Epstein Files: Politics Over Justice

The clamor over the Epstein files continues non-stop in the wake of the release of more than 6 million pages, images and videos. Democrats are demanding more files in the name of justice for victims.  But that's a red herring.  The party is desperately seeking a smoking gun to impeach President Trump. 

During Joe Biden's Administration, Democrats had zero interest in the Epstein documents. Not one Democrat called on Attorney General Merritt Garland to unseal the treasure trove of documents. That's why it's laughable now for the party to claim it has any interest in due process for victims.  

The documents would still remained locked away in the Department of Justice had not Attorney General Pam Bondi committed to release the Epstein information.  On February 21, 2025, Bondi was asked by Fox News--not by a Democrat lawmaker--if she could release the Epstein "client list."

Bondi responded: "It's sitting on my desk right now to review." Unfortunately for Bondi, she had little idea the firestorm she was about to unleash.  The "client list" was interpreted by news outlets to mean a document with the names of men who had sex with underage girls trafficked by Epstein.  

Disastrously for Bondi, the existence of a single "client list" has never been substantiated. In fact, Ghislaine Maxwell, who procured women for Epstein, denies any such list existed.  When Bondi produced no list, Democrats accused her of acting in bad faith. It was a classic political gotcha.  

The hyper partisan focus on the documents, videos and photos has not resulted in one conviction for sex with a minor.  If you want justice for victims, law enforcement would need evidence to file charges against abusers.  Democrats had their chance in 2021 to expose pedophiles.  

In that year, Maxwell was charged with six counts related to sex trafficking and conspiracy. The U.S, Attorney for the Southern District of New York filed the case and conducted the trial that resulted in a conviction on five counts.  Not once did prosecutors ask Maxwell to provide "client" names.

Maxwell recruited and groomed women for Epstein.  She traveled on Epstein's private plane--dubbed the Lolita Express--to Epstein's private island in the U.S. Virgin Islands.  Maxwell stayed at the mansion on the island scores of times.  There is no doubt she could produce her own "client list" from memory. 

Democrats should be reminded that Merritt Garland headed the DOJ at that time of Maxwell's prosecution.  Why were prosecutors unconcerned about learning the names of men who victimized girls?  After the trial,  prosecutors tried ducking the issue, claiming they wanted to keep the case "simple." Baloney.

That hasn't derailed Democrats--fueled by their Trump-hating base--from protesting the Bondi's lack of transparency, even after the latest DOJ document dump of more than three million pages, images and videos.  Included in the documents are emails, flight logs, contact books and cards.

Whatever Democrats hoped to find, so far the data dump has exposed more people with connections to their party, including donors and former Democrat administration officials.  They view those references as collateral damage in a desperate bid for evidence to besmirch Trump.  

While Trump's name and image appears in the papers and photos, most are tangential references in media reports, news bulletins and analyses sent to Epstein from friends.  For context, former President Bill Clinton is mentioned scores of times in the materials and related court records. 

In addition, documents show that Clinton appears 26 times on Epstein flight logs, mostly international trips.  Clinton has steadfastly maintained he never visited Epstein's Little St. James Island. Government logs document that Epstein visited the White House at least 17 times during Clinton's presidency. 

CNN also reported the Maxwell was given an award by the Clinton Global Initiative in 2013 for her now defunct ocean preservation project.  

A review of the documents of the Epstein flight logs also show Trump's name appears on 7 to 8 flights.  Most were of short domestic flights. For instance, flights from Palm Beach to New Jersey.  None of the flights were routed to the infamous Epstein island.  

As investigative reporters and news organizations pore over the information, salacious references have ensnared more than a few politicos.  Some of the people include Hollywood elites in the music and film industry, former ambassadors and ex-officials in the Obama and Clinton administrations.

The dirty laundry list includes Larry Summers, former Director of the National Economic Council, for President Clinton; former Obama White House Counsel Kathryn Ruemmler; Microsoft founder Bill Gates; CBS News contributor Dr. Peter Attia, whose name and image appear more than 1,700 times.

