I know why Trump won't release the Epstein list.

[yardwork]

He's using it to blackmail people. The threat of releasing it with their names on it is probably securing Trump a lot of money, business deals, and votes in Congress.

It's the only thing that makes sense. And it makes perfect sense in light of what Trump does. He bullies and blackmails people. It's done to him and he does it to others. It's the mobster world he lives in.

[yardwork]

1. More details on my thinking...

The strategy makes sense when you think about Trump's typical behavior.

1. Trump and minions wave "the list" around, talk about how shocking it is, and promise to release it soon.

2. Trump and minions go to many of the people on the list and say "Let's make a deal. I won't release your name if you give me... (money, business deals, etc.)"

3. Trump tells the public "Never mind. The list is a bore. Let's move on." The public demands to see it.

4. Trump and minions are now telling their blackmail marks "Keep paying or we'll release it. We're getting a lot of pressure to release it. Pay more."

The minute a list is released the power goes away.

He won't release it until its power is drained but the more people call for it to be released the more powerful it is as a blackmail tool.

Trump is reveling in this.

[Tommy Carcetti]

2. There's no simple "list." nt

[yardwork]

3. I get that but the marks don't know that.

There are a lot of people who really did participate in raping girls with Epstein. They know they did. They know their names might be on flight manifests, or visitor logs, or someplace in Epstein's papers. We know that Epstein made a lot of money blackmailing people. He kept evidence.

They're guilty and they're willing to pay or give Trump favors in return for not being named.

At first we expected Trump to release some made-up list that had only names of Democrats on it. I couldn't understand why he suddenly refused to do this.

Then I got to thinking about how blackmail runs Trump's life and it makes sense. This phantom list is a powerful tool.

The minute he releases something - anything - the blackmail power is over.

[markie]

4. I don't really know anything or

care much.... but it seems there are a number of people out there that have the info and I'm surprised there have been no leaks or whistleblowers

[yardwork]

5. I think it's because there is no real "list."

As Tommy Carcetti points out here, the whole thing is a mirage. Trump made it up.

For years there have been "leaks" of various "lists" of Epstein clients. There is probably more information in Trump's possession, but even if there is not, its non-release is a powerful tool.

The minute Trump releases any list he loses the power to blackmail people.

[somethingshiny]

6. I've been thinking the same

Alito and Thomas come to mind.

[yardwork]

7. There are potentially thousands of scared people.

They know they did...things... with Epstein. Now they're wondering what kind of records exist, what was documented by Epstein, and what Trump might have on them.

The existence or not of the documentation doesn't matter. Trump is leveraging the fear.

It's just a theory but it explains a number of puzzling events, including why Pam Bondi made a big deal about having a list, why Trump now refuses to release it, and even why a bunch of Republicans are pretending to clamor for its release. It's all theater designed to blackmail people.

[MineralMan]

8. You're probably right.

By the same token, Trump is also being blackmailed, no doubt. It's an ugly, ugly world he lives in.

[yardwork]

9. Yes. This is his world. Has been since at least the 80s.

Trump was in the right place at the right time. He was a slumlord in NYC when the USSR collapsed and organized crime took over the previous Soviet republics. One of their first targets was NYC real estate. We've learned that the Russian mobsters moved in on him and then as Putin consolidated power, Trump was always his useful fool, compliant under kompromat, loans, and narcissistic supply.

Trump is bought and paid for. In turn, he blackmails others. He likes the power and the cruelty.

[MineralMan]

11. Yes. What frightens me is just how easy it was for him

to end up as President. I did not realize this country was so fragile.

[yardwork]

13. You and me both.

Fragile is a good word for it.

I was very surprised when he won in 2016 and I was stunned when he won again in 2024.

I worry that a democracy can't survive when so many voters are so misinformed and/or prefer authoritarianism to democracy.

[MineralMan]

14. Yes. Exactly.

[AntiFascist]

12. Putin may also have evidence...

The UK Times reported that sources within MI6 fear that material implicating Price Andrew was turned over to Russian authorities by a former Florida investigator who now works for the Russians.

[totodeinhere]

10. I'm just saying we need all of the names on the list, not just Trump. And let the chips fall where they may.

n/t

[yardwork]

15. There probably isn't really a list.

I think Pam Bondi was lying when she claimed to have a list.

I do think that Epstein kept records in order to blackmail people and those records may have ended up in Trump's hands, since he was president when Epstein died. And there are flight manifests but there have been so many supposedly leaked lists - many of which are patently absurd - I don't think there's any actionable evidence from there.

[totodeinhere]

16. Yes, Bondi was either lying when she said there was a list or is lying now when she says there is no list.

So either way she is a confirmed liar.

[yardwork]

17. Now they're calling it a Democratic hoax.

They probably think they're very clever because it really is a hoax. Just one they created to blackmail people with.

[iemanja]

18. The reason is far simpler

He is all over those files. His reaction makes it obvious.

Trump cares only about Trump.

[yardwork]

19. Then why did he make such a big deal about them earlier?

He had Pam Bondi call a press conference and talk about "the list." He teased it for months.

Now suddenly he won't release the info? Only one explanation makes sense.

[iemanja]

21. I disagree

No way he would sustain this level of fallout if he weren't implicated.

[Stinky The Clown]

20. As plausible a notion as any. K&R

[Catherine Vincent]

22. So your take is that Trump isn't protecting himself?

You don't believe he participated in the crimes against children?

[yardwork]

23. Of course Trump committed crimes against children.

But it would have been easy for Trump to release fake documents leaving himself out. That's what we expected him to do.

He teased the release of a "list" for months. Why would he do that?

If we look at the whole thing as an opportunity to blackmail others it makes sense.

[tinrobot]

24. He's probably protecting himself while blackmailing others.

If he controls the information, he can hold back the stuff about himself while using the rest for blackmail.

If it is released, the power to blackmail power goes away and his crimes are exposed. Double whammy.