Berl Falbaum
I am going way out on a limb to indicate that I believe you have heard about a controversy roiling our national politics over whether something called the “Epstein Files” should be made public.
The files, allegedly of young girls, are said to have been kept by Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender who committed suicide in prison. Powerful people — ranging from Prince Andrew to Bill Clinton — had relationships with Epstein, and among them was none other than Donald J. Trump, who has called Epstein a good friend and “a terrific guy.”
Trump once said he would have no problem releasing these files, but recently proclaimed that he has had second thoughts. He now calls the entire ugly affair a “hoax” perpetrated by Democrats although many of those demanding the files’ release are staunch MAGA zealots.
My question is not whether the files need to be made public but rather: Do we really need more information regarding the scandalous, perverse, sordid, scurrilous sexual history of Trump to make a judgment on his depraved character?
Here is just a summary:
• Trump had three marriages, at least one ended on charges of having an extramarital affair.
• One of his wives, Ivana, accused him of rape, although she later recanted, stating: “During a deposition given by me in connection with my matrimonial case, I stated that my husband had raped me. [O]n one occasion during 1989, Mr. Trump and I had marital relations in which he behaved very differently toward me than he had during our marriage. As a woman, I felt violated, as the love and tenderness which he normally exhibited toward me, was absent. I referred to this as a ‘rape,’ but I do not want my words to be interpreted in a literal or criminal sense.”
Trump, in denying the allegation, said “And, of course, understand that by the very definition, you can’t rape your spouse.”
• One month before the 2015 election, the Access Hollywood tape was made public in which he bragged about grabbing women by the genitalia. Later, when in court on a rape charge, he had a chance to downplay his comments but instead, doubled down.
Asked during a deposition if famous people are allowed to grab women by the “p****,” he said:
“Well, if you look over the last million years, I guess that’s been largely true. Not always, but largely true. Unfortunately, or fortunately.”
• He was found guilty of sexual abuse in a civil case, a case in which the judge said jury’s verdict, in effect, found him guilty of rape.
• He has been accused of rape, sexual assault and sexual harassment, including non-consensual kissing or groping by at least 25 women since the 1970s. Some reports have 43 charging him with “inappropriate behavior.”
• In May 2016, The New York Times published an article “Crossing the Line: How Donald Trump Behaved with Women in Private.” Reporters conducted 50 interviews with women who had known Trump socially, during their professional career, or while modeling or competing for a beauty pageant title.
The paper reported that the women revealed unwelcome romantic advances, and continuous commentary on the female form. The interactions occurred in his offices at Trump Tower, at his homes, at construction sites, and backstage at beauty pageants.
• During an interview with Radio Host Howard Stern he said it was permissible to characterize his daughter, Ivanka, as a “piece of a**-.”
• He has said if she were not his daughter, he would probably date her.
• According to one Trump book, he once publicly described Ivanka in such explicit sexual terms, his chief of staff, John F. Kelly, said he had to remind Trump he was talking about his daughter.
Miles Taylor, a former chief of staff in the Department of Homeland Security, in “Blowback: A Warning to Save Democracy from the Next Trump,” wrote:
“Aides said he talked about Ivanka Trump’s breasts, her backside, and what it might be like to have sex with her…
“Afterward, Kelly retold that story to me in visible disgust. Trump, he said, was ‘a very, very evil man.’”
• Trump also has bragged about walking into dressing rooms of Miss Teen USA contestants who were around 14 to 16 years old.
“I’ll tell you the funniest thing. I’ll go backstage before a Miss Teen USA show, and everyone’s getting dressed and ready and everything and no men are anywhere. And
I’m allowed to go in because I’m the owner of the pageant and therefore I’m inspecting it.
“You know, I’m inspecting. The girls [ages 14-16] are standing there with no clothes on. And you see these incredible looking women [teenagers], and so, I sort of get away with things like that.”
• Lest we forget, there was Stormy Daniels.
None of the above bothered his MAGA base for 10 years, so the question I can’t answer is: Why are Trumpites so anxious to have the Epstein files made public?
You don’t have to be particularly politically astute to conclude Trump does not want the files to be made public because they contain damning material regarding his history with Epstein. Surely, Trumpites understand that.
I really don’t care what happens with the files. Given his record when he was a real estate mogul in New York, I knew who this man was long before he even ran for president in 2015.
But if the information in the files lets MAGA-ites see the light, then I will join the chorus calling for their release.
Some years back, Trump bragged that he could shoot someone on Fifth Avenue and he would not lose any support.