The falling dominoes also have included the former Norwegian prime minister; the former UK ambassador to the U.S.; former Prince Andrew of the House of Windsor; the former president and CEO of the World Economic Forum; and the former Culture Minister of France.  

In the latest revelation, current Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick's name surfaces in privilege logs, email threads and witness-related materials.  The mentions largely are connected to social and business contacts, emails and visits.

For the sake of accurate reporting, it's important to remind readers that no evidence in the files proves criminal complicity in Epstein's trafficking activities for any of the individuals named herein. But in many cases individuals have stepped away from their current jobs after publication of their names.

In the midst of the hoopla, a nagging question confounds many Americans: Why don't victims come forward and publicly name their abusers?  Wouldn't that result in justice for the victims?   

The answer is complicated.  Not all women in the Epstein orbit were minors.  An unknown number were consenting adults.  In addition, many victims have settled cases against Epstein and signed non-disclosure agreements.  Others have moved on and don't want revisit the past horror.    

More than 140 women accepted payments from the Epstein Victims Compensation Fund.  The fund paid out $121 million.  J. P. Morgan reached a $290 million settlement with abuse survivors.  Deutsche Bank paid out $75 million.  Both banks did business with Epstein.  

In addition, the representatives of the Epstein Estate recently settled a victims' class action lawsuit for $35 million.  At the time of Epstein's death, his estate was valued at $635 million.  

No amount of money will make up for the shame and abuse suffered by women at the hands of the predator Epstein. However, the inconvenient truth is sexual abuse charges realistically aren't likely to be lodged more than two decades after Epstein allegedly hung himself in a jail cell on August 16, 2019. 

Speculation over Epstein's cause of death has also been resurrected after the recent document release.  A  2020 email indicates the medical examiner who oversaw the autopsy signed a confidentiality agreement and refers to the Epstein's death as a "murder investigation."   

This illustrates the pitfalls of a wide ranging release of documents containing tantalizing information without proper context. While the publication makes for titillating reading, there is little to be gained unless victims file charges.  

Democrats aren't the only ones beating the drums over the Epstein files. House Republicans have opened an investigation into the Epstein affair, heavily relying on the DOJ documents.  They subpoenaed Bill and Hillary Clinton in an act of political grandstanding.   

The GOP move will give Democrats the perfect opening to subpoena First Lady Melania and President Trump if the party reclaims the House in the midterms.  It is time for both parties to call a cease fire. More histrionics will not serve justice, the victims or the American public.

David Anderson: A legendary life well lived

The world has lost a great man.  You won't find his obituary in the New York Times.  His story is written on the hearts of those he left behind. Rich memories--overflowing with love, tenderness, unselfishness, devotion and unbridled joy. That's the legacy of David Anderson, Dianna's twin brother.

David departed his earthly home January 23, surrounded by his devoted wife of 60 years Ruth Ellen, their three children, grandchildren and family at a nursing home.  They sang David's favorite gospel hymns, holding his hands and stroking his head as life's light dimmed.

Ruth Ellen, a fierce advocate for David's care, caressed his hand.  "It's time to go home," she told him. "No more moves." David and Ruth Ellen changed addresses 22 times during their life together without ever leaving Seguin. Her poignant message resonated in the small room as David slipped into eternity.

He left behind the scourge of Alzheimer's disease, which held him hostage in a nursing home for more than three years. Even as his memory faded, David never lost his smile nor his generosity.  He faced his disease with uncommon courage.  Visitors  left uplifted by his indomitable spirit.

It's impossible to tell David's life story without first highlighting his faith. David gave new meaning to being a Christian.  He emptied himself for others for 78 years. He prayed often, even in public. He was devoted to Jesus and was unabashedly proud to share his faith with others. His faith defined his life.

One of his favorite exclamations was, "Praise God." And he didn't just say the words.  David volunteered in a prison ministry, sharing the gospel with inmates.  He assisted with vacation bible school, served on numerous church committees and was a deacon at First Baptist Church of Seguin.

David dug water wells in improvised communities in Central America. He delivered food to senior citizens via Meals on Wheels. He visited friends and strangers in nursing homes.  Neighbors knew they could always call on David if they needed a helping hand. 

