Old Adages Ring True

 

Adages are described as proverbs or short statements expressing a general truth. They become old adages with repetition and validation. Today, several examples come to mind.

You are known by the company you keep. Where there’s smoke, there’s fire. Birds of a feather flock together.

These three proverbs all express the idea that people's character and intentions can be judged by their associations and actions. They warn that a person who is constantly in the presence of trouble, scandals, or negative influences is likely part of the problem.

Consider the Epstein files with these proverbs in mind. Two people central to the case were tried and convicted for their roles in a child sex exploitation event of global proportions. That a crime has been committed is no longer in doubt. It is also a fact that these individuals did not act alone and many of these other people were prominent individuals with wealth, power, and political influence. A British Prince, two American presidents, an Arizona governor, a hedge fund manager, and a Harvard law professor are among those mentioned in connection with Jeffrey Epstein where sexual misconduct is alleged.

While the mere listing of a name in Epstein’s contact book is not much cause for alarm, those listed where sexual allegations have been made are certainly worthy of investigation. Now, one of those people central to the investigation is in total control of that investigation. The fact that Donald Trump made regular trips with Epstein and had multiple social interactions is well known and the pictures and videos are impossible to ignore. While Donald Trump’s supporters are willing to overlook many of his “indiscretions” they seem to draw the line at child rape.

There is no clear evidence in the public domain that Donald Trump had sex with minor children. Right now, it is merely guilt by association which is not a prosecutable crime. I say that, while biting my tongue, as the level of guilt and evidence necessary to bring criminal charges is a very low bar these days. Just ask James Comey and others on Trump’s hit list of enemies.

We have no evidence that President Trump had sex with minor girls. What we do have however, is a president going to great lengths to kill any investigation or any inquiry into the matter. He not only refuses to allow his Justice Department to release the information in his possession, but he has also assisted convicted sex offender Ghislaine Maxwell to avoid much of her sentence by moving her to a nicer facility. Why would he do this for such a horrible person? What possible motive could he have? Could she have evidence or testimony that could damage him? At this new facility she, like Epstein had on his prior conviction, might be afforded the opportunity of work release. In Epstein’s case, Trump friend and current Secretary of Labor, Alex Acosta, allowed work release that enabled Epstein to continue committing his sex crimes against minors. Why is Acosta's mishandling of the Epstein conviction not being investigated?

In one of the most poorly handled PR events in history, the Trump administration has been obfuscating the facts, declaring them unimportant, threatening anyone who would dare to release information, and generally trying to keep the information hidden from the public. His Herculean efforts to hide all information, his aiding a convicted sex crime felon, his promotion of Acosta who mishandled Epstein’s first conviction, and his flippant attitude to what others view as a very serious crime, would have any sane individual questioning his guilt. It is no longer guilt by association; he is acting like a kid with frosting all over his mouth claiming he never touched the cake.