Two congressmen stand out in Epstein shitstorm
Everyone else … somehow flops
POV: You have to create messaging around an event, the exact timing of which is not exactly clear — and the exact contents of which are even less clear.
Oh, and also, you’re an elected official who could be booted out of office on this very issue next year if you botch the job. This is the Epstein minefield that members of the House are trying to move through.
The DOJ faced a deadline to release all of the files by 11:59PM Friday. That means preparing a content strategy for three different scenarios: they send it, they don’t, and the dreaded something in between. In the second Trump era, “they do exactly what you/the law asks of them” is almost always off the table.
And that’s why by the end of day Friday, Reps. Ro Khanna and Thomas Massie announced they were drafting articles of impeachment for Attorney General Pam Bondi.
Here’s how key lawmakers navigated the Epstein countdown clock — and disappointing, law-breaking drop —on social media.
THURS, DEC. 18:
⏰ 12:03PM ET — The Democrats on the House Oversight Committee release a new tranche photos from the Epstein estate. Very important to note, these are different from the traditional “Epstein Files.” Tons of creepy shit here: Lolita quotes written on bodies, price quotes for women, and … Steve Bannon.
⏰ 2:11PM ET — GOP Rep. Thomas Massie, who co-sponsored the Epstein legislation leading to the file release, drops a 14-minute video outlining “what to expect in advance of [the] statutory disclosure deadline.” He looks a little nervous in this more buttoned-up format but it’s surpassed 1M views.
Question on many minds: How will you know if they’ve released all the materials?
His answer: He’s been in touch with victims legal teams and has a list of 20 names confirmed to be in FBI possession. If the files released don’t include a single name of any male accused of various sex crimes, it would indicate that they haven’t produced all of the documents.
Other points of emphasis: This is a law, not a subpoena, so no expiration date — can’t just obstruct endlessly, and there’s no statute of limitations for non-compliance. He foresees some problems for AG Pam Bondi due to the changes in her story.
⏰ 8:29PM ET — Robert Garcia, the Democratic ranking member of House Oversight whose social strategy I broke down in its own piece, shares a link to massive profile done by the New York Times, “highlighting the critical work” of the committee.
⏰ 10:03PM ET — Dem Rep. Ro Khanna, the other co-sponsor on the bill, drops a one minute video that has much more threatening vibes as expected from a leader of the opposition.
The threat: Anyone, DOJ included, who “tampers with,” “conceals,” or “engages in excessive redaction will be prosecuted because of obstruction of justice.” He adds that it’s time for “rich and powerful men” to be held to account.
Republicans remain surprisingly mum about all of this online through the day.