After a 33-year career at Southwestern Bell, David joined his daughter Dawn, teaching math and reading in the Seguin school system. He also served as a sign language facilitator and library aide before retiring from the Seguin ISD after nine years.

After retirement from his second career, David volunteered at the Guadalupe Regional Medical Center and was eventually hired as a hospital chaplain, serving in hospice care.  He continued his service right up until the time cognitive issues arose.

In fact, even when David was receiving memory care in a nursing home, he was still touching others.  He would visit patients in their rooms, often stopping to pray and share a kind word.  David was upbeat in the face of a disease that would eventually rob him of his mobility and relegate him to a bed. 

David was so much more than his biography. His authenticity and humility shone through the stories recalled by those who knew him best. His youngest son Rob, who operates an investment firm, remembers his Dad's genuine love for everyone, especially the outcast.  

He recalls asking his Dad: "Who's your hero?"  He expected David to name Roger Staubach, the star quarterback of David's favorite NFL team, the Dallas Cowboys. David demurred a minute and said, "Dennis Osteen." He was the most courageous person I've ever known, David told his teenaged son. 

Rob was confused because he had never heard that name.  So he quizzed his Dad.  David explained Dennis suffered from multiple sclerosis. He struggled to walk, grappled with learning disabilities and his speech was halting and slurred.  Most people shunned Dennis. Not David. 

David befriended Dennis, encouraging him and showering him with love. Dennis went on to become a deacon in David's church, serving others. At age 33, cancer snuffed out the fire in Dennis's life.  David visited Dennis regularly until the end.  He never abandoned his friend.

There was nothing unusual about David's outreach to others.  It was his life's calling.  In high school, everyone wanted to be with David.  He was voted class favorite every year at Seguin High School.  He was named Mr. Seguin High School his senior year.  He was a star football player who excelled on the gridiron and in the classroom. 

Dianna basked in David's achievements.  A lesser person might have been jealous.  But she was proud of David and he in turn boasted about his twin sister. Dianna remembers her friend Carla, who had four sisters, once confessing she wished David was her brother.  Everyone loved David.

David was always checking up on his Mom and Dad as well as his siblings. "It seemed he always knew when I needed to hear his voice," Dianna says.  "He would call.  We shared an amazing connection. He was and will always be my hero."

Growing up on a farm, Dianna and her three brothers and her sister, had daily chores.  There might have been a few grumbles, but not David. He was first to finish his chores and then he lent a helping hand to his siblings, Dianna remembers.  He was hard-working, generous and supportive.  

David honored his parents--John and Dorothy Anderson--with a lifetime of affection and support.  He was there when illnesses struck...when their house was flooded three times...when work needed to be done on their farm, such as harvesting the pecan crop.  And he never missed their family celebrations. 

David's daughter Dawn eulogized her Dad, recollecting his unwavering support for her and her two brothers.  "Daddy was there for us growing up and throughout our lives," she said.  As a requirement in high school, Dawn had to pick a sport to play as part of her physical education course.

Dawn chose tennis, a sport she had never played.  She admits she was not very good, in fact awful. She begged her Dad not to attend the tennis matches, because she was only going to lose.  Winning didn't matter to David. He attended every single match.  Showing up for family was David's life's passion.  

When I met Dianna 60 years ago, the first family member I encountered was David. We immediately bonded, since we both shared a love for Dianna.  I will never forget the kindness he showed me when I had my first visit to the family farm.  He made sure this city boy felt at home in the country.   

Over the years, David always made it a point to tell how proud he was of my career, beginning with my career in journalism.  Later, we both worked for Southwestern Bell. Whenever I got a promotion, he was first to say, "Praise God!" He was more than a brother in law.  He was a good and loyal friend. 

He was fun to be around because he was never despondent. I learned embracing the joy of life, even in the worst of times, was a gift from above.  I still remember David praying over meals, even in a restaurant, never hesitant to thank God for each one of life's blessings. 

David Anderson will be missed by hundreds of people he touched in his nearly eight decades on this Earth.  But he will never be forgotten for his endearing zest for life, his gentleness, compassion, goodness and charitableness. Rest well David.  You have finished the race. 

