No question, obtaining justice for the victims of Epstein is vital, and the mission to deliver it should be relentless. But distraction is the enemy of the freedom we seek.
It absolutely sickens me that this disgusting human being holding the office of the presidency will once again escape and not pay for his crimes.
Shame on Pam Bondi for being his slave and abusing the power of her office to protect and defend such abhorrent people. I hope her life has a pay back equal or greater than her crimes going forward.
You have detailed the likely scenario and I have no doubt it will go down pretty much like you have so well stated.
The democrats gave away the only leverage they had and it’s more disappointing and heart breaking that they can’t seem to get out their own way.
I’m retired and I go camping for 3-4 days every 2 weeks in my slide in truck camper with my loving, dedicated dog in places where I can’t reach the internet, but can only satellite text with my family, because I need to in order to keep my peace of mind.
As a veteran military officer I swore an oath to the constitution and it is too much some days to see how many in public office and the military ignore their oaths and how many are willing to tear the constitution apart for power, greed and money.
Thank you for work and articles. You give me hope for this country. Have a fantastic day!
Thank you so much John for your kind words of appreciation, but above all for your valuable contribution to the conversation, I really do appreciate it.
I totally understand the need to be away from the internet, there are times when even I’m exhausted from it.
And let's not forget how Bondi and Acosta pretty much let Epstein off the hook when Epstein first faced legal scrutiny in Florida. How much did they benefit financially for their efforts in burying the truth?
Now history repeats itself with Bondi as head of DOJ and Acosta as a DOJ attorney. They both maneuvered the justice system to protect the perpetrators from their heinous crimed. They ensured Epstein and his wealthy clients received a cushy deal from being forced to own up to their actions. Bonding and Acosta should also face public scrutiny in their roles and machinations that helped protect all the perpetrators including themselves to this day.
There are too many people with finacial assets in high places who are still complicit in hiding the truth to prevent the victims any justice. In my cynical mind I fail to see any compensation or offers of contrition being offered to the victims any time soon or in the future even. Still in my heart I would love to see justice served for all who deserve it victims and perpetrators.
Thank you, not only for the time you spend to get us think along the proper routes, but for your patience in doing so.
I agree with you 97% of the time.
The ‘hate’ part has me a little worried (for myself), in that I try not to have that emotion - however, there is very little good to say about a narcissist & sexual predator who is intent on destroying anything good. I’d be completely bonkers if I were trying to figure all of this out myself - I appreciate you & all of your words.
I really must work harder on that 3%. I understand hate is a very emotive word, but I would be being Dishonest if I were not to share my feelings on the man.
It does not however cloud my judgement in terms of objectivity. I have praised Trump on rare occasions when I have agreed with him, like on the issue of NATO members paying their fair share of Defence spending.
With me what you see is what you get warts and all. From a human perspective I loath the man and that’s just the way it is for better or for worse.
Thank you Martin for an emotionally important take on child victimization. Unfortunately I agree with your prediction that this will be swept under the undulating rug of Trump's corruption. We as a people are now able to put the word out, discuss then vote and economically void the evildoers far away from powerful positions. Let's keep the conversations going.
Thank you Mary, it’s personal for me. When it comes to wealth and power, justice is rarely served. Ever was it so. This won’t be the thing that burns down the tyranny I fear.
It will tragically just serve as yet another distraction away from the economy that is on the edge of collapse. - Martin
Thank you for bringing all this (stuff, for lack of a better word) into the light at this moment. A horrible reality that we must do so in order to not allow the darkness to take over. My hope (we must have it) is that great legal minds are hard at work on this issue that you have raised and are preparing to move their piece (the Queen?)on the chessboard to block his move. Even a pawn can bring him down. Trumpet Dumpty will fall off his wall.
