Column By Mike Bibb
Escapades of Bill and Hillary Clinton have been documented for several decades; his days as Governor of Arkansas, then President, have been nearly a constant contemporary news item and social media topic.
Hillary has been equally involved in various political endeavors — First Lady of the United States, U.S. Senator (NY-D), and U.S. Secretary of State.
Seems William Jefferson Clinton, 79, and Hillary Diane Rodham Clinton, 78, are always up to something.
Now, his alleged involvement in the “Jeffrey Epstein” bruhaha continues to captivate Congress and public attention.
As does Hillary’s association with the attack on the U.S. embassy in Benghazi, Libya, on Sept. 11-12, 2012.
Yet, nothing seems to stick.
Supposedly, Jeff Epstein committed suicide about six years ago when incarcerated in a New York City jail. Reportedly, he hanged himself in his cell with a bedsheet. His demise remains under suspicious circumstances, since there’s no video or eyewitness to the event.
Coincidentally, his cellmate was removed, the cameras weren’t working, and the guards fell asleep.
At least, that’s the tale we’ve been told by “knowledgeable authorities” and media talking-heads.
Epstein’s claim to fame was that he was some kind of financial wizard, smooth-talking con artist, and created a prosperous enterprise predicated upon child trafficking — furnishing young girls to the prurient interests of wealthy and influential patrons.
He operated several pleasure palaces in New York City, Florida, New Mexico, Paris, France, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Business must have been good, as the list of customers seems to be continually increasing the more a Congressional committee looks into the affair.
One particular name prominently associated with Mr. Epstein is former President Bill Clinton. His association with Jeff dates back to Bill’s Presidency.
I can’t say with absolute certainty that Epstein visited Bill to discuss political or social issues, or as a concerned citizen worried about Bill’s on-the-job frolicking with a young female White House intern.
Perhaps, Jeff was simply reminding Bill that if it was really adolescent girls he was into, Jeff had his private jet waiting on the tarmac to shuttle him to one of his “Dude Resorts.” Air Force One could remain in D.C., and no one would be the wiser.
Except Jeff’s flight logs would eventually become an incriminating inconvenience.
Of course, the picture of Bill lounging in a blue dress with red high-heels, prominently displayed in one of Epstein’s residences, might give people the wrong impression of how the President of the United States relaxes in his personal time.
As we know, all work and no play makes Bill a dull boy.
It also makes for a never-ending saga. Jeff’s been in the ground for several years, his life-and-times exposed and examined by innumerable sources, and through it all, the name of Bill Clinton keeps circling around.
As do other fat cats who, we’re told, frequented Jeff’s Happy Homes.
Democrats continue to insist Donald Trump was one of Epstein’s customers, but haven’t been able to substantiate the claim with specific evidence or witnesses.
Trump doesn’t deny he knew Jeff, but also reminds us he kicked him out of his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida when Epstein was convicted of pedophilia many years ago.
For certain, if Democrats had verifiable facts that Trump was hanging around one of Jeff’s exclusive hideaways, you can be sure CNN, NBC, ABC, CBS, The New York Times, Hollywood elites, and assorted liberal media hounds would have announced the revelation every hour of every day until Trump either resigned or was impeached and removed from office.
Obviously, that hasn’t happened, but it doesn’t stop the Dems from suggesting it might happen — if only there were facts to back up their hopes.
Democrats had the entire Biden Administration to figure out ways to connect Trump to Epstein, but other than digging up bundles of redacted information from various individuals, Joe’s DOJ, and now Trump’s DOJ keep coming up with nothing — other than Jeffery was a sleaze-bag with lots of money.
On the other hand, there’s ample data that Bill Clinton participated in Jeff’s services. Pictures, news accounts, White House visitation records, flight logs, and investigations indicate Bill and Jeff were more than casual friends.
So friendly: there are pictures of Ghislane Maxwell, Jeff’s longtime girlfriend and “business partner,” attending Chelsea Clinton’s wedding about 15 years ago.
We’ve recently learned Prince Andrew of the Royal Family in England has been arrested for, allegedly, a suspicious association with Epstein. Charges and evidence are slowly unfolding.
Which might account for the fact that Bill and Hillary, unexpectedly, announced they would be willing to participate in a Congressional inquiry — after they initially refused to cooperate.
Kind of strange. Unless they’ve weighed the accusations, testimony, witness allegations, documentation, and decided they were finally cornered and it’s time to make a deal.
If so, then it’s doubtful they’ll reveal much information, other than their name, address, and “Upon the advice of counsel, we respectfully refuse to answer the question.”
Or, similar courtroom mumbo-jumbo. After all, they know all the tricks of the trade.
Maxwell, now doing a 20-year stretch behind bars for her participation in the capers, has already pleaded the 5th when asked more questions.
Suppose a reduced sentence or release from prison wasn’t a sufficient incentive to change her mind. Especially, after seeing what happened to Jeff in “protective custody.”
Three or four decades of political intrigues and gamesmanship, Bill and Hill have both become experts at wiggling free from various incriminating situations.
Consequently, it’s premature to think another question and answer session with the Clintons will produce anything other than the customary “This committee doesn’t have sufficient evidence to recommend further investigation of the defendants.”
A slight variation on a theme, Hillary once commented in a Congressional hearing on her missteps in Benghazi, Libya — “At this point, what difference does it make?”
Combine her retort with Bill’s famous “Depends on what the meaning of the word ‘is’ is,” and you know it’s gonna be a long day for committee interrogators.
A succinct summation; everyone can go home, discontented with the realization Bill and Hillary have walked away . . . again. Unscathed.
They’re simply more clever and experienced than the legal beagles chasing them.
“Slick,” if you prefer.
And, certainly, better theater than Shakespeare could ever imagine.
Better luck next time.
All of which goes to prove — like it or not — there really does seem to be a two-tiered justice system: One for the “Haves” and one for the “Lesser Haves!”
The opinions expressed in this editorial are those of the author.
Editor’s Note: Trump has faced over two dozen sexual misconduct allegations from adult women (one civil finding of sexual abuse in the E. Jean Carroll case, which he denies and is appealing). His history includes crude comments and behavior toward women, but there has been no proven court case to date that ties him to minors in a criminal sexual fashion.
However, the Justice Department’s release of over 3.5 million pages of Epstein-related records has reignited the debate
The files include unverified sexual assault allegations and FBI tips from the 1980s and 1990s. One anonymous accuser (“Jane Doe”) alleged abuse by Trump when she was 13, a claim Trump has vehemently denied and which was previously the subject of dropped lawsuits.
Newly released emails and tapes show Epstein claiming to be Trump’s “closest friend” and asserting he had “damaging information” on him.
The files are being overseen by the Department of Justice under Attorney General Pam Bondi, who has been a loyal ally of Donald Trump ever since the Donald Trump Foundation donated $25,000 to her re-election campaign for Florida Attorney General in 2013. Bondi requested the donation, and after receiving it, her office decided not to join a multi-state investigation into fraud allegations against Trump University, even though it had previously indicated it would, due to the number of victims in Florida.
Bondi also joined the White House communications team to defend Trump during his first impeachment and served on his defense team.
With Bondi holding access to the Epstein files, accusations that she has been covering up for and/or removing Donald Trump’s name from the files have run rampant, with some showing that the files have even redacted the word “don’t” for no other reason than it was mistaken for Don T., or Donald Trump.
