How the Epstein Files confirm worst fears about how the rich and powerful behave
Doug Sosnik, former political director to Bill Clinton, tells The News Agents why he believes Donald Trump is worried about the Clinton’s testifying in congress, and the one big fear the Epstein Files has confirmed for so many people.
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In brief…
- Doug Sosnik says the Epstein Files confirm long-held beliefs in some people that rules and laws are different for the rich and powerful.
- Sosnik, a key member of Bill Clinton’s administration, says he believes Donald Trump is more concerned about his testimony in front of Congress than the former president is himself.
- He adds it is an open secret among US Republicans that, under Trump, the Department of Justice is a “kangaroo court” and only operates to protect the current president.
What’s the story?
The Epstein Files confirm fears that there is one rule for rich people, and one for everyone else – according to a senior advisor to Bill Clinton.
Speaking with Emily Maitlis, Doug Sosnik says the recently-released documents “re-enforce a pre-existing feeling” people already had about the class divide, and the activities of the global elite.
“People have felt for a long time that the system is rigged, that the rich and powerful have a different set of rules and control those rules,” Sosnik says.
“The Epstein Files reinforce a preconceived notion that people already had, and no one obviously expected the emails that have emerged to ever see the light of the day.”
Sosnik served as Bill Clinton’s director of political affairs from 1995 to 1997, and his senior advisor between 1998 and 2001.
During those six years he says he never once met or saw Jeffrey Epstein, and says there is no evidence to suggest Clinton visited Epstein’s island, where much of the abuse is believed to have taken place.
"In the last several years, my office was next to the Oval Office," Sosnik says.
"I travelled with the President. I probably spent more time with the president than any human being during the Lewinsky stuff, and I never once met or saw Epstein."
‘It’s Trump who’s most worried about the Clinton’s testimony’
Both Bill Clinton, and wife Hillary, have agreed to testify in a congressional investigation into Jeffrey Epstein.
The former president knew Epstein, and was photographed with him numerous times, but says he cut contact with the convicted sex offender more than 20 years ago.
Hillary denies having ever met Epstein.
"I don't think Bill should be scared to testify," Sosnik says.
"They clearly would prefer not to be doing this, they've made no bones about that. Who in their right mind would want to go through all this?”
However, ahead of the 27 February, when the Clintons will appear in front of Congress, he says he believes his former boss will be "looking forward" to giving evidence.
"Donald Trump is the person who's most unhappy about the Clintons testifying, because he didn't want this to set a precedent," he says.
"Ultimately the Clintons didn't want to have a constitutional crisis, and out of respect for the Constitution, said they would testify."
‘The DoJ only works to protect Trump”
Sosnik says behind closed doors, Republicans freely admit that the Department of Justice is nothing more than a “kangaroo court” and works to protect just one man – not the people of America.
"It's all there to protect Trump," he says.
"There's absolutely no difference, in Trump's mind, between President Trump and the Department of Justice.
"If your Justice Department is not independent, it tells you the entire government is not independent.”