Text SIGN PBMUDS to 50409 — I’m writing because the last several days of disclosures have made one thing unmistakably clear: the government shutdown was engineered to prevent the release of the Epstein Files. And the more we learn, the more it becomes obvious why Donald Trump, Speaker Mike Johnson, and the entire GOP leadership went to extraordinary, unprecedented lengths to keep those files hidden from the public. For 54 days the House did not vote on anything — not on reopening the government, not on health care affordability, not on disaster aid. Speaker Johnson simply refused to bring members back into session, because doing so would require swearing in Representative-elect Adelita Grijalva, whose vote would complete the discharge petition forcing a House vote to release the Epstein Files. Democrats warned repeatedly that this was an “Epstein Shutdown.” Many dismissed that as speculation. Today, the evidence leaves no doubt. First, House Democrats released three damning emails from the Epstein estate. In one, Epstein invoked Sherlock Holmes’s “dog that didn’t bark” — the missing piece of evidence that proves guilt — writing: “that dog that hasn’t barked is trump. [VICTIM] spent hours at my house with him … he has never once been mentioned.” In another, Epstein told biographer Michael Wolff: “of course he knew about the girls as he asked ghislaine to stop.” A third email makes clear Epstein had leverage over Trump, advising Wolff that if Trump lied about visiting Epstein’s home or flying on his plane, Epstein could “hang him.” Now we know these emails were just the beginning. Republicans on the House Oversight Committee then released more than 20,000 additional pages from the Epstein estate. These documents show that Epstein’s staff tracked Trump’s movements for years — both before and after Trump became president — and that Epstein kept informed of Trump’s travel, whereabouts, and news coverage. Pilots emailed Epstein updates on Trump’s flight plans. Employees notified him when Trump was “in our neighborhood.” Epstein forwarded news stories about Trump’s scandals, calling him “evil beyond belief mad,” “nuts,” and “borderline insane,” while noting Trump could “crack” under pressure. Even after their personal relationship supposedly soured, Epstein monitored Trump’s location, especially when planning his own trips — including plans to travel to Little St. James, the island where he abused girls. There is no benign explanation for why a convicted sex trafficker’s pilot was tracking the president-elect’s movements or why Epstein continued collecting information about Trump years after their association ended. And still — these are only the emails. These are not the FBI’s files on Trump and Epstein. Those remain hidden. It is this unreleased material that appears to terrify Trump. Trump’s panic was on full display yesterday. Hours before Grijalva was sworn in, Trump personally tried to get one of the four Republican signers of the discharge petition to pull their name. He focused on Nancy Mace and Lauren Boebert. Boebert was summoned to the White House Situation Room — the most secure room in the United States — for a meeting with Trump, Attorney General Pam Bondi, Deputy AG Todd Blanche, and FBI Director Kash Patel. A procedural House vote does not require the Situation Room. National security facilities are not meant to be used to intimidate Members of Congress into helping the president conceal his personal scandals. This was an abuse of power — and a revelation of Trump’s fear. Boebert refused. Mace refused. Grijalva was sworn in at 4 p.m., signed the petition immediately, and the firewall Trump built out of a government shutdown finally cracked. Senior Republicans now acknowledge that up to 100 GOP members are likely to vote to release the files. Many face constituents — including Trump voters — who are furious that he broke his promise to release these documents. Others understand the political cost of appearing to participate in a cover-up for a man tied so closely to a convicted sex trafficker. As Rep. Thomas Massie put it: “This vote is going to be on your record longer than Trump is going to be president… ‘How can we trust you? You covered up for a pedophile back in 2025.’” Trump’s approval rating has cratered to 33%. His coalition is fracturing. His behavior is increasingly erratic. Even his own base is losing patience. Public pressure is rising. And as Representative Eric Swalwell posted today: “This is the beginning of the end.” Congress must act now. I’m calling on you to: 1. Release the Epstein Files held by the Department of Justice — fully and immediately. 2. Hold public hearings on Trump’s and Speaker Johnson’s deliberate use of a government shutdown to obstruct congressional oversight. 3. Investigate the White House’s misuse of the Situation Room to pressure a Member of Congress about a vote. 4. Ensure transparency and accountability for anyone implicated — no matter their political power. The American people deserve the truth. And no president — especially one already found liable for sexual abuse — should be allowed to hide evidence of misconduct behind shutdowns, secrecy, and threats. Release the files. Hold hearings. Protect democracy.

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James Watson, who described himself as “not a racist in a conventional way”, has died at the age of 97. Below is a review of an obituary for Dr. James Watson published by Cold Spring Ha…

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