As I wrote previously, what we call the "Epstein client list" isn't just a sheet of names. It's logs, footage, written statements, and likely evidence of blackmail, and with every instance involves a victim, and that also makes things even more complicated. Then, as it was reported, players within the FBI are apparently attempting to sabotage the release by destroying evidence. 

(READ: Why Hasn't the Epstein Client List Been Released?)

This was never going to be clean and crisp. There are a lot of skeletons buried here, and in the shadiest parts of our society no less. We're not just uncovering a sex trafficking ring, we're having to overcome hurdles placed in our way by very powerful people. 

Still, that rollout of the information was not ideal. I know a couple of the "influencers" who received a binder of Phase 1 Epstein info. One of them I consider a friend, and yet I can't say I approve of how this was handled. I'm not sure what kind of visual the Trump administration was going for by handing it to conservative influencers, but I think it didn't hit the mark. 

The only way I can describe this is "goofy." Perhaps there's more chess being played here than I can currently understand given the lack of info, but this doesn't exactly scream "serious." 

Moreover, it does get people speculating in ways that I wouldn't say are helpful to the Trump administration. There are baseline theories being thrown around. For instance, there's the idea that there are too many Republicans on the list and releasing it would severely weaken Trump's hold on the government, and could definitely endanger Republican power come the midterms. 

Maybe, but I'm not so sure. I'm not hearing any stories about Republican obstruction of the files being released. 

Then there are the theories that Trump himself is on the list. 

I don't think Trump is on the list. He and Epstein didn't have the best relationship, and it's a fact that Trump kicked Epstein out of Mar-a-Lago a while back, so there was some bad blood there. Over what, no one is sure, but Trump's involvement in the trafficking ring doesn't seem plausible. 

I think Rep. Thomas Massie is probably closest to the truth about why the release of the files aren't as explosive as we'd hoped. 

"The fact that the Epstein files haven’t yet been released demonstrates that the President doesn’t yet have operational control of the DOJ and FBI," he posted on X. "It could take a while to establish, or as with his first term, it might never be established."

Elon Musk seems to agree with Massie on this, though he's a bit more optimistic.

"I’m sure they will establish control, but to do so they need to bring on new people, exit the bad eggs and promote lower ranking good people to higher ranks," Musk said. 

I’m sure they will establish control, but to do so they need to bring on new people, exit the bad eggs and promote lower ranking good people to higher ranks.

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 28, 2025

I think this is likely closer to the truth. 

Our intelligence and federal law enforcement community hasn't been cleaned out in decades, and we've had a lot of warning that it's gotten more powerful than it should be. Chuck Schumer infamously said that if you come at the intelligence community, "they have six ways from Sunday at getting back at you." 

Chuck Schumer on Trump in 2017: “Let me tell you: You take on the intelligence community — they have six ways from Sunday at getting back at you” pic.twitter.com/gVUbUKTt0x

— Ryan Saavedra (@RealSaavedra) September 27, 2019

Trump just now put his people in control of all of this, and if the goal is to clean it all up, it's not going to happen fast. The corruption goes deep, and there are a lot of secrets being kept that many powerful people don't want getting out, so Massie is probably correct. The right people might be in charge, but the people in charge hardly have control. 

I also think Musk is correct. Fire anyone who even remotely smells funny and elevate those Trump knows he can trust. 

But if this is the case, then I would have much rather gotten that game plan from Trump, Bondi, and Patel, than this goofy rollout. I realize the Trump administration was likely trying to keep its promises, and good on them for it, but I think it would have been better to tell everyone to stand by as they try to fix the internal issues from these corrupted departments so they can have cleaner releases than what we got. 

Hearing stories about how there are people attempting to sabotage things would have actually made the people even hungrier for a complete overhaul of the government, and while there still would have been speculation, at least it would have kept the administration looking a bit more like a hunter and less like a Hunter. 

But even Massie is speculating at this point. We're all scratching our heads. The only thing I can say at this juncture is that the Trump administration was always going to run into snags and hang-ups, and they weren't going to bowl a perfect game, especially when taking on the task they are. I can say that they're at least trying to keep promises to the people, which is more than I can say for previous administrations, especially the last one. 

Personally, I'm going to wait and see what happens. Trump has a talent for learning from his mistakes, and unless there's more to this phase one release, then this was definitely one of them. My confidence is still with this administration... I just hope it doesn't ever reach this level of goofy again.