You’re welcome, I know I’m not always the bearer of good news. Come to think of it I rarely am 🤣
However, I want you to know I absolutely AM optimistic Laurel. There are plenty out there prepared to tell people what they want to hear, so when you hear optimism from me, that’s a GOOD THING. - Martin
I like what you’ve said, I just wanted to add that from my perspective we’re already in the dark, and those floating on top are beating anyone who might gasp for air back down under their dark mass of lies.
Suppose the victims could be persuaded to appear at a two- or three-day public forum (with plenty of advance publicity) to state their case and name names. (Perhaps Chautauqua? or at the National Cathedral?)
Then, of course, the defamation lawsuits will be filed. The plaintiffs will demand millions of dollars for damage to reputation. The women will be defended by dedicated civil rights attorneys who will know how to cross-examine the plaintiffs' witnesses and to plead their clients' cases to sympathetic juries.
It’s an interesting suggestion Vincent and not without merit. I am not really qualified to do a risk assessment, but I’m sure there will be those that could.
I think the better option is for a member on the House floor to use the protection of privilege to name the perpetrators obviously carries less risk. We are living in very interesting times where the norms no longer apply, so who knows where this will go, but nothing surprises me anymore.
Thank you for writing this. You bring up important and vital facts and reveal huge flaws in the system. We need to protect children much better than we currently do. And what you address only really runs to the female children, male children also have a huge problem.
I wish that commercial of the Epstein victims got around more. It is powerful. And people need to be reminded that rape is rape and sex trafficking is sex trafficking, there is no age. It is more heinous when it was with a child, but it is still a crime no matter what. Why is that so hard for people to remember?
Also, I am so sorry your daughter had this experience. I have no words really, nothing will change it, but I hope she can make peace and know it was nothing she did.
Excellent and courageous piece. I too unfortunately am a victim of generational sexual abuse. My mother made sure she got some justice for me and we took my abuser to court. Sad part was learning, not too many laws existed to protect children, and the ones that did, werent enough. This was in the mid to late 70's in California, so they're relatively new laws. The judge literally didn't know how to punish my abuser, and he walked away with 20 hrs of counseling. Which he promptly never attended. It's another deeply systemic issue, aptly identified in your piece. Such a powerful read hearing your perspective. Thank you! Ps: I was raised Catholic as well, where abuse truly does thrive...
Thank you Anna, and thank you for sharing your story too. As I’ve said many times, I’m not here to tell people what they want to hear, I’m here to tell them what they NEED to hear.
Trump has been gaming the system from the get-go, which is to say ever since something was asked of him that he didn’t want to do: from having his sister do his homework to manipulating his cult to attempt to overthrow the government. And he does it all in plain sight. There are a lot of people—from his cult members to billionaires to oligarchs to justices sitting on Federal benches who will breathe a sigh of relief when the Epstein song-and-dance is put on indefinite hold due to “ongoing investigations”. We in the US have over time become a society where, in the words of Carlos Fuentes “everything goes and nothing matters.” And when the “nothing matters” pertains to young girls, expecting that there will be an accounting at the highest level is either idiotic or naive. I hope blind justice pursues Trump and every other contemptible pedophile associated with Epstein to the ends of the earth. As for those of us who feel the exhaustion and despair that are at this moment presaging our country’s fall to fascism, please please please engage in the upcoming economic boycott that will begin on the day after Thanksgiving. Spend only in small businesses in the run up to Christmas. You and I cannot release the Epstein files, but we can refuse to increase the profits of the corporations who, through their support of Trump have been willing partners in the rank corruption at the core of his malicious presidency.
I truly believe you are correct in your assessment of what will and will not happen. Trump does nothing in the name of morality and decency. Everything is calculated and people are manipulated. We need to get to the authors of Project 2025 and get rid of them. Donny is just their patsy and I believe he will be gone, sooner, rather than later. JD Vance is just as vile and mean. As a female, I shudder to think what he will do. He will make sure women who do not go by their maiden name cannot vote. He will force his wife to become a born-again Christian. Termination of pregnancy will not be possible for anyone except for the rich/famous/elitist, who can and will be able to travel to foreign countries if necessary. The concept of “keep ‘em barefoot and pregnant” or “remind them they are just second-class citizens” who need to be controlled and subjugated will prevail. Back to the 50’s? No, it will be more like the 20’s to 30’s. Talk about a two-tier economy! The rich will become richer, and the poor will be actively dying. From lack of housing, employment, medical care, and desire to continue suffering. It will be an absolute miracle if we don’t go into a recession. Or even a true Depression.