Maybe — just maybe — the files could finally prove him wrong.
The files, allegedly of young girls, are said to have been kept by Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender who committed suicide in prison. Powerful people — ranging from Prince Andrew to Bill Clinton — had relationships with Epstein, and among them was none other than Donald J. Trump, who has called Epstein a good friend and “a terrific guy.”
Trump once said he would have no problem releasing these files, but recently proclaimed that he has had second thoughts. He now calls the entire ugly affair a “hoax” perpetrated by Democrats although many of those demanding the files’ release are staunch MAGA zealots.
My question is not whether the files need to be made public but rather: Do we really need more information regarding the scandalous, perverse, sordid, scurrilous sexual history of Trump to make a judgment on his depraved character?
Here is just a summary:
• Trump had three marriages, at least one ended on charges of having an extramarital affair.
• One of his wives, Ivana, accused him of rape, although she later recanted, stating: “During a deposition given by me in connection with my matrimonial case, I stated that my husband had raped me. [O]n one occasion during 1989, Mr. Trump and I had marital relations in which he behaved very differently toward me than he had during our marriage. As a woman, I felt violated, as the love and tenderness which he normally exhibited toward me, was absent. I referred to this as a ‘rape,’ but I do not want my words to be interpreted in a literal or criminal sense.”
Trump, in denying the allegation, said “And, of course, understand that by the very definition, you can’t rape your spouse.”
• One month before the 2015 election, the Access Hollywood tape was made public in which he bragged about grabbing women by the genitalia. Later, when in court on a rape charge, he had a chance to downplay his comments but instead, doubled down.
Asked during a deposition if famous people are allowed to grab women by the “p****,” he said:
“Well, if you look over the last million years, I guess that’s been largely true. Not always, but largely true. Unfortunately, or fortunately.”
• He was found guilty of sexual abuse in a civil case, a case in which the judge said jury’s verdict, in effect, found him guilty of rape.
• He has been accused of rape, sexual assault and sexual harassment, including non-consensual kissing or groping by at least 25 women since the 1970s. Some reports have 43 charging him with “inappropriate behavior.”
• In May 2016, The New York Times published an article “Crossing the Line: How Donald Trump Behaved with Women in Private.” Reporters conducted 50 interviews with women who had known Trump socially, during their professional career, or while modeling or competing for a beauty pageant title.
The paper reported that the women revealed unwelcome romantic advances, and continuous commentary on the female form. The interactions occurred in his offices at Trump Tower, at his homes, at construction sites, and backstage at beauty pageants.
• During an interview with Radio Host Howard Stern he said it was permissible to characterize his daughter, Ivanka, as a “piece of a**-.”
• He has said if she were not his daughter, he would probably date her.
• According to one Trump book, he once publicly described Ivanka in such explicit sexual terms, his chief of staff, John F. Kelly, said he had to remind Trump he was talking about his daughter.
Miles Taylor, a former chief of staff in the Department of Homeland Security, in “Blowback: A Warning to Save Democracy from the Next Trump,” wrote:
“Aides said he talked about Ivanka Trump’s breasts, her backside, and what it might be like to have sex with her…
“Afterward, Kelly retold that story to me in visible disgust. Trump, he said, was ‘a very, very evil man.’”
• Trump also has bragged about walking into dressing rooms of Miss Teen USA contestants who were around 14 to 16 years old.
“I’ll tell you the funniest thing. I’ll go backstage before a Miss Teen USA show, and everyone’s getting dressed and ready and everything and no men are anywhere. And
I’m allowed to go in because I’m the owner of the pageant and therefore I’m inspecting it.
“You know, I’m inspecting. The girls [ages 14-16] are standing there with no clothes on. And you see these incredible looking women [teenagers], and so, I sort of get away with things like that.”
• Lest we forget, there was Stormy Daniels.
None of the above bothered his MAGA base for 10 years, so the question I can’t answer is: Why are Trumpites so anxious to have the Epstein files made public?
You don’t have to be particularly politically astute to conclude Trump does not want the files to be made public because they contain damning material regarding his history with Epstein. Surely, Trumpites understand that.
I really don’t care what happens with the files. Given his record when he was a real estate mogul in New York, I knew who this man was long before he even ran for president in 2015.
But if the information in the files lets MAGA-ites see the light, then I will join the chorus calling for their release.
Some years back, Trump bragged that he could shoot someone on Fifth Avenue and he would not lose any support.
Maybe — just maybe — the files could finally prove him wrong.
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