Letters

Congressman Nick LaLota’s latest newsletter suggests that either he thinks we, his constituents, are ignorant, or that he, our representative, is willfully ignoring and misrepresenting the public facts.

First, contrary to his statement that he supports “expos[ing] the full [Epstein] network, protect victims, safeguard innocent people, and ensure justice is never weaponized,” prior to his vote to release the Epstein files held by the Department of Justice and FBI, he did not sign the discharge petition to get legislation onto the floor of the House. It was not until the president changed his tune on Sunday, November 16, and said it was okay to vote to release the files that Congressman LaLota changed his tune and accepted the president’s marching orders.

Second, also contrary to his statement that “in recent months, President Trump has taken important steps toward full transparency … to restart and lead a renewed federal investigation into Jeffrey Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell, and their broader network,” President Donald Trump has not sought full transparency: Until last Sunday, Trump vociferously opposed for months the House legislation that called for release of the DOJ and FBI files. Just last Friday, he summoned a member of the Republican caucus to the Situation Room to insist that she withdraw her name from the discharge petition that was necessary to bring the legislation to the floor of the House.

As the congressman knows, the president didn’t need this legislation to release the information; just as he caused the release of all files relating to the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy, Senator Robert Kennedy and the Reverend Martin Luther King Jr., and just as he has directed an investigation into whether former President Bill Clinton, among others, was criminally implicated in Epstein’s horrific crimes, he could have and still can order Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel to release all DOJ and FBI files. He does not need the release legislation to do so.

Finally and importantly, even if this legislation passes the Senate and is signed by the president, the public may still not see the files, as the legislation contains a safe harbor from production because of the inclusion of the words “would jeopardize an active federal investigation or ongoing federal prosecution …” That would mean that the Justice Department could refuse to release any further files related to Jeffrey Epstein by claiming that the disclosures could harm the inquiries that the president just ordered.

In other words, the legislation the congressman just voted for highly likely will not cause any files to be released.

The congressman owes his constituents the full truth, not a handout from the White House or congressional press office.

David M. Brodsky

Wainscott