Who would have imagined sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein, found dead in his Manhattan jail cell six years ago, would highlight a consensus in the United States?
If the Epstein case were a Venn diagram — two opposite view circles partially overlapping to form a common view rectangle — it would represent the meeting point of the sense of outrage on the part of many Americans, including MAGA Republicans and combative Democrats.
Much to the chagrin of President Donald Trump, who wants the conspiracy theories over Epstein’s rumored client list to end with the Department of Justice report that there isn’t one. The report also said he committed suicide by hanging and there’s no evidence anyone murdered him.
Trump’s answer to a news reporter’s question about the DOJ report at a recent cabinet meeting: “You’re asking? We have Texas, we have this, we have all of the things, and are people still talking about this guy? This creep? That is unbelievable.”
What is so interesting about Epstein? The short answer may be nothing fans the flames of conspiracy more than a perceived cover-up.
For years, far-right media figures and even some current members of the Trump administration claimed the deep state was withholding explicit information about Epstein, his links to important people, and the mysterious circumstances surrounding his death.
The hype that Trump and the Justice Department would finally crack the case and give details and answers has only stung them. Attorney General Kim Bondi and FBI higher-ups all stumbled through explanations about basic facts of the Epstein case.
For the record, the attorney general said in February the Epstein client list was “on her desk” for review. Then she said later there was no list; that she meant the Epstein file, not a client list, sat on her desk.
The current FBI director, Kash Patel, and his deputy, Dan Bongino, both cast doubts on whether Epstein killed himself before they took office. For the record, they both now say he did.
The backtracking has only heightened people’s sense of curiosity and ire despite President Trump’s statement that Epstein is “somebody nobody cares about.”
It’s conventional wisdom that nature abhors a vacuum. When there is a void of information, it fills up with junk — rumors and speculation. And, in the Epstein case, infighting among those Trump MAGA supporters who are unexpectedly aligned with Democrats in demanding a fuller accounting.
A purposeful void leaves many Americans wondering: Maybe there is fire behind all the smoke.
Megan Giles Cooney is a columnist for the Traverse City (Mich.) Record-Eagle. Reach her at megan.cooney1@gmail.com