Forgive me for being so negative. I was raised in an alcoholic home, where a female has a 60% chance of being sexually abused. Yes, I am a survivor. I decided I was leaving the nuclear family at the age of 10. I was targeted by an another alcoholic and that was an awful detour that could have been prevented if I had had a functioning parent. However, following graduation from nursing school, I extricated myself from that situation. Thank God I became a RN, and later, a NP. Kept my license for 50 years. So education really is the key.
It is the key to being able to survive and continue on, if your health holds. Now I am hoping and praying the demise of the current administration occurs sooner, rather than later. I want to live long enough to see it, and die knowing the America I love is healing and progressing. I am also a Veteran, and Democracy is so important to me, to the USA, and indeed, to the entire world. No one is coming to save us, I believe. We must save ourselves. Thank you for the truth, Martin. Truth matters more than anything to me right now, and I am so grateful you are at the helm of Truth Matters. Sincerely, Leah
What happened to releasing his income tax records we had to wait for while they were under investigation? The aberrations come so fast and furiously that of course it's a tactic, so we can't keep up. Like, how unimaginable it would have been, under any other presidency, to not get to the bottom of $50K in a paper bag!
It absolutely sickens me that this disgusting human being holding the office of the presidency will once again escape and not pay for his crimes.
Shame on Pam Bondi for being his slave and abusing the power of her office to protect and defend such abhorrent people. I hope her life has a pay back equal or greater than her crimes going forward.
You have detailed the likely scenario and I have no doubt it will go down pretty much like you have so well stated.
The democrats gave away the only leverage they had and it’s more disappointing and heart breaking that they can’t seem to get out their own way.
I’m retired and I go camping for 3-4 days every 2 weeks in my slide in truck camper with my loving, dedicated dog in places where I can’t reach the internet, but can only satellite text with my family, because I need to in order to keep my peace of mind.
As a veteran military officer I swore an oath to the constitution and it is too much some days to see how many in public office and the military ignore their oaths and how many are willing to tear the constitution apart for power, greed and money.
Thank you for work and articles. You give me hope for this country. Have a fantastic day!
Thank you so much John for your kind words of appreciation, but above all for your valuable contribution to the conversation, I really do appreciate it.
I totally understand the need to be away from the internet, there are times when even I’m exhausted from it.
Have a great day - Martin.
This is a chilling prospect that I had not thought about. It’s a long and well reasoned piece, well worth a read.
As a sexually abused child and adult, I am physically sickened.
Excellence writing
Rina your words mean the world to me, I’m always conscious that my words get straight to the point and sometimes that’s a little too much for some.
So your appreciation is worth its weight in gold given the challenges you have faced.
Take care - Martin
And let's not forget how Bondi and Acosta pretty much let Epstein off the hook when Epstein first faced legal scrutiny in Florida. How much did they benefit financially for their efforts in burying the truth?
Now history repeats itself with Bondi as head of DOJ and Acosta as a DOJ attorney. They both maneuvered the justice system to protect the perpetrators from their heinous crimed. They ensured Epstein and his wealthy clients received a cushy deal from being forced to own up to their actions. Bonding and Acosta should also face public scrutiny in their roles and machinations that helped protect all the perpetrators including themselves to this day.
There are too many people with finacial assets in high places who are still complicit in hiding the truth to prevent the victims any justice. In my cynical mind I fail to see any compensation or offers of contrition being offered to the victims any time soon or in the future even. Still in my heart I would love to see justice served for all who deserve it victims and perpetrators.
I think we are unquestionably on the same page Diane.
