Here’s the thing about the Epstein files
I want to make one thing abundantly clear: the Montana Democratic Party is laser-focused on fighting for working Montanans and their families as the Trump administration and Republican-led Congress wage a full-fledged attack on America’s working class.
Our priority is holding leaders like Sen.s Steve Daines and Tim Sheehy, and Reps. Ryan Zinke and Troy Downing accountable for voting to strip away health care from tens of thousands of Montanans, shuttering rural healthcare systems, killing jobs, and jacking up energy costs — all to give their billionaire buddies a tax break.
Trump’s unhinged trade war is driving up prices for consumers and making our farmers and ranchers nervous every day, and the president and his stooges in Washington are poisoning this country.
Our full attention is on fighting back.
That said, it’s hard to stay quiet as Democrats watch MAGA diehards fume at Trump turning his back on his base, dismissing the Epstein files as merely a hoax. Jeffrey Epstein was a vile predator, and our hearts are with the survivors and their families of the unimaginable abuse. Right now, we all deserve the truth from the Trump administration.
Of course, as Democrats, we’re keenly aware of Trump’s flip-flopping tendencies, especially for political gain (remember, not too long ago he promised not to make cuts to Medicaid?). And we know Montana’s feckless congressional delegation will blindly support Trump no matter how he decides to screw people over. But watching Trump call his followers “stupid” and “foolish” while blaming Democrats for creating the Epstein files “scam” has been downright baffling.
Republicans, especially Trump on the campaign trail, talked a big game about releasing the Epstein files. Now, they’re abruptly changing their tune and defending the Zinke was on NewsNation this week, laughing off the Epstein files, claiming “everyone is trying to find a nugget that doesn’t exist.”
But here’s what it boils down to: It was Trump and his stooges in Washington who made a big show about releasing the Epstein “client list.” Now they’re saying the files don’t exist and are blocking efforts in Congress to get more information out to the American people?
What are Republicans like Zinke hiding? Who are they protecting? And why would they ignore the MAGA base on such a pressing issue?
Trump’s brazen attempt to brush this under the rug is unacceptable. The American people are shocked and angry about the lack of transparency from Republicans, and we deserve answers.
Justin Ailport is interim executive director of the Montana Democratic Party.