ICE And The Kent State Moment

The inevitable inevitably happened.  A year of escalating attacks on immigration enforcement agents stirred by incendiary political rhetoric ignited an ugly incident in Minneapolis.  A protestor impeding agents was shot and killed by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer.  

This may be the Kent State moment for the immigration issue.  More than 55 years ago four students were killed and nine others wounded when several Ohio National Guard soldiers opened fire during a Vietnam War protest on the campus.  In the aftermath, protests surged with escalating confrontations.  

Minneapolis erupted in the wake of the shooting, egged on by the governor and mayor.  In the chaos, an ICE agent was ambushed while attempting a traffic stop.  Two illegal immigrants pummeled the agent with a shovel and broom handle.  An agent fired his weapon, wounding an immigrant. 

Then Sunday a mob of anarchists intruded on a church service, claiming an ICE agent was a pastor at the house of worship.  Parishioners feared for their lives as dissidents harassed the worshipers.  Angry instigators bullied parishioners and videoed their terrorizing of innocent churchgoers.  

While there are disputed versions about the deadly shooting, there is no disagreement that anti-ICE activists have escalated attacks on law enforcement officers. Since January, 2025, there have been 238 reported assaults on officers, a 1,150% increase over 2024 when 19 cases were documented.  

ICE agents have been pelted with rocks.  Injured by bricks. Hit with projectiles, including water bottles. Sprayed with chemicals. Dodged concrete cinder blocks tossed from buildings.  Been shoved by agitators. Cursed and spit upon.  Hit with pyrotechnics.  Activists cars have blocked federal agents path.  

Some radicals have clutched the hoods of law enforcement vehicles, daring agents to run them over.  From January 21 of last year until January 7 this year, there have been 66 vehicular attacks on agents. There were only two in 2024.  This represents a 3,200% hike in vehicular skirmishes.

In San Antonio, an illegal immigrant rammed his car into two unmarked ICE vehicles, injuring one agent, who was hospitalized.  A news report said an agent had ordered the immigrant to exit his vehicle.  The man refused and crashed into two vehicles.  The assailant was arrested.  

This vehicular escalation is deliberatively provocative.  Dissidents are trained on kindling confrontations. They covet a belligerent ICE reaction that could be captured on a cell phone and posted online.  Instigators' goal is to prevent arrests, including illegal immigrants with criminal records.

In Minnesota, a loose coalition of groups called ICE Watch, offers training, a manual and support for agitators.  The group published its goals online in 2024, calling for revolutionaries to interfere with law enforcement officers performing their duties.

Among the tactics ICE Watch endorses is "pushing and pulling" an agent off someone arrested.  The collective recommends "totally surrounding" officers and "blocking them and/or their vehicles." Interfering with law enforcement operations is a crime, both at the federal, state and local level.  

An app, ICE Block, was developed by activists to track ICE agents and vehicles with the aim to alert illegal immigrants of an impending raid. The administration took down the app but others have sprouted in its place to thwart the efforts of ICE to arrest illegal immigrants criminals.

Other factions supporting the war on ICE include socialist and communist protest organizations.  Those comprise the Democratic Socialists of America, the Party for Socialism and Liberation, The Peoples Forum and the Freedom Road Socialist Organization.  There are too many others to list 

ICE Agents have not been the only target.  Members of groups use cell phones to identify agents. Troublemakers have doxxed agents families, engaging in cyberbullying, releasing information on agents' home addresses and minor children's schools.  Is it any wonder that ICE agents wear masks? 

Clearly, the aim is to stop the enforcement of immigration law, including the deportation of criminals and terrorists who live among law-abiding illegal immigrant community.  While protests spiraled out of control in Minneapolis, ICE arrested numbers of murderers, robbers, child molesters and rapists.  

Minneapolis is a symptom of an epidemic of lawlessness.  Last summer assailants ambushed officers at an ICE facility in Alvarado, Texas.  Shots were fired, hitting one agent in the neck.  Three days later, a man unleashed a barrage of gunfire at a Border Patrol facility in McAllen, sending three law enforcement officers to the hospital. 

