The Epstein-Maxwell Saga Gains Volume – “The Sunday Political Brunch”
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The Epstein-Maxwell Saga Gains Volume – “The Sunday Political Brunch”
“Trump Loses on Epstein Files” – In a loss for the White House, a federal judge has ruled that secret grand jury files in the case of convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell will not be released. U.S. District Judge Paul Engelmayer said in his denial of the record’s release that the only two people mentioned in the documents are Maxwell and her late convicted sex offender boyfriend, Jeffrey Epstein. The judge said no client names were in the files. He said the transcripts would "not reveal new information of any consequence." This is a setback after the White House signaled a new effort to have more transparency in the controversy.
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“Victims to Descend on Capitol” – While that part of the case has been shut down, Congressional actions are moving full-speed ahead. On September 3, there will be a bipartisan news conference at the U.S. House hosted by Rep. Tom Massie (R), Kentucky, and Rep. Ro Khanna (D), California. They have invited several victims of Epstein’s and Maxwell’s sexual abuse to tell their stories to Congress, the public, and the press. “The survivors deserve justice and Americans deserve transparency,” Rep. Massie said on X. Many of the victims say their stories have not been told in detail by the politicians and the press. Some have called White House inaction a “cover-up” because powerful people are involved. I agree the victims need to be heard, and what they tell us will be brutal, yet fascinating. As a reporter for almost 50 years, when victims come forward to tell their stories, it’s often a compelling game-changer. It’s time to put all the cards on the table for all to see.
“Comer on Clinton-Epstein” – The House Oversight Committee is sending out subpoenas in its investigation, and former President Bill Clinton tops the list. Rep. James Comer (R) Kentucky chairs the committee. He told Newsmax, “Everybody in America wants to know what went on in Epstein Island, and we’ve all heard reports that Bill Clinton was a frequent visitor there, so he’s a prime suspect to be deposed by the House Oversight Committee.” In a statement issued from Clinton’s office in 2019, the ex-president acknowledged multiple trips on Epstein’s planes, but that Clinton “has never been to Little St. James Island” which was Epstein’s private island in the Caribbean. The statement also said that Clinton, “knows nothing about the terrible crimes Jeffrey Epstein pleaded guilty to in Florida.”
“What We Know” – Various news agencies have documented at least 26 times Bill Clinton was on a plane owned by Epstein, and sometimes traveled without his Secret Service detail. It’s clear many of these flights were related to the Clintons’ charitable foundation, which funded some causes in Africa and China. White House logs show that Epstein and his girlfriend, Ghislaine Maxwell, visited the White House 17 times while Clinton was president. So, they were friends. No one has definitively put Clinton on Epstein’s private Caribbean Island. However, Virginia Giuffre, who was a victim of Epstein and Maxwell, says she saw Clinton with two young women dining on the island. But Giuffre committed suicide last year, so what she claims was hearsay, not evidence. Again, Clinton denies being there. But these are the kinds of items the Congressional investigation hopes to explain.
“DC Takeover” – In an unusual move, President Trump initiated a federal takeover of the Washington, DC Metropolitan Police Department for at least 30 days. Trump, citing problems with crime and homelessness, also called out the National Guard. He then detailed units from the FBI, ATF, and other federal law enforcement agencies to help police patrol the streets. Critics say DC had its lowest crime rate in 30 years back in 2023, but acknowledge it has ticked up again. Trump said, “We’re gonna do this very quickly. But we’re gonna want extensions. I don’t want to call a national emergency. If I have to, I will.” Trump is allowed to control the police department for thirty days, but then will have to ask Congress for extensions. Friends of mine reported seeing National Guard troops patrolling the Washington Monument, a location that has virtually no crime. Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) District of Columbia initially called the takeover “unsettling and unprecedented,” but now says she’s willing to try to work with the Justice Department.
“Trump-Putin Summit” – In 2016, when he was campaigning for his wife, Hillary, to be President, Bill Clinton often said at rallies, “What didn’t you like about the first Clinton administration, the peace or the prosperity?” His point was well-taken. The economy performed well for eight years, and the world was relatively peaceful. I say this because the world has two serious hotspots right now, the Russia-Ukraine war and the Israel-Hamas fighting. President Trump met with Russian President Vladimir Putin this past week, and his team continues to work with Israel on the Gaza situation. Diplomatic wins in both regions could solidify GOP support for the 2026 and 2028 elections, while a disaster could spell doom for presidential hopefuls JD Vance and Mario Rubio since they are on Trump’s foreign policy team. This has implications far beyond how you might redraw the Russia-Ukraine border.
“Inflation Slowing” – I know I will sound like a broken record, but as the economy goes, so too goes the 2026 election cycle. The latest Consumer Price Index out this past week reflects a 2.7 percent annual inflation rate. Yes, prices are up, but not by that much. If it holds in that territory, that’s good news for the majority party next year. What you don’t want or need is a spike that shoots inflation up in the 8 or 9 percent increase range, especially if it’s on the heels of tariff increases. That will send many voters, especially the independents, scurrying across the aisle to the party out of power.
“Latest Presidential Poll” – The prestigious Emerson College Poll is out for The Hill, with another snapshot of the potential 2028 presidential primary landscape in both parties. Not surprisingly, on the Republican side, Vice President JD Vance leads with 40 percent. But the second-place favorite is a stunner. HHS Secretary Bobby Kennedy Jr., is polling at 10 percent, followed closely by Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) Florida, at 9 percent, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio at just 4 percent. On the other side of the aisle, Gov. Gavin Newson (D) California now leads with 23 percent. Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who led the last poll, has fallen into second place at 17 percent. Former VP Kamala Harris is in third with 11 percent. As I always preach about polls is they are just a snapshot in time. The campaign won’t start in earnest until after the 2026 midterms, so expect volatility and changes.
“The Return of Sherrod Brown” – Former Sen. Sherrod Brown (D) Ohio, is trying to make a comeback. He was defeated in 2024, after serving three terms in the U.S. Senate. Next year Brown will challenge Sen. Jon Husted (R) Ohio, who was appointed to fill the seat when Sen. JD Vance was elected vice president. This is a seat Democrats really need back, if they want to retake control of the Senate. They need a net-gain of four seats.
“Trump Kennedy Center List” – It’s my favorite story of the week. President Trump has released his list for the next inductees into the Kennedy Center Honors. Trump announced the names himself and said he would host the awards show. The nominees are movie star Sylvester Stallone, disco singer Gloria Gaynor, the rock band KISS, country music singer George Strait, and Broadway actor Michael Crawford. That’s a pretty diverse group. I neither endorse nor oppose the president’s political policies in this column, as I let the readers judge for themselves. But if I could get a ticket for this show, I’d go!