had no illegal relationships with Mr. Epstein. These properly sealed up documents give plenty of fodder for conspiracies.

The fact of the matter is that we will never know the full story of Jeffrey Epstein.  We will never know precisely who was involved, who was on the fringe, who was innocently included in the file, and who was a victim.  A case that is now over a decade old has lost integrity in evidence over the years that can never be recovered.  At this point, if the government says the case is closed and no further evidence is coming forth, we need to trust the President we overwhelmingly elected and move on to other challenges.

What we can know is that Jeffery Epstein right now is probably reaping the rewards of a life of sin and debauchery.  He harmed children, and encouraged others to do the same.  We can rest assured that in all likelihood Mr. Epstein is receiving an eternal punishment greater than we can ever hope for on this side of Heaven – even if we knew everything.

That should be good enough.