Thank you, not only for the time you spend to get us think along the proper routes, but for your patience in doing so.
I agree with you 97% of the time.
The ‘hate’ part has me a little worried (for myself), in that I try not to have that emotion - however, there is very little good to say about a narcissist & sexual predator who is intent on destroying anything good. I’d be completely bonkers if I were trying to figure all of this out myself - I appreciate you & all of your words.
I really must work harder on that 3%. I understand hate is a very emotive word, but I would be being Dishonest if I were not to share my feelings on the man.
It does not however cloud my judgement in terms of objectivity. I have praised Trump on rare occasions when I have agreed with him, like on the issue of NATO members paying their fair share of Defence spending.
With me what you see is what you get warts and all. From a human perspective I loath the man and that’s just the way it is for better or for worse.
I keep wanting to believe (in my own mind) that ‘despise’ and ‘loathe’ are not synonymous with ‘hate’. It makes me feel a litter better 🤣
Understood Nickie. I’ve just learned to live with a direct approach. 🤣
Thank you Martin for an emotionally important take on child victimization. Unfortunately I agree with your prediction that this will be swept under the undulating rug of Trump's corruption. We as a people are now able to put the word out, discuss then vote and economically void the evildoers far away from powerful positions. Let's keep the conversations going.
Thank you Mary, it’s personal for me. When it comes to wealth and power, justice is rarely served. Ever was it so. This won’t be the thing that burns down the tyranny I fear.
It will tragically just serve as yet another distraction away from the economy that is on the edge of collapse. - Martin
Thank you for bringing all this (stuff, for lack of a better word) into the light at this moment. A horrible reality that we must do so in order to not allow the darkness to take over. My hope (we must have it) is that great legal minds are hard at work on this issue that you have raised and are preparing to move their piece (the Queen?)on the chessboard to block his move. Even a pawn can bring him down. Trumpet Dumpty will fall off his wall.
You’re welcome, I know I’m not always the bearer of good news. Come to think of it I rarely am 🤣
However, I want you to know I absolutely AM optimistic Laurel. There are plenty out there prepared to tell people what they want to hear, so when you hear optimism from me, that’s a GOOD THING. - Martin
I like what you’ve said, I just wanted to add that from my perspective we’re already in the dark, and those floating on top are beating anyone who might gasp for air back down under their dark mass of lies.
Martin:
Consider --
Suppose the victims could be persuaded to appear at a two- or three-day public forum (with plenty of advance publicity) to state their case and name names. (Perhaps Chautauqua? or at the National Cathedral?)
Then, of course, the defamation lawsuits will be filed. The plaintiffs will demand millions of dollars for damage to reputation. The women will be defended by dedicated civil rights attorneys who will know how to cross-examine the plaintiffs' witnesses and to plead their clients' cases to sympathetic juries.
This prospect is not without risk.
Would it be worth it? Ask the women.
\Vince S
It’s an interesting suggestion Vincent and not without merit. I am not really qualified to do a risk assessment, but I’m sure there will be those that could.
I think the better option is for a member on the House floor to use the protection of privilege to name the perpetrators obviously carries less risk. We are living in very interesting times where the norms no longer apply, so who knows where this will go, but nothing surprises me anymore.
Thank you for writing this. You bring up important and vital facts and reveal huge flaws in the system. We need to protect children much better than we currently do. And what you address only really runs to the female children, male children also have a huge problem.
I wish that commercial of the Epstein victims got around more. It is powerful. And people need to be reminded that rape is rape and sex trafficking is sex trafficking, there is no age. It is more heinous when it was with a child, but it is still a crime no matter what. Why is that so hard for people to remember?
Also, I am so sorry your daughter had this experience. I have no words really, nothing will change it, but I hope she can make peace and know it was nothing she did.
