It’s hard to say what’s going on in the WH regarding protecting Trump from the Epstein child sex crimes scandal. Trump is clearly off balance. Even though he’s turned the DOJ into HIS personal law firm he’s been unable to make it go away. Predictably, he’s turned to tried and true tactics to mollify his base calling it a ‘Democrat created hoax’ (words to that effect) in response to a reporter. One of Epstein’s (and Trump’s) victims showed the kind of courage that should shame every Republican, and some Democrats too. Annie Farmer went on CNN and bluntly call bullshit on Trump.
That’s the gist of The Daily Beast’s reporting of the interview Farmer did with CNN’s Kaitlin Collins. Ms. Farmer and her sister, both victims of Epstein didn’t pull any punches as she branded Trump’s comments as being “offensive.” Let’s back up a minute to examine the full context.
As is typical in Oval Office photo ops reporters will try and ask questions. Even though so many journalists are cowed (or their bosses are) by Trump sometimes one of them will show some guts and that happened here. I’m sure you know about the not-at-all secret ‘secret meeting’ at J.D. Vance’s residence. Trump is a dumbass and devolving before our very eyes but some of his media savvy is still there. The optics were awful so they used the Dinner at J.D.’s place’ as a cover to hold what we’re told is a series of meetings at the WH. With Trump even in on at least part of it.
So we were presented with the these days rare spectacle of the press gaggle collectively questioning the known (and adjudicated) sex offender Trump about it all. Trump didn’t want to talk about it of course so he played the well-used ‘fake news’ and ‘hoax’ cards:
Trump’s attempted dismissal of the matter came during an Oval Office photo-op, in response to reporters’ questions about a rumored meeting at the residence of Vice President JD Vance to discuss how to deal with the scandal that is engulfing his administration.
Trump tried to waive the matter off, delcaring: “the whole thing is a hoax. it’s put out by the Democrats because we’ve had the most successful six months in the history of our country.
“and that’s just a way of trying to divert attention to something that is total bullshit.”
There are plenty of ACTUAL victims of Epstein (and Trump) who beg to disagree. I use that term because some of them are in fact begging to be heard as Trump, his DOJ and Congressional Republicans fight like hell to keep that from happening. Personally I think Democrats should be doing more, and doing so every day to get those willing to go on the record, and even on camera the chance to speak out.
It was Annie Farmer and her sister Maria who first went to authorities back in 1996, telling both the FBI and NYPD about Epstein and his sexual abuse of and trafficking of minors. They and others faced a long and difficult road in their attempt to get justice, and were thwarted as you know. Both of the Farmer sisters sued Epstein in 2019. By then the story and the appalling cover up engineered by then U.S. Attorney Alexander Acosta to charge Epstein with a single count of a sex crime at the STATE level in Florida. All kinds of procedures and even laws were broken to keep all the victims identified in the federal probe from learning about the sweetheart deal Acosta created for Epstein.
However the story eventually got out. During the first Trump administration which proved embarrassing because Acosta was Trump’s Labor Secretary. AG Barr had little choice but to pursue the matter but his specialty, going back to his first stint as AG under Bush 41 was covering things up and shielding his boss from any blame. Epstein’s death is a long subject I won’t go into here. But whether Barr had a role or not it allowed him to ‘bury’ the matter enough that Trump didn’t come under much scrutiny. At least back then.
Well, it’s under scrutiny now and because TRUMP put it on everyone’s radar starting back during the campaign. I’m betting he assumed Barr had destroyed every bit of evidence, or at least anything that might trace back to him. Oops. Trump promised MAGA a long and steady diet of ‘red meat’ starting with the Clintons and MAGA by god is still demanding it! Trump tried telling them to forget about it and move on, and they aren’t doing so. Most delude themselves into thinking the worst Trump is guilty of is meeting with Epstein (and Maxwell) at a few parties.
There’s more to it. Everyone knows it. For Trump what’s eating him alive is HE knows all but his most fervent MAGAs (and there’s still lots of them) know it. Add in the fact that as I already said even MAGAs who don’t think Trump really did anything wrong want EVERYTHING released and Trumpty has himself a “BIGLY” problem. From where I sit falling back on “hoax” or “fake news” or even “Democrat plot” is a sign of how much trouble he’s in.
The GOP is trying like hell to protect him but even some Republicans in Congress (and outside but with influence) are in a ‘Let the chips fall their own way’ frame of mind. Let’s face it, someday for whatever reason Trump will be gone. Politics, like nature abhors a vacuum and no Trump means someone else moves up. It means a reshuffling of the whole damned deck in fact. For different reasons some in the GOP want it to happen sooner rather than later and I believe some see the Epstein scandal as the way to steamroll Trump.
