Congress 'Demands Transparency' on Epstein Files, Ignoring Its Own Dark Ties
AP News, among others, hails Congress for 'swift, bipartisan work' on the Epstein files, as if senators and representatives are suddenly paragons of transparency eager to expose the rich and powerful. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, who has taken over $1.7 million from various finance, insurance, and real estate (FIRE) PACs in his career, declared it a 'command for the president to be
fully transparent.' (OpenSecrets.org, 'Chuck Schumer: Top Industries', 2024). One might wonder if this newfound zeal for disclosure extends to the labyrinthine dark money networks that flood their own campaigns. This performance of public service makes for great headlines, but it sidesteps the uncomfortable question of why so many powerful individuals were connected to Epstein in the first place,
or why the same legislative urgency is absent when it comes to campaign finance reform. It seems some files are more 'transparent' than others, especially if the release distracts from who's actually funding Congress.