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Today, we explore the Epstein photo bombshell.
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Coffee at the ready…
The Big Sip
The take: The Epstein files became a case study in selective transparency.
What happened: The Justice Department released thousands of Epstein files on Friday — featuring Clinton prominently — then removed 16 files containing Trump photos by Saturday, before restoring them Sunday after backlash.
Why it matters: Neither Clinton nor Trump has been accused of wrongdoing by Epstein's victims. But both parties are using a dead sex trafficker's photo album to score points while 550 pages of redactions bury the details that actually matter.
What to watch: Whether Congress holds anyone accountable for violating the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which passed 427–1 and carries no penalty for noncompliance.
Congress passed the Epstein Files Transparency Act 427–1. The DOJ responded with 550 pages of black ink. Democracy in action.
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Here’s Your Brew
The political noise is loud. The substance is quieter.
Maria Farmer filed a complaint with the FBI in September 1996. She accused Epstein of possessing child pornography, stealing nude photos of her underage sisters, and threatening to "burn her house down" if she talked.
The FBI did nothing. For a decade. By the time agents knocked on her door again in 2006, the abuse had continued unchecked.
"They can't call me a liar anymore," Farmer told the New York Times on Friday. "They should be ashamed."
Friday's release confirms her complaint existed.
What it doesn't explain is why nobody acted on it. That answer may be in the redacted grand jury testimony — or in FBI memos that still haven't been released.
The law required "all" files by December 19.
The DOJ delivered a fraction.
Two Sides, One Mug
→ Pro-release: Transparency is non-negotiable. Congress passed a law. The DOJ must comply — fully.
→ Pro-caution: Victim protection requires careful redaction. The FBI identified 1,200 victims or relatives whose identities needed shielding.
→ Our read: The law gave DOJ 30 days. The FBI had been reviewing files since March. A choice about priorities.
Receipt of the Day
Source: Maria Farmer's 1996 FBI complaint (U.S. Department of Justice, stamped 3 September 1996)
"Epstein stole the photos and negatives and is believed to have sold the pictures to potential buyers."
Why it matters: The FBI had credible evidence of child exploitation in 1996. Epstein wasn't charged until 2008. The files prove the warning existed. They don't explain why it was buried.
Spit Take
"16 files vanished Saturday. Trump photo back on Sunday. DOJ calls it 'caution.'"
(Axios)
Your Coffee Break Links (and water cooler chatter)
📎 What's actually in the files (and what's missing): TIME walks through the redactions, the celebrity photos, and the decade-old complaint that finally got confirmed. Worth the scroll. (TIME)
📎 Bipartisan fury, explained: Massie and Khanna — Republican and Democrat — appeared together on Face the Nation to blast the DOJ. When those two agree, something's broken. (HuffPost)
📎 The law that passed 427–1 and still got ignored: Democracy Docket breaks down how the Epstein Files Transparency Act works — and why there's no penalty for violating it. (Democracy Docket)
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