{"id":81691,"date":"2026-01-07T10:45:24","date_gmt":"2026-01-07T15:45:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/?p=81691"},"modified":"2026-01-07T10:59:23","modified_gmt":"2026-01-07T15:59:23","slug":"invading-a-sovereign-nation-wont-make-people-forget-about-epstein","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/invading-a-sovereign-nation-wont-make-people-forget-about-epstein\/","title":{"rendered":"Invading a Sovereign Nation Won\u2019t Make People Forget About Epstein"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"799\" height=\"533\" src=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Trump-Epstein-Venezuela.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-81692\" style=\"width:840px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Trump-Epstein-Venezuela.jpg 799w, https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Trump-Epstein-Venezuela-525x350.jpg?theia_smart_thumbnails_file_version=2 525w, https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Trump-Epstein-Venezuela-768x512.jpg?theia_smart_thumbnails_file_version=2 768w, https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Trump-Epstein-Venezuela-150x100.jpg?theia_smart_thumbnails_file_version=2 150w, https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Trump-Epstein-Venezuela-90x60.jpg?theia_smart_thumbnails_file_version=2 90w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 799px) 100vw, 799px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">President Donald Trump&#8217;s ties to deceased sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein, immortalized in these bronze statues, can&#8217;t be erased &#8211; not even by an attack on Venezuela, this op-ed states. (Credit: Amaury Laporte, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/alaporte\/54831640379\">Flickr<\/a>)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Following the U.S. attack of <a href=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/2025-nobel-peace-prize-awarded-to-maria-corina-machado\/\">Venezuela<\/a> and the capture of its autocratic leader, Nicol\u00e1s Maduro, the altruism of President <a href=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/megyn-kelly-sold-out-girls-to-downplay-epsteins-crimes-it-helps-the-president\/\">Donald Trump<\/a>\u2019s actions is being widely questioned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For starters, the attack was carried out sans congressional approval. And for another, Venezuela is home to one of the world\u2019s largest oil reserves \u2013 Trump even said the quiet part loud in this regard <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vox.com\/politics\/473986\/maduro-venezuela-invasion-war-trump-oil\">during the press conference<\/a> held following the attack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cVery large United States oil companies\u201d would take part in fixing Venezuela\u2019s \u201cbadly broken oil infrastructure,\u201d he told reporters, so as to procure \u201ca tremendous amount of wealth out of the ground.\u201d And while some of that fortune would be given to the Venezuelan people, an undisclosed secondary portion would be given to the U.S., Trump added \u2013 as \u201creimbursement.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"block_83d68ed09f4ade16b9770ae800f227e8\" class=\"wp-block related-post alignwide\">\n      <div class=\"wrap\">\n    <div class=\"section-title\">\n      <h4>Related<\/h4>\n    <\/div>\n    \n    <div class=\"post-wrap\">\n              <div class=\"thumbnail\">\n          <a href=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/what-2-women-learned-breaking-stuff-in-a-rage-room-as-a-new-conflict-begins\/\" class=\"post-image-link\">\n            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Rage-Room-Iran-War-Destruction-Men-Women-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"Rage Room Iran War Destruction Men Women\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Rage-Room-Iran-War-Destruction-Men-Women-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Rage-Room-Iran-War-Destruction-Men-Women-45x45.jpg 45w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/>\n          <\/a>\n        <\/div>\n            <div class=\"entry-text\">\n          <h3 class=\"post-title\">\n            <a href=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/what-2-women-learned-breaking-stuff-in-a-rage-room-as-a-new-conflict-begins\/\">\n              What 2 Women Learned Breaking Stuff in a Rage Room, As a New Conflict Begins\n            <\/a>\n          <\/h3>\n      <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n\n\n<p>But perhaps there is another reason in the mix as well, one more personal than all that. Perhaps Trump also feels it\u2019s better to be viewed as a money-hungry warmonger \u2013 than to be held accountable as a rapist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Because amid all of this, the Trump administration has continually failed to release the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2026\/jan\/06\/epstein-files-release-justice-department\">vast majority<\/a> of the files pertaining to the court case of Jeffrey Epstein, the disgraced former financier and sex trafficker who died in prison years ago. Despite the deadlines for disclosure mandated by the Epstein Files Transparency Act, enacted last November \u2013 deadlines that have now come and gone \u2013 only about 1% of them have been released, and those that have been shared have been heavily redacted.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But now, our news cycle is utterly (conveniently) dominated by news of the U.S. attack on Venezuelan soil.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The House Committee on Oversight and Reform <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/OversightDems\/status\/2007560562381861319\">asserted just such a tie<\/a> between the military operation and the ever-looming Epstein files. \u201cWe are sure it\u2019s just a coincidence, but today [January 3] is the statutory date for the DOJ to explain its redactions in the Epstein file productions,\u201d the body, run by Rep. Robert Garcia of California, posted on X. \u201cWe have not forgotten, and we won\u2019t let up &#8211; regardless of the President\u2019s new unconstitutional actions.