ICE offcials cite politicians' inflammatory rhetoric for fueling the violence.  Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has vilified ICE as the "modern day Gestapo."  The Gestapo operated as the state secret police during the Nazi regime in Germany.  They employed notoriously brutal methods to suppress opposition.

Rep. Pramila Jayapal called ICE agents "deranged" and advocated the obstruction of immigration enforcement. Rep. LaMonica McIver declared "we are at war" with ICE. Represenative Stephen Lynch smeared ICE agents as "nondescript thugs." Rep. Becca Balint referred to agents as "vigilantes."

There are dozens of examples of other Democrats dehumanizing ICE with Nazi terms, including their favorite, Gestapo.  Comparing law enforcement to Nazi Germany murders is deliberately egregious, emboldening disrupters to adopt the mantle of heroes, saving the country from Hitlerism.

The turmoil, rebellion and demagogic language are ripped from the Democrat playbook for the midterm elections. The party and its loosely affiliated groups are fomenting chaos in communities in an effort to defund and get rid ICE to cripple enforcement of immigration law.

Democrats allege law abiding citizens and legal immigrants are being unfairly targeted, often with no evidence.  The party also refuses to acknowledge that ICE has the authority to apprehend and detain noncitizens who violate immigration laws.

If Democrats disagree with the law, they should lead an effort to change it instead of demonizing ICE agents. They haven't done so because it is politically unpopular nationally. Democrats during President Obama's term supported ICE's efforts to remove illegal immigrants. 

If local police in Democrat-run sanctuary cities assisted ICE, it would eliminate the need for a large law enforcement present on the streets. For instance, just honoring ICE detention orders, would allow for the orderly transfer of illegal immigrant criminals in local jails to federal custody.

However, this is not just a controversy over sanctuary city policies. There is a political calculation for Democrats.  In the U.S. Census, every person is counted in the population, not just citizens.  The population figure is used to apportion seats in the House of Representatives.

Non-partisan Pew Research ran the 2020 Census numbers and conservatively estimated that six primarily Democrat states would lose a seat in the house if illegal immigrants were excluded.  Those include Illinois, Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and West Virginia. 

Texas would gain two instead of three seats, if illegal immigrants were subtracted from the total population.  California would lose two seats and Florida would gain two instead of three seats.  In summary, Democrats have more seats at risk if illegal immigrants are not counted in the census.

For the record, Democrats and their sycophant media have contested they would lose house seats, citing left wing studies. Pew Research is the gold standard for nonpartisanship. 

As Minnesota politicians have demonstrated, it is anathema for Democrats to cooperate with federal law enforcement on removing illegal immigrants, including those with criminal records.  This may energize the Democrat base, but it promotes lawlessness in America that will certainly beget more crime.    

Top 12 Predictions For 2026

Every year this scribe's annual predictions generate copious sneers, ridicule and the occasional thumbs up. Now the legion of doubters and the trifling believers have an opportunity to test their prognostication mettle.  You can now wager on almost any verifiable future event, including many of this year's forecasts.

For the uninitiated, an outfit called Polymarket operates the world's largest prediction market.  Using a blockchain-based platform, Polymarket allows bettering on future events.  For instance, you can place a wager on this future event: "Will a ceasefire be called in Ukraine in 2026?" Just select "Yes" or "No."

Don't worry about the affordability crisis.  Transactions on Polymarket are conducted using USDC stablecoin, cryptocurrency pegged to the U.S. dollar. It's not like it's real money! You can bet on just about everything from politics and sports to pop culture and finance.  

Before you dash to the Polymarket website, let's raise the curtain on the safest predictions for 2026:

1. Power and water supply concerns coupled with local politics trip up massive data center expansion plans.  The blistering pace of construction for hubs that power AI hit a snag, delaying the costly deployment plans of chip makers and cloud-computing firms. The development negatively impacts AI stocks, but the Magnificent Seven still finish 2026 on an upswing. 

2. Congress gets in the act of trying to rein in AI's ability to perform jobs with legislation to protect entry level positions.  AI is already replacing data entry positions, software engineers, computer programmers, paralegals, research analysts and content writers.  In an election year, Congress can't resist grandstanding to protect jobs, authoring several bills that disapear into the legislative ether after the midterms.    