Excellent and courageous piece. I too unfortunately am a victim of generational sexual abuse. My mother made sure she got some justice for me and we took my abuser to court. Sad part was learning, not too many laws existed to protect children, and the ones that did, werent enough. This was in the mid to late 70's in California, so they're relatively new laws. The judge literally didn't know how to punish my abuser, and he walked away with 20 hrs of counseling. Which he promptly never attended. It's another deeply systemic issue, aptly identified in your piece. Such a powerful read hearing your perspective. Thank you! Ps: I was raised Catholic as well, where abuse truly does thrive...
Thank you Anna, and thank you for sharing your story too. As I’ve said many times, I’m not here to tell people what they want to hear, I’m here to tell them what they NEED to hear.
Martin
Trump has been gaming the system from the get-go, which is to say ever since something was asked of him that he didn’t want to do: from having his sister do his homework to manipulating his cult to attempt to overthrow the government. And he does it all in plain sight. There are a lot of people—from his cult members to billionaires to oligarchs to justices sitting on Federal benches who will breathe a sigh of relief when the Epstein song-and-dance is put on indefinite hold due to “ongoing investigations”. We in the US have over time become a society where, in the words of Carlos Fuentes “everything goes and nothing matters.” And when the “nothing matters” pertains to young girls, expecting that there will be an accounting at the highest level is either idiotic or naive. I hope blind justice pursues Trump and every other contemptible pedophile associated with Epstein to the ends of the earth. As for those of us who feel the exhaustion and despair that are at this moment presaging our country’s fall to fascism, please please please engage in the upcoming economic boycott that will begin on the day after Thanksgiving. Spend only in small businesses in the run up to Christmas. You and I cannot release the Epstein files, but we can refuse to increase the profits of the corporations who, through their support of Trump have been willing partners in the rank corruption at the core of his malicious presidency.
Drumpf was a registered Democrat before he ran for president… so wouldn’t he be included? Hmmmm
I truly believe you are correct in your assessment of what will and will not happen. Trump does nothing in the name of morality and decency. Everything is calculated and people are manipulated. We need to get to the authors of Project 2025 and get rid of them. Donny is just their patsy and I believe he will be gone, sooner, rather than later. JD Vance is just as vile and mean. As a female, I shudder to think what he will do. He will make sure women who do not go by their maiden name cannot vote. He will force his wife to become a born-again Christian. Termination of pregnancy will not be possible for anyone except for the rich/famous/elitist, who can and will be able to travel to foreign countries if necessary. The concept of “keep ‘em barefoot and pregnant” or “remind them they are just second-class citizens” who need to be controlled and subjugated will prevail. Back to the 50’s? No, it will be more like the 20’s to 30’s. Talk about a two-tier economy! The rich will become richer, and the poor will be actively dying. From lack of housing, employment, medical care, and desire to continue suffering. It will be an absolute miracle if we don’t go into a recession. Or even a true Depression.
Forgive me for being so negative. I was raised in an alcoholic home, where a female has a 60% chance of being sexually abused. Yes, I am a survivor. I decided I was leaving the nuclear family at the age of 10. I was targeted by an another alcoholic and that was an awful detour that could have been prevented if I had had a functioning parent. However, following graduation from nursing school, I extricated myself from that situation. Thank God I became a RN, and later, a NP. Kept my license for 50 years. So education really is the key.
It is the key to being able to survive and continue on, if your health holds. Now I am hoping and praying the demise of the current administration occurs sooner, rather than later. I want to live long enough to see it, and die knowing the America I love is healing and progressing. I am also a Veteran, and Democracy is so important to me, to the USA, and indeed, to the entire world. No one is coming to save us, I believe. We must save ourselves. Thank you for the truth, Martin. Truth matters more than anything to me right now, and I am so grateful you are at the helm of Truth Matters. Sincerely, Leah
Aloha. From the COCONUT WIRELESS. ............................................
What happened to releasing his income tax records we had to wait for while they were under investigation? The aberrations come so fast and furiously that of course it's a tactic, so we can't keep up. Like, how unimaginable it would have been, under any other presidency, to not get to the bottom of $50K in a paper bag!
Thank you.