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It would certainly be in Trump\u2019s best interest for a military invasion with iffy motives to become the biggest news story going \u2013 some of what has been shared regarding him and Epstein is rather damning. One document <a href=\"https:\/\/docs.house.gov\/meetings\/JU\/JU08\/20250227\/117951\/HHRG-119-JU08-20250227-SD006-U6.pdf\">posted<\/a> by the House of Representatives, for example, divulges <a href=\"https:\/\/docs.house.gov\/meetings\/JU\/JU08\/20250227\/117951\/HHRG-119-JU08-20250227-SD006-U6.pdf\">alarming details<\/a> about Trump\u2019s sexual proclivities, relayed by Epstein himself to author Michael Wolff on tape \u2013 knowledge Epstein said he gleaned through a close friendship with Trump.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Unfortunately for the president, those who live under his administration are now well versed in keeping our eyes in numerous places. The downside of attempting to confuse and overwhelm a populace in service of getting away with illegal (and often morally bankrupt) activity is that many of us now know better than to be fully pulled away by anything \u2013 even the invasion of another country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Trump needs to face facts: The spectre of Epstein isn\u2019t going away. And neither are those of us who wish to see him fully brought to justice for his <a href=\"https:\/\/19thnews.org\/2023\/10\/donald-trump-associates-sexual-misconduct-allegations\/\">repeated victimization<\/a> of women. &#x25fc;&#xfe0f;<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"block_0ee02eb65c71c7638f7c1991909db5e8\" class=\"wp-block related-post alignwide\">\n      <div class=\"wrap\">\n    <div class=\"section-title\">\n      <h4>Related<\/h4>\n    <\/div>\n    \n    <div class=\"post-wrap\">\n              <div class=\"thumbnail\">\n          <a href=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/nobodys-girl-haunting-necessary-story-virginia-giuffre-jeffrey-epstein-abuse-victim-in-her-own-words\/\" class=\"post-image-link\">\n            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Screen-Shot-2025-10-20-at-3.14.06-PM-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"Virginia Giuffre recounts her traumatic experience working for Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell in the 2020 documentary &quot;Lured&quot; on Lifetime. (Credit: Lifetime, on Youtube)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Screen-Shot-2025-10-20-at-3.14.06-PM-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Screen-Shot-2025-10-20-at-3.14.06-PM-45x45.jpg 45w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/>\n          <\/a>\n        <\/div>\n            <div class=\"entry-text\">\n          <h3 class=\"post-title\">\n            <a href=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/nobodys-girl-haunting-necessary-story-virginia-giuffre-jeffrey-epstein-abuse-victim-in-her-own-words\/\">\n              &#8216;Nobody&#8217;s Girl&#8217; Tells the Haunting Story of Virginia Giuffre, a Jeffrey Epstein Abuse Victim\n            <\/a>\n          <\/h3>\n      <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Trump attacked Venezuela and deposed its dictatorial leader \u2013 as critical disclosure deadlines around the Epstein files lapsed, Candice Helfand-Rogers writes.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":62,"featured_media":81692,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"autoblue_enabled":true,"autoblue_custom_message":"President Donald Trump's ties to deceased sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein can't be erased - not even by an attack on Venezuela, this op-ed states.","autoblue_shares":[{"did":"did:plc:l2n6ydtigm3gtra4vb4rfl7f","date":"2026-01-07T15:45:33+00:00","uri":"at:\/\/did:plc:l2n6ydtigm3gtra4vb4rfl7f\/app.bsky.feed.post\/3mbtsrgawtj2n","response":"{\"uri\":\"at:\/\/did:plc:l2n6ydtigm3gtra4vb4rfl7f\/app.bsky.feed.post\/3mbtsrgawtj2n\",\"cid\":\"bafyreihbjcwiozbwbijnvflayx5rz6wvwxycwdql3bmbjvxdlahfk2zoiu\",\"commit\":{\"cid\":\"bafyreihhemhn45ituichgp7s6pd7wehqxbmseblvo3lvtyqqqtlxokellu\",\"rev\":\"3mbtsrgb7mr2n\"},\"validationStatus\":\"valid\"}"}],"autoblue_post_url":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[19648],"tags":[21463,19645,20563,19714],"class_list":["post-81691","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-opinion","tag-media-manipulation","tag-opinion","tag-political-accountability","tag-womens-rights"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v26.3 (Yoast SEO v27.4) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ 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She earned her B.A. in Journalism &amp; Media Studies at Rutgers University. In her spare time, she enjoys singing with several ensembles in New York City and spending time with her son. Please contact candice@thestoryexchange.org with questions or pitches.","sameAs":["https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/author\/candice-leigh-helfand\/"],"url":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/author\/candice-leigh-helfand\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/81691","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/62"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=81691"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/81691\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":81700,"href":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/81691\/revisions\/81700"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/81692"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=81691"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=81691"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=81691"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}