3. The stock market defies gravity and continues its upward march to record levels.  Strong corporate earnings, monetary policy easing by the Federal Reserve and the deployment of AI spur the S&P to a record close of 7,800. Risks include the danger of an AI bubble burst, sticky inflation and midterm election volatility. But investors keep plowing money into the market. 

4.  Forecasters continue to underestimate economic growth as the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) exceeds expectations despite tepid job growth.  The GDP, a broad gauge of economic activity, finishes the year with an annualized growth rate of 2.8%. Consumer spending roars ahead as record IRS tax refunds boost household income.  Unemployment ends the year at 4.4% and the Federal Reserve's measurement of core inflation hits a low of 2.3%. Wage growth advances modestly, built on 19 states increasing minimum wage January 1 and a 3.6% hike in salaries in the new year.

5.  Home sales experience a modest increase as prices remain flat or fall in some areas.  Nationally, home prices will uptick 1.7% as existing sales remain lukewarm in many areas.  Total home sales will climb 3.3% nationally, topping 4 million homes.  Lower mortgage rates--averaging 6.1% on a 30-year loan--will drive sales.  However,  73% of homeowners have mortgages below 5%, convincing the majority of Americans to remain cacooned in their current residences.  

6.  When Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell's term ends in May, the change in leadership supercharges the Fed's determination to lower interest rates.   President Trump names Kevin Hassett, the current chairman of the Council of Economic Advisors, to succeed Powell, who remains on the Board of Governors until January, 2028. With a new chairman, the Fed lowers interest rates by 75 basis points by the end of the year. 

7.  The vast majority of the 435 House seats in the mid-term elections are not likely to change parties.   Political analysts currently rank 69 seats as up for grabs, but it is more likely that 30 races for the House will determine which party controls the lower chamber.  The party out of control normally picks up seats in the first term of a new president: Democrats win control of the House: 226-209. Democrats run more white women candidates to tap into a voting bloc that has turned decidedly true blue.

8.  A total of 35 Senate seats will be contested in the midterms with Republicans maintaining a majority.  Democrats (13) have more vulnerable seats to defend, such as those in Georgia, Michigan and North  Carolina, despite more Republicans (22) facing reelection. The red states favor Republicans but the Democrats still narrow the GOP majority to a razor-thin 51-47 with two Independents caucusing  with Dems. Campaign spending for the Senate and House break all records.

9.  Despite Trump's efforts to broker a peace, the war rages on between Russia and Ukraine in 2026.  Russia's Valdimir Putin keeps changing the goal posts for negotiations to end the war with Ukraine as his forces make progress inch-by-bloody-inch.  The autocrat has made the calculation that both Europe and the U.S. will eventually lose their resolve to prop up Ukraine militarily, emboldening Russia to take more territory.

10.  A New York federal judge issues a ruling compelling the Trump Administration to release Venezuelan strongman Nicolas Maduro.  A federal judge rules that Maduro has sovereign immunity as the duly elected leader of Venezuela, a fact the Trump Administration disputes.  However, that will not stop the court from ordering Maduro's release. Appeals reach the Supreme Court. 

11. The Supreme Court rules against the Trump Administration in the tariffs case.  In a 5-4 decision SCOTUS rules that the circumstances under which the president raised tariffs did not meet the 1977 International Emergency Powers Act (IEEPA) definition of an "emergency."  The decision also hangs on the definition of whether tariffs constitute a tax, which must be approved by Congress.  After the ruling, the House and Senate vote to allow the current tariffs to stand.  

12.  With affordability top of mind for voters, cities, counties and states adopt so-called pilot (temporary) programs for guaranteed income.  More than 100 cities have embraced pilot programs guaranteeing income for residents who meet certain conditions.  Cook County (Chicago) became the most recent to adopt a basic income program.  The movement spreads like a California wildfire to become a national issue in the mid-term elections.  

Don't believe the predictions? Wondering if your writer's crystal ball is broken?  Feel free to place your bets on Polymarket. You can use your winnings to purchase a little minced crow meat to feed to your journalist in 2027.