I want to just say a word about what the subject [of Epstein] really is, because the congresswoman is, of course, representing the Democratic party’s view of this president. But really the Epstein files and the revelations that they contain are an indictment of an entire class of depraved bureaucrats, whom Donald J. Trump, our president, has admitted to impunity in our political system and authority.

Apparently these people can get away with anything. And this is precisely the issue, the issue of the abuse of wealth and power that got Donald J. Trump elected. He somehow convinced the public that he was on the side of those who demanded accountability from those in power. It’s interesting to me that the best the Democrats can apparently come up with is an assault on Trump personally, probably reflecting his unpopularity. But this is a broader issue. It’s about our whole political class that is indicted by these revelations.

-- Charles Freeman