GOPers in Congress sure as hell don’t have the guts to call victims to testify at hearings. That leaves getting those willing to do so to speak out. And providing (so make sure to step up Democrats!) the support and security for the Annie Farmer’s to go on news shows. To tell their stories and more importantly call bullshit on Trump as Farmer just did about Trump’s latest attempt to bully his way past the Epstein mess:
Speaking to CNN’s Kaitlin Collins on Thursday night, Annie Farmer said: “It‘s offensive. This is not a hoax. You know, there has, there have been so many people that have come forward and shared their stories.
“I hate that it has been politicized the way it has because I think we lose sight of the bigger picture in that.
“And, you know, I think this is really about people using their power to harm others, and that is not a political issue.”
Farmer went on to say she and other victims have spent weeks unsuccessfully trying to learn what if anything DOJ is doing to protect the “trove” of sealed testimony and evidence from political meddling. Although she reached out to prosecutors she learned nothing. Not it seems because they were unwilling to help but because they ‘haven’t been involved in the process.’ I call that Bondi overseeing a COVER-UP to protect Trump. Farmer also said she’d written to Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche (who lest we forget lost the case when representing Trump in state court in NYC) who we know had two meetings with Epstein’s partner in crime Ghislaine Maxwell and then moved her to “Club Fed”:
“I wrote [to him] saying, you know, these are my concerns about what‘s happening,” she said.
“And there has not been a response.”
However, Farmer added she was not alone in that, among Epstein survivors.
“Even though so many politicians are talking about this, I don‘t think anyone has actually been contacted.”
THAT fills me with outrage. The DOJ and GOP politicians don’t want ANYTHING to do with the VICTIMS. (and again I don’t think enough Democrats are stepping up to help give them a voice) We can only hope that CNN’s Collins will continue, and that Farmer and others will get a chance to put VICTIMS faces on this appalling scandal. That it’s wounded Trump is undeniable but to this point the wounds aren’t fatal to his fortunes. Perhaps a proverbial death of a thousand cuts will do the job. So far we are in the Mar a Lago version of Hotel California where ‘they’re stabbing with their steely knives but they just can’t kill the beast.’
All the writers and commenters here on PZ are in agreement that pedophiles deserve an especially bad place in hell. Even our conservative lurkers who sometimes speak up aren’t defending Trump on this one. And make no mistake – we’re talking pedophiles. Some are trying to put lipstick on this pig by using the term ‘young women.’ No, no HELL NO! These were girls. GIRLS. In their mid-teens with 14 or 15 years old apparently being the preferred age. Some were a bit older and we can be certain some were younger. But these were NOT ‘young women’ but rather girls.
We should be thankful to Annie and Maria Farmer for being so outspoken. And say so. It takes incredible courage to do what they’ve done and clearly intend to keep doing. Express appreciation on social media to them for their courage. And hope it will inspire others to emulate them, as well as more news hosts to put them on the air and call Trump out!
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“Personally I think Democrats should be doing more, and doing so every day to get those willing to go on the record, and even on camera the chance to speak out.”
Well, that’s a nice thought BUT, bear in mind that to get on camera, you have to get a camera there and, let’s face it, the mainstream media aren’t going out of their way to speak to, much less interview, Democrats. And it’s been that way for decades now. When the President is a GOPer, the media fawns over GOPers and allows them to propagandize non-stop. When the President is a Democrat, the media fawns over GOPers allowing them to attack and criticize the President and his policies (even more so when the GOPers are in the minority in Congress but even when the GOPers hold the majority in Congress, the media give them airtime).
Hell, I mean, look at what’s been going on. The media played along with the “Joe Biden is old and too feeble to be President–just look at his gaffes” message put out by the GOP. Now, even though the media itself has evidence of Drumpf’s MANY gaffes, not one of them has dared to even suggest that Drumpf is at less than 100% mental acuity.
And you think a Democrat is going to get a chance to get on camera and attack Drumpf for his ties to Epstein and his refusal to release the files completely unredacted (other than the VICTIMS’ names)? A Democrat’s not going to be able to do that without ambushing a “journalist” and taking over the microphone and getting out as much as possible before the media group cuts the mic.
“And make no mistake – we’re talking pedophiles. Some are trying to put lipstick on this pig by using the term ‘young women.’ No, no HELL NO! These were girls. GIRLS. In their mid-teens with 14 or 15 years old apparently being the preferred age. Some were a bit older and we can be certain some were younger. But these were NOT ‘young women’ but rather girls.”
