I'm not sure if Trump and Bondi and Co thought there was literally a manilla folder marked "Epstein Files" that was just sitting there waiting to be released. Like some video game fetch quest.
But all he had to say was that "The FBI are refusing orders to release it and are covering it up" and the FBI become public enemy #1, moreso than they already are. Than any leverage they have on him just looks like retalliation.
"Nothing to see here, move along" was precisely what made this shit blow up in his face the first time. It won't work any better for him now. The entire establishment has zero credibility, and we will not take their word on anything.
Trump can quickly realize this, or he can watch as the Republicans are slaughtered in the midterms, eventually leading to his impeachment. And when the left comes after him again, he will find he doesn't have nearly the support he had to make it through like last time.
I'm not sure if Trump and Bondi and Co thought there was literally a manilla folder marked "Epstein Files" that was just sitting there waiting to be released. Like some video game fetch quest.
But all he had to say was that "The FBI are refusing orders to release it and are covering it up" and the FBI become public enemy #1, moreso than they already are. Than any leverage they have on him just looks like retalliation.
All he had to say was he signed the EO, that's all the power a president has.I'm not a king as many like to point out.
Or he could have said the files were tampered with during the Biden administration and aren't usable as evidence anymore.
"Nothing to see here, move along" was precisely what made this shit blow up in his face the first time. It won't work any better for him now. The entire establishment has zero credibility, and we will not take their word on anything.
Trump can quickly realize this, or he can watch as the Republicans are slaughtered in the midterms, eventually leading to his impeachment. And when the left comes after him again, he will find he doesn't have nearly the support he had to make it through like last time.
I'm not saying he should have said nothing to see here, I'm saying he'd have been better off blaming the swamp that he used to promise to drain.