Congressman Discusses Bi-Partisan Push Over Government Files
The Epstein case has loomed like a shadow over American political life for years — a sinister echo of unchecked power, systemic failure, and the haunting question: Who knew what, and when? On MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” this week, the issue was front and center again.
The exchange between Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) and host Joe Scarborough revealed more than a partisan squabble — it spotlighted the bipartisan paralysis that has allowed this scandal to fester without full sunlight.
Scarborough’s question was simple, cutting, and unmistakably fair: If Epstein’s crimes represent a national crisis — which they undeniably do — then why didn’t Democrats demand the release of all records when they held the Department of Justice between 2021 and 2025?
It’s not a theoretical puzzle. The Biden administration had the time, the tools, and the majority. So, why didn’t they act?
Rep. Raskin’s response was cautious — perhaps too cautious for a matter this grave. He redirected the focus toward Donald Trump’s long-documented association with Epstein, a line of attack that, while relevant, doesn’t answer the core question.
Even as he affirmed that sexual abuse — whether in churches, universities, or elsewhere — constitutes a widespread crisis, he stopped short of offering a clear explanation for the inaction during years when Democrats could have taken decisive steps.
And therein lies the tension. This isn’t just about who was photographed with Epstein at Mar-a-Lago. It’s about a system that continually allows high-profile predators to evade accountability, buffered by their connections, wealth, and the inertia of institutions that seem more interested in optics than justice.
Raskin did point to a “bipartisan consensus” on the Judiciary Committee in favor of releasing the files. But consensus without action is just performance.
The American public has waited long enough for transparency — and every passing month without answers only deepens the suspicion that some names are too powerful to expose.