Let’s all note the irony in Drumpf’s recent declaration over that supposed attack on “Big Balls” and wanting the “attackers” (who’ve been described as 14, 15 and 16 year olds) to be tried as adults yet, apparently, Drumpf doesn’t seem to have a problem with attacking 14 and 15 year old girls. Maybe, in his senility, he’s showing his hand in making young teens into “young adults” so that 14 year old boys caught with an ounce of weed can be tried as an adult (probably even as a full-fledged drug dealer, especially if a person of color) while 14 year old girls can be sexually assaulted by any man who can then claim it was “consensual sex” (even if the girl says otherwise–back to the days when a man’s word was worth more than the cries of a hundred women).
That my friend is one hell of a point you’ve just made. I wish I’d thought of it but you did and articulated it well. Thank you.
Simple: Every time a Dem is in front of a mike the opening words should be: “Let’s hear it from the victims.” and LOUDER as the “hearings” approach and proceed. Drip, drip will erode media lack of interest the more so that the MUST carry the story of the moment, finding new angles to boost ratings
BINGO!! J Devlin!! How about putting a mic in front of the VICTIMS of Epstein and Maxwell? They know the truth! They are flippin’ eye witnesses to all the crimes committed and they know who was there and who did what and who said what. They were used, abused, kicked to the curb, and now Bondi and tRump and the Unholy Alliance in the People’s House are causing these young women AND THEIR FAMILIES to be retraumatized and triggered over and over and over because no one can figure out where to turn. At least the Farmer girls are willing to come forward, to tell tgeir truth again, no matter how painful.
In the July 23, 2025 interview on “The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell,” attorney Brad Edwards (who represented over 200 of these victims–200!!! Let that sink in, people!!!!) discussed his belief that the Jeffrey Epstein birthday book, containing a letter reportedly signed by Donald Trump, is in the possession of the Epstein estate. Edwards stated that he believes the estate would turn the book over to federal authorities if requested. Why can’t our trusty Democratic leaders subpoena the Epstein Estate for any and all records related to the case?? Subpoena ALL the attorneys who worked on the Epstein case! Subpoena EVERYBODY they can think of. There have to be other ways to get the truth to come out. Instead of running around like everyone’s hair is on fire, GET CREATIVE! Damnit! We need some new blood to lead this charge! Form a committee of some sexual assault survivors and see if THEY can get some traction!!! Otherwise, we DO look like a bunch of idiots. If it were YOUR sister, or daughter, or wife, or cousin, wouldn’t YOU want to call bullshit?
BINGO!! J Devlin!! How about putting a mic in front of the VICTIMS of Epstein and Maxwell? They know the truth! They are flippin’ eye witnesses to all the crimes committed and they know who was there and who did what and who said what. They were used, abused, kicked to the curb, and now Bondi and tRump and the Unholy Alliance in the People’s House are causing these young women AND THEIR FAMILIES to be retraumatized and triggered over and over and over because no one can figure out where to turn. At least the Farmer girls are willing to come forward, to tell tgeir truth again, no matter how painful.
In the July 23, 2025 interview on “The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell,” attorney Brad Edwards, who represented over 200 of these victims–200!!! Let that sink in, people!!!!) discussed his belief that the Jeffrey Epstein birthday book, containing a letter reportedly signed by Donald Trump, is in the possession of the Epstein estate. Edwards stated that he believes the estate would turn the book over to federal authorities if requested. Why can’t our trusty Democratic leaders su
Hey you fathers of these girls…where the phuck are you? You should be raising holy hell. YOUR DAUGHTERS WERE RAPED AND CRICKETS???
I get it. However keep in mind we’re talking about PREDATORS. For pedophiles finding children who come from troubled backgrounds is their specialty. ‘Troubled’ might simply mean a broken home and financial struggles, but sometimes it’s darker. Teen girls who’ve been molested or worse at home by a relative, especially a father are exactly the type of girls a child sex predator dreams of finding. I suspect many of the victims were subject to some level of sexual abuse before ever meeting Maxwell or Epstein. Men who’ve sexually abused young relatives, especially their own daughters are hardly the type to speak up now. And their moms might have known of the abuse, or at least strongly suspected it so they aren’t likely to speak up in support of these victims either! Even if moms really had no idea they might be so ashamed they aren’t willing to a) apologize to their child, and b) support them publicly.
We’d like to think that parents instinctively go all-out to protect their children. Nothing in human history supports the contention such instinct exists, at least on a universal or near universal basis. Most of us DO feel protective of children, hence the outrage over sexual abuse of minors. However it’s too widespread to support any belief that virtually any parent will protect their offspring from it. Hell, in some societies women and girls who are raped are subject to so-called honor killings. The victim is murdered by a male relative to protect the family’s “honor” and both that person and the rapist go free!
It seldom gets to that point in this country but how many good ole American parents kick a teenage daughter out of the house for getting pregnant? Even if she was raped? It makes me sick to think about it all.