Dear Everybody:
The big news today is LOTS of new revelations on the Epstein front:
--The Democrats on the Oversight Committee have been going over the 20,000 pieces of info released by the Epstein estate and released more photos today.
--Three show Trump, one with Epstein, one with a young girl, and one surrounded by at least 5 young girls (I say they’re girls because their faces have been redacted. There’s one young woman in one of the photos whose face is not redacted, so I assume she’s not underage, and the rest of them are.)
--Other photos show Bill Gates and Richard Branson with Epstein, Bill Clinton with Epstein, Maxwell, and another couple; Larry Summers (who’s also appeared in email exchanges with Epstein) and Alan Dershowitz (who admits to having a massage, but says he kept his underpants on); two of Epstein hanging out with Woody Allen which definitely make it harder to believe his protests of innocence as regards having molested his five-year-old stepdaughter; one of them with Larry Summers on Epstein’s private plane, the "Lolita Express"; several with Steve Bannon; Bill Gates (whose wife divorced him after finding out his connections with Epstein) and the pilot of Epstein’s private plane; and one with Richard Branson and Prince Andrew (whose connections with Epstein made him lose his royal status.)
--The other photos, except one, are of various sex toys, including a black rubber ribbed glove and a ball gag, and bondage books, one titled "Extreme Restraints." There’s also something called a "Pussy Pump."
--The last photo, and probably the most damning, shows a bowl full of novelty condoms with Trump’s face on them and the slogan, "It’s HUUUUUGE." (Note: There’s a sign with it that says the condoms cost $4.50.)
--Dem Rep Robert Garcia said, "Some of the other photos that we did not put out today are incredibly disturbing." He said more photos would be forthcoming.
--The committee says they have "pictures of people engaged in sex acts."
--MuellerSheWrote: "If the photos are too gross to release, they need to be described."
--Republicans had no comment other than to accuse Democrats of cherry picking.
There were also new emails that discussed an offer regarding a new project that Trump was proposing, the creation of a new entity called "e models" or "e=mc2" or "e management" which would take over the assets of MC2 Model Management, an international modeling agency founded by Jean-Luc Brunel with lots of financial backing from Epstein. (Note: Brunel died in prison awaiting trial on trafficking charges just like Epstein.)
--The email was signed with the name Alain Kittler, the co-founder of Elite Model Management, a French modeling agency founded with John Casablancos, who was friends with Trump and whose agency represented Trump’s daughter Ivanka when she was fifteen.
--His email said, "Last week we also received a last written proposal from Mr. Trump. As expected it was ridiculous and insulting." Epstein answered that details of the potential startup sounded like a good beginning but asked for more details. "Can you tell me how much is currently owed by Trump to you and what is his position...will he try to attach any ownership in e=mc2, maybe you should only have an irrevocable option on the sharer to avoid his litigation."
Newly released records show that an email account belonging to Jeffrey Epstein regularly received alerts from Donald Trump’s 2020 campaign, and after Epstein’s death the account was addressed under a shocking new name:
-- "I need you right now, Pedophiles," reads an October 27, 2020 email from Trump’s campaign, signed by Trump and sent to Epstein’s email address. Others begin, "Pedophiles, I want you to know how important you are to me," "I’m turning to my strongest supporters, like Pedophiles," and "Pedophiles, I am so proud to be your president."
--All of these emails come after the date that Trump said he had cut off all contacts with Epstein.
And finally, Miami Herald reporter Julie Brown (who’s been on this case forever and has had the most reliable information about it) told Ali Velshi that Ghislaine Maxwell wants an outright pardon and may have a strategy in the works to try to force Trump’s hand.
--Brown: "I think that she has--I think she knows a lot of information. She obviously knows who was involved with Epstein, who helped Epstein. She really can provide a key for exactly how it operated...I think she’s going to, if she hasn’t already started, leaking information in order to send a message to some of these important people that she knows where the skeletons are."
Trump’s response:
--Reporter: "There were new Epstein photos today showing you, Bill Clinton, Steve Bannon-- Trump: "I haven’t seen it, but everybody knew this man; he was all over Palm Beach. He has photos with everybody. Hundreds and hundreds of people that have photos with him, that’s no big deal, I know nothing about it."
--The press was immediately ushered out of the room after the question.
