Maximum Transparency
This letter to the editor, by Kerry Kittel, appeared in the Hudson Star Observer on August 7, 2025.
Americans have a right to transparency in government. Our political leaders love to promise transparency. Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson has said that “we want maximum transparency” regarding the Epstein files. He also declared that the “President himself wants maximum, maximum transparency” regarding those files.
Johnson clearly isn’t interested in transparency, otherwise his House Rules Committee would have allowed a vote on releasing Epstein material to the full House. At least 11 Republicans want it released. Why didn’t he trust our elected officials to do their jobs? Why was ending the session early to protect the President’s reputation more important than taking care of the people’s business?
The current President does not want “maximum, maximum” transparency on anything. He has blocked administration members from testifying or giving requested documents to Congress, ignored subpoenas from Congress, refused to release his tax returns, and rarely provides complete, relevant responses to questions from reporters. He is clearly a no transparency leader, if and when he can get away with it.
Mike Johnson and other Republican leaders are cynically using protecting the identities of Epstein’s victims to block the release of information. It should be a simple thing to protect those victims by redactions or other methods. What is despicable is using victim identities as an excuse for allowing those who may have victimized them to avoid detection.
The current president has lied about his name appearing in the Epstein files. He has called Jeffrey Epstein a “great guy” who “liked women on the young side.” He has wished Gislaine Maxwell, who recruited and trained many of Epstein’s victims “well” while she serves a 20-year sentence for sexual abuse, something he has not done for any of her victims.
If the President truly believes in “maximum, maximum” transparency, we would not be hearing of a possible pardon for Gislaine Maxwell. Instead, Mike Johnson would release the files and hold Congressional hearings to provide transparency and a measure of justice for the victims of Epstein, Maxwell, and others who have been judged guilty of sexual assault.