It’s all about the art of the deal — the quid pro quo.

Jeffrey Epstein was perhaps the most conspicuous pimp since the Marquis de Sade, and he did so on a grand scale. His associates included bankers, princes, CEOs, governors and past and future presidents.

One of Epstein’s friends was President Trump. Their relationship lasted 15 years. We don’t know how their friendship got started, and we don’t know the exact details of why it persisted or ended. We do know that it has become an albatross for Trump in his second term.

During the 2024 presidential campaign, Trump — assuming that the Epstein files contained a list of prominent Democrats who were clients — promised his MAGA base that, if elected, the government files would be released. Now, the Wall Street Journal has suggested Trump’s own name could be in the files, which are closely guarded by his captive Justice Department.

So, what to do? The first line of defense is deception. Pretend you are making full disclosure when you are not. Vice President JD Vance proclaimed Trump’s commitment to full disclosure. “First of all, the president has been very clear,” Vance said. “We’re not shielding anything. The president has directed the attorney general to release all credible information and, frankly, to go and find additional........

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