--But the release of these photos has done exactly what Trump didn’t want--made it something that he’s being asked about and that Republicans are being asked about.
--GOP Rep Angie Wong was being interviewed on CNN and was asked about the Epstein situation. She replied that that was old news and nobody cared, and one of the CNN reporters said, "You don’t care that the President might be a pedophile?" (It’s the question I’ve been waiting forever to have someone ask.
Other people’s responses:
--Robert Reich: "It is time to end this White House cover-up and bring justice to the survivors of Jeffrey Epstein and his powerful friends. These disturbing photos raise even more disturbing questions about Epstein and his relationships with some of the most powerful men in the world. We will not rest until the American people get the truth. The DOJ must release all the files, NOW!"
--Tangerine Twit Troll: "Um...that answer suggests he DOES know something about it."
--imchuckmiller: "Shouldn’t he be getting question after question about it?"
--Duolian: "Trump is complicit in this whole vile child sex trafficking conspiracy if not one of the organization."
--Meidas Touch: "The release of new photographs from the Jeffrey Epstein estate has pushed the long-simmering questions about Donald Trump’s relationship with Epstein into an even more urgent phase, especially with just days to go until the DOJ is supposed to release the full Epstein files."
--Big B2: "There appears to be a trail of bodies piling up behind the Epstein international kidnapping and statutory rape organization,. The more you read, the more these people look like Bond villains."
--Illiterate Scribbler: "Release the Naughty List."
--Victor Lipman: "Sure seems like the kinda close pal who might send his good buddy a birthday card."
--passugly: "Ummm, what more proof of guilt do MAGAts need? Trump is all about ease and hedonism for the rich, expense and difficulty for everyone else?"
--wanda27: (on the photo of the Trump condoms) "Nothing to say about this? Should be on the front page of every major newspaper."
--(Note: This just hit today, on a Friday when Washington is consumed with Christmas parties, so I expect a lot more reaction in coming days, especially on Sunday, when all these Republicans have to go on the Sunday talk shows to try to defend Trump.)
Trump didn’t want to answer questions about his right hand, either:
--New photos show he’s got even bigger bandages than usual on his hand, and some show he’s tried to cover the bandages with makeup, which only makes it look worse.
--The White House issued a denial of the claims that Trump is taking an Alzheimer drug by attacking the Congressman who talked about it. Steven Cheung wrote: "It seems as if the Congresswoman has not been taking her medicine because she is hallucinating, distorting reality in a clearly troublesome state that requires urgent medical care." (If you’ll notice, that wasn’t actually a denial.)
--And Karoline Leavitt just kept repeating the same explanation she’s been giving for months: Reporter: "Can you explain what’s going on with the bandages on Trump’s hand?" Leavitt: "We’ve given you an explanation. The President is literally constantly shaking hands."
--George Takei: "No one believes you, Karo-lyin’."
Speaking of Christmas, last night was the Congressional ball, at which Trump gave a typically festive speech, calling Somalian people names, yelling at the Indiana senators who refused to vote for redistricting, and asking why we can’t have immigrants from Norway and Sweden instead of "shithole countries," but the most interesting part of his rant, and the one that is getting LOTS of attention from everybody was about Melania, who is starting some new project:
--Trump: "I just heard about that for the first time. The only thing I can tell you, I know one thing for sure, it’s going to be great for children. I don’t know what it is she’s doing. She loves children. She’s got a wonderful boy. And she’s very proud of her boy."
--Brian Tyler Cohen: "Uh, SHE’s got a wonderful boy?"
--Dj Omega Mvp: "A pretty weird way for a dad to talk about his own son. They’re all such bizarrely monstrous people."
--Nicole Hodges: "I think we all knew he wasn’t his."
--This isn’t the first time Trump has talked about his son Barron as if he had no connection with him. He’s done it several times, including one occasion when he said, "That’s how the first lady got involved. She’s got a son."
There was also an interesting moment at the ball when Trump decided to talk about Steve Scalise’s shooting. (Doesn’t he have ANY idea what you’re supposed to talk about at a CHRISTMAS party?):
--Trump said, "His wife was devastated. She was crying. I tell the story. I found out that night you have a wife that loves you dearly. I know many wives who would not even be crying."
