I think the Epstein files are going to bring the whole regime down.

[drray23]

We are already seeing it unravel, maybe not at a pace fast enough for us, but it is happening. It has started in Europe with several people resigning or even being investigated, depending on how involved they were with Epstein.
In some countries, the mere mention of your name in these files is enough to get you to resign, even if you may not have been directly involved with sex crimes, you are still associated with a criminal.

In the US, far less repercussions but it is starting in the corporate, financial and academic world. Earlier, a Goldman Sachs top exec, Kathryn Ruemmler, resigned.

Likewise affected were Brad Karp of the Paul Weiss law firm, David A. Ross from the School of Visual Arts in NYC, and Larry Summer,s who stopped teaching at Harvard and went on leave in November of last year.

Now, given that most right-wing politicians have no shame, moral fiber, or principles, this may take a bit longer to start affecting our "ruling class". Lutnick is under fire and being pressured to resign, for example.

Still, I am convinced heads are going to roll, and Trump won't be able to escape consequences.

It may well have been the glue that held all these clowns together. We were always wondering why Trump had such a hold on the GOP. The answer may be that he has blackmail on most of them who were connected one way or another to Epstein. It sounds like a significant fraction of the ruling elite was involved.

[malaise]

1. Same here

Many folks are heading for prison and not just for Epstein.

[bluestarone]

2. Hate to say this, but

What you're saying is our only hope to stop a martial law event.

[Borogove]

3. That's my most fervent hope. The collapse is long overdue.

[RockRaven]

4. I have no faith in meaningful (i.e. involuntary) consequences occurring.

Resignations, retirements, going on leave, etc. don't mean much to me. Any time the perpetrators get to set or influence the terms, I don't count as meaningful consequences.

Firings, lost lawsuits, criminal convictions... now those are consequences, imo. And that is what we won't see much if any of.

[usonian]

5. "He" may be the last to fall, but his entire support system will take him down. And good riddance to all of them.

I posted links to graphs of Epstein's network.
https://www.democraticunderground.com/100221017875

This was (and still is) the biggest sex, blackmail and money-laundering scandal in recorded history.

Lust for money and lust for illicit sex drew in people all around the world.

People knew and associated with Epstein even after he was convicted of sex crimes.

Look at this:
Dinner with Musk, Thiel, Zuckerberg. You've got three guesses, all of which are Jeffrey Epstein.
https://www.democraticunderground.com/100221007227

Downfall.

[Joinfortmill]

6. Completely agree. TickTock.

[Auggie]

7. I'd love it, but my hopes are not high

[JT45242]

8. Not just the trump regime but the money and power that appointed him pResident

Hopefully all the gazillionaire criminals will end up in prison.

The power brokers were definitely involved and have always felt above the law.

Hopefully the victims can take their billions and move on.

[ForeGoneLegsBirne]

22. One Gazillionaire Might be Imprisoned But A Community?

[TomSlick]

9. My parents named me Thomas in a moment of prophetic insight.

I remain skeptical.

Trump and his minions are incapable of shame. The GOP members of Congress have abdicated their responsibilities. Impeachment is a hollow threat.

The cavalry is not coming.

[drray23]

15. It is not a run of the mill scandal they can ignore or shut down

It has gone global, worldwide. Even if Trump himself won't immediately (or ever) go to jail, it's going to destroy people around him. It's already starting and will only get worse from thereon. The whole MAGA empire will crumble and fall.

We have a confluence of events. Not only the Epstein files, but also the massive pushback to ICE tactics and pretty much every other Trump policy. He is losing control of his would-be kingdom.

[TomSlick]

16. I hope you're correct.

I will not get my hopes up just yet.

[paleotn]

27. When Dems retake the reins of power, and they will - these things always end,....

a full reckoning will be demanded from across the political spectrum. Dems can't avoid it as it will be one issue of many that puts them back in power. It will happen and it will be bloody.

[OldBaldy1701E]

28. That is because WE are the cavalry. (n/t)

[hamsterjill]

10. I'm afraid to hope.

I sincerely hope your assessment is right. I will believe it when I see it, but if it happens, I will be dancing in the streets.

[cate94]

11. I hope you're right

[PatSeg]

12. You paint a rather compelling picture

One that could explain so much of what we've seen in recent years. Yes, this could bring the whole house of cards down, because so much of it is interconnected.

What will always haunt me however is how long it has taken, especially considering how much evidence the DOJ has had and we've just begun to scratch the surface.

[underpants]

13. I think it's A "ruling class" but it gives us insight to THE "ruling class".

I agree with you. The best word I can think of is a “presence”. It’s forever there.

Fox News completely ignored Pamela Jo’s tirade and their own viewers noticed it.
https://www.democraticunderground.com/100221018865

[Volaris]

14. Yeah, and who knows what European govts, individuals, and witnesses statements will be released that will tell us which

threads to pull on. Without question, some intelligence service somewhere knows something they will put out or leak.

[BlueTsunami2018]

17. It should bring the entire system down.

But I very much doubt it’s going to.

All of this needs to end.

[niyad]

18. Please notice that ruenmier isn't going anywhere til summer.

[spanone]

19. I do too.

[dlk]

20. In a just world, they would all fall, but time will tell

It’s clear now why some name law firms were willing to give Trump a payoff.

I’m guessing, though, the worst files have already been shredded.

[Lithos]

21. It is not the right-wing politicians that have no shame

It's the voters who support right-wing politicians who have no shame. The politicians know all they have to do is shoulder through the storm because they are protected by their unwavering base.

[reACTIONary]

23. I don't see it happening, except as an influence on....

... voter behavior.

So far there has been nothing that comes close to criminal actions that could stand up to scrutiny in a court of law. The best we can hope for is what we have already seen: Some big wigs getting canceled, sidelined or fired based on their obviously questionable judgment.

[Callie1979]

24. Nope. The only thing that can stop him is his heart

[angrychair]

25. I wish that were true

I truly do.

It's not going to happen.

Republicans flipped this from being against it to an unspoken narrative that raping and killing children is socially acceptable.

Republicans are ok with raping children because they have ingrained into society for years.

I mean "kid" rock was singing about it in a children's movie in 2001. That wasn't an accident. It was on purpose.

Hell, many of us here lived through the 80s and 90s. It was very common to sexualize children.
I mean who could forget Blue Lagoon that came out in 1980?

As a survivor of SA, though I'm a male, still very sensitive and hyper aware of it happening. This has been incredibly dramatic to me in many ways. I try to not let it get to me but it bubbles up every now and then.

I hate this timeline so much.

[Blue Owl]

26. Get those fucking heads a' rolling

[ABC123Easy]

29. Fingers crossed!

Hope this happens to bring the regime down.

[DallasNE]

30. Indirectly, I Think You Are Correct

Trump will not budge on Epstein, but we have an election in just under 9 months, and it is looking like a wipeout for Republicans. With that, the dam will burst, and resignation season will start. Republicans will finally get a backbone and give him the choice of resignation or the 25th Amendment. Trump will choose resignation, with the understanding that Vance will pardon him.