Column By Mike Bibb
I realize a politician’s promise is usually as stable as a bowl of Jello — all appetizing looks but little worthwhile substance.
This seems to be the case with the Trump Administration’s previously heralded revelation of the soon-to-be-released Jeffrey Epstein’s list of famous and infamous clients. We were going to be told the whole sordid story, complete with names and dates of influential people who participated in Epstein’s world of serial sex trafficking of underage girls, videos, flight logs, and gobs of money Jeff made from these capers.
I penned a similar commentary on Jeffrey Epstein — “The Circle Tightens” — in the March 17, 2025, issue of The Gila Herald. This article is an addendum to that piece.
Then, as now, it’s the same two questions: Did Epstein die by suicide or murder? And who are the people on his secret “client’s list?”
Suddenly, Trump’s DOJ informs us there really was no “Epstein client list.”
Can we uniformly shout “WTF!!!”
After months and years of hearing the Jeffrey Epstein chronicles, and how he managed to con his way into colleges, businesses, stock markets, and built an illicit empire in high-dollar sex offerings, documented with multiple news stories, exposes and investigations, we are now supposed to believe reports of a “client’s list” was greatly exaggerated. In fact, it didn’t exist at all.
Next, they’ll be telling us there were no flight logs with passenger names and destinations, and Epstein wasn’t killed in jail; he intentionally stretched his own neck with a bed sheet.
Something smells a little fishy, and I can smell it all the way from the swamp in Washington, D.C., to the southeastern deserts of Arizona.
Perhaps this whole scenario boils down to a basic premise: Are there lists of people who frequented Epstein’s various homes and apartments; did some of these people fly on Epstein’s airplane; did some of these people engage in sexual activity with underage girls; are there video tapes of these sexual encounters; did Epstein receive money or other things for providing these services; and has a court, for whatever reason, sealed any of this information?
First of all, it’s generally accepted that Jeff Epstein was a genuine, certified dirtbag with few redeeming qualities.
However, he was a clever and conniving dirtbag, capable of promoting himself into positions of authority and financial success.
Plus, he had a penchant for having sex with young girls and eventually formulated a lucrative business in this area by offering his menu of female appetizers to other like-minded individuals. Particularly, it seems, to wealthy and influential patrons who could afford his services and anonymity.
Well, as it turns out, the anonymous features were false advertising. Jeff, supposedly, kept detailed records and videos of clients, as investigations later revealed. Sort of an insurance policy he could use to ward off threats or legal action from disgruntled customers. Blackmail, if you prefer.
A fact of life that certain folks who circulate in these circles would find very disturbing. Maybe, even incriminating and revealing if the evidence should ever be presented in a courtroom.
As a result, it’s not uncommon for individuals involved in such legal proceedings to sometimes fail to make it to the witness stand. For whatever reason, their testimony isn’t allowed, denied, and sometimes permanently silenced by various means and procedures.
In Jeff’s situation, while in custody, he was found dead in his cell on Aug. 10, 2019, a reported case of suicide by hanging.
No one really knows, because the guards had fallen asleep, the cameras were not working, Jeff’s cellmate was removed earlier, and no one bothered to check on him until around 6:00 the following morning.
Or, so the excuses revealed.
Okay, Jeff killed himself, end of story. A perfect example of the old saying, “Dead men tell no tales.” Not unusual.
Except it was. At least, Donald Trump’s DOJ previously thought it looked a little weird.
We heard DOJ Secretary General Pam Bondi proclaim her department was going to thoroughly investigate the Epstein file because there was too much suspicious activity, circumstances, and important characters surrounding the case.
There appeared to be more than illicit sex escapades with young girls and older men. Particularly, when the men were transported by Jeff’s Lolita Express aircraft to one of his exclusive island homes or desert retreats.
These were not ordinary hookers and Johns. They were special customers, paying big money to experience a whirl they could only imagine — in the assumed privacy of a distant hideaway under the solemn pledge of secrecy by a known pedophile and pimp.
Supposedly, super smart dudes of business, academia, and government. Guys that should recognize a hustle when they see it, but were so caught up in the thrill of the moment and tingle of sensation they were about to experience that any thought of being discovered must not have crossed their minds.
They were focused on one thing at the time, and business and publicity weren’t it.
After all, money, fame, and influence were what they were known for. If, for some unexpected reason, they were reported to be involved in an illicit activity, they’d make arrangements to cover up the deed as if it never happened.
Press reports could be altered and other explanations offered to whitewash the issue, and eventually it would fade away after a news cycle or two.
Like a good mystery, the plot takes several turns and twists to keep the viewer interested. Not much different in real life, only the objective is to disguise the guilty by ignoring the evidence and present truth seekers as a bunch of contemptuous hacks, determined to expose and prosecute opposing contemptuous hacks.
It’s theater at the least and self-preservation at the most. If things became overly complicated, more drastic measures might have to be taken.
As a result, while awaiting trial, Jeff woke up dead in his cell, his co-partner/mistress was convicted and sent to prison, and now Trump’s DOJ has seemingly done an about-face on the issue.
Kind of makes me wonder if other folks and organizations are applying a little extra pressure to quite the story, or AG Bondi really doesn’t have the incriminating info she thought she had.
I’m reasonably sure of one thing: if there was a “client’s list,” I don’t believe Trump’s name was on it. If it were, Democrats would have crucified him by now. Their unrelenting torment of previously alleged improprieties would pale in comparison.
Instead, there might be a few well-known Democrats, government officials, and big-money business dudes involved.
Then. . . there’s the apparent possibility Trump’s “Move on, there’s nothing to see here” admonition is actually a purposely disguised diversion, reminiscent of his “Art of the Deal” commentary. To catch a crook, sometimes it’s necessary to act like a crook.
For certain, this thing is evolving into a convoluted mess, maybe bigger than most people realize, with tentacles reaching into places not previously conceived.
The question is, will we ever learn the true depth and scope of the scandal?
We may never know — kind of like the Kennedy assassination revelations we were promised to see after 60 years.
Still waiting for that blockbuster moment.
Moral of the story: As usual, the cover-up is always more fascinating than the actual crime.
The opinions expressed in this editorial are those of the author.