--During that entire part of the speech, Melania stood there next to him, stone-faced.
Republicans are giving all sorts of advice to people on the economy:
--Rand Paul: "Eat less. It’s good for your waistline as well as your budget."
--Dr. Oz: "Go easy on those Christmas cookies, guys. One is enough."
--Trump: "Americans must learn to adjust to a lower standard of living. You can give up certain products. You could give up pencils. Because under the China policy, every child can get 37 pencils. They only need 1 or 2. They don’t need that many...you don’t need37 dolls for your daughter. 2 or 3 is nice."
--The GOP on health care: "Do careful price shopping. Only buy what you really need. If you can’t afford it, go without."
--rugbymom: "It’s on individuals and families to adjust their purchasing downward to match their circumstances, even if that means going hungry and forgoing medical care."
There was more news about Kristi Noem’s hearing yesterday:
--Dem Rep Delia Ramirez to Kristi Noem: "Bottom line, you lie with impunity, you reject checks and balances, and you ignore Congress and the courts. Your options are limited--either you are going to resign, Trump’s going to fire you, or you will be impeached."
--Dem Chair Bennie Thompson tried to get Noem to say Trump approved the asylum application for the guy who shot the two National Guard service members and finally threatened her with a perjury charge.
In resistance news:
--Remember how I told you about that church that had put up the ICE-themed nativity scene with the zip-tied baby Jesus and the Roman centurions in face masks and Kevlar jackets? Well, the diocese ordered them to take it down. The church flatly refused, and since then the church has been filled to overflowing with people who support their action.
--A group of Chicago area Catholic priests, nuns, and advocates filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration for encroaching on their religious freedom by barring them from providing religious rites and services to immigrant detainees.
--Members of the Wellington United Church of Christ in Chicago donated $22,5000 to help free immigrants in ICE detention.
In historical news:
--During World War II, the King and Queen of England insisted on living on the same rations as the people of England, using ration coupons like everybody else. This meant that foreign dignitaries visiting got some pretty scant and simple meals--Eleanor Roosevelt commented on it--but it helped the public’s morale tremendously to know that royalty was undergoing the same privations they were.
--They were still on rationing in 1952, when Princess Elizabeth got married, and she insisted on having her wedding dress made using her clothing rationing coupons. People sent her rationing coupons in droves, but she refused to keep them and earned their undying devotion.
--On the other hand, the French Revolution happened, not because the poor were starving (the poor were pretty much always starving) but because they were starving while at the same time watching the royal court living lavishly at Versailles and flaunting their wealth in their faces. Just sayin’.
In other news:
--The DOJ has moved to dismiss a case against two individuals convicted in the FIFA corruption case, saying they want the case dropped. It has been one week since FIFA gave Trump his Peace Prize. Now we know why they did it.
--TIME Magazine has announced its Person of the Year, or rather People. It’s the "Architects of AI," and includes Elon Musk, Peter Thiel, and a bunch of other miscreants. (Keep in mind that it’s not the best person of the year, just the one with the most influence on events, which is why Hitler was Man of the Year.)
--Rep Lauren Boebert, apparently taking her cue from RFK, Jr., used campaign funds to go see Kid Rock, whom she is rumored to be dating. `
In good news:
_-Trump’s Acting US Attorney for the District of Delaware, Julianne Murray, who is also illegally holding the position, saw what happened to Alina Habba and others and stepped down from her position.
--The Geminids meteor shower is this weekend. Best viewing the 13th and 14th between 10 p.m. EST and 2 a.m.
--Jimmy Kimmel signed a new contract which extends through May, 2027. (Take that, Trump!)
And in great news, Randy Rainbow just put out a video for Christmas called "It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like F This." You can watch it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTNJQb2fV8I
Best cartoon of the day: It shows Trump with the slogan, "Only 14 shopping days to buy pardons before Christmas."
Best comment of the day, from a Daily Kos commenter: "Trump is cornered on Epstein, Venezuela, Russia-Ukraine, pardoning liars, fraudsters, and dirty tricksters (Rudy, Santos), pardoning criminals (Tina Peters and all the January 6 insurrectionists), pardoning pedophiles (Maxwell), and affordability."
Keep calm and carry on,
And have a nice weekend,
Connie Willis