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Tuesday, January 06, 2026

The Department of Justice has released less than 1% of the so-called Epstein files, a court filing has revealed, as Democrats step up criticism of the Trump administration's "lawlessness" for keeping records under seal.

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NEWS: A source confirms DOJ has NOT provided Congress the legally required explanation for redactions in the Epstein file releases, despite a Jan. 3 statutory deadline under the Epstein Files Transparency Act.

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-- MeidasTouch (@meidastouch.com) Jan 4, 2026 at 7:39 PM

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Why does Pres Trump seem to be so reluctant to release the Epstein files?


#1 | Posted by LampLighter at 2026-01-06 02:09 PM | Reply

"Tonight, I say this to my Republican colleagues who are defending the indefensible: There will come a day when Donald Trump is gone, but your dishonor will remain" - Liz Cheney - Former Congressional GOP Leadership until she called a spade a spade

#2 | Posted by SirRudolf at 2026-01-07 01:32 PM | Reply

Lamp,

"Why does President Trump seem reluctant to release the Epstein files?"

Most likely because doing so would create serious complications for the US and diplomatically around the world.

A lot of powerful people from around the world passed through there. Exposing names could strain US relationships with wealthy and influential people who still hold power today.

Releasing everything wouldn't just be politically messy.

It could have global consequences.

#3 | Posted by BillJohnson at 2026-01-07 02:16 PM | Reply

It could have global consequences.
#3 | Posted by BillJohnson

Yeah and so could deposing the leader of Venezuela.
There's no excuse you won't make for Trump.

#4 | Posted by snoofy at 2026-01-07 02:23 PM | Reply

"Most likely because doing so would create serious complications for the US and diplomatically around the world."

Why would it create complications for the United States?

"Hey, here's a list of rich men who like to have sex with fifteen year old runaways."

Most of the world won't even care.
Heck, Republicans don't even care.

#5 | Posted by snoofy at 2026-01-07 02:25 PM | Reply

Snoofy,

"Why would it create complications for the United States?"

Apparently you lack all empathy.

Put yourself in the place of Trump needing to negotiate with someone the US just exposed they had been there.

He'd be going into a meeting with someone the US just embarrassed.

Or put yourself in the place of someone whose name was listed and dealing with the fallout with your own circle of friends and peers, even if you did nothing wrong. You might become angry with the US and be reluctant to trust them.

That's all I'll say.

You won't understand my point so I'll not be explaining any further.

#6 | Posted by BillJohnson at 2026-01-07 02:43 PM | Reply

"Apparently you lack all empathy."

Empathy for men who rape fifteen year old runaways?
Okay. Guilty.

"Put yourself in the place of Trump needing to negotiate with someone the US just exposed they had been there."

Okay. Let's say we're living in that world.
So what you're saying by not releasing them, Trump is using the Epstein Files to blackmail people.

That's the empathy you have that I don't have.
Empathy for Trump's ability to blackmail people.

#7 | Posted by snoofy at 2026-01-07 02:46 PM | Reply

Snoofy,

Break out a dictionary.

Read the difference between empathy and sympathy.

I said empathy in my last post.

Lack of empathy is increasingly common in US culture.

Scandinavian countries with socialized medicine are not cultures lacking empathy.
There is a social norm against self promotion in their cultures. The Law of Jante describes expectations against standing out or boasting. It reflects an emphasis on humility and social cohesion, which likely helps those systems work there.

A chronic lack of empathy is associated with certain personality and behavioral disorders. It has been reinforced by many values taught in modern American culture.

That erosion of empathy is likely at the heart of where much of the US has gone wrong.

#8 | Posted by BillJohnson at 2026-01-07 04:22 PM | Reply

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