DOJ’s Influencer Circus Was the Original Sin of the Epstein Files
Sunrise Show Prep! July 17
DOJ’s Influencer Circus Was the Original Sin of the Epstein Files
By Larry O’Connor
When the Department of Justice finally began releasing the long-promised Jeffrey Epstein files, it had an opportunity—no, a responsibility—to treat the matter with the seriousness and integrity it demanded.
Instead, they rolled out the first batch like a social media marketing campaign.
“The Epstein Files: Phase 1” were handed to influencers—yes, influencers—at a DOJ-backed White House event on February 27, 2025.
Content creators, many of whom admitted within hours there was nothing new in the “binders” they were given. You can read about the event here via The Independent.
🔦 Not Justice—Just Clicks
This wasn’t a failure of the judicial system. It was a failure of the people at the DOJ—especially those under Attorney General Pam Bondi—who decided that TikTok unboxings and Instagram reels were the right vehicle to share evidence related to a transnational sex trafficking network.
That grotesque decision didn’t just mock the gravity of Epstein’s crimes—it betrayed the victims and confirmed every skeptical American’s worst fears about government transparency.
You don’t dignify crimes against children with ring lights and hashtag hype.
🧵 Compare It to the Twitter Files
Now contrast that debacle with what Elon Musk did at Twitter back in 2022. When Musk opened the internal files of Twitter’s pre-Musk moderation policies, he handed them to independent journalists like Matt Taibbi, Bari Weiss, and Michael Shellenberger.
They didn’t tweet memes or mug for camera crews. They produced threads, archives, and long-form reports with timestamps, documents, and editorial context. You know… journalism.
If the DOJ had done that with the Epstein files, we’d be having a very different national conversation right now. But instead, they prioritized content creators over truth seekers.
🚨 Fallout and Fury
The result? Public backlash from both sides of the political aisle.
MAGA influencer Laura Loomer called the effort a “clown show”
Dan Bongino, Deputy Director of the FBI, reportedly clashed with Bondi behind the scenes
And on July 7, DOJ and FBI issued a memo claiming no client list would be released—effectively ending the process and igniting bipartisan fury
Read more via Politico
ABC7: Bongino vs Bondi clash
🧾 A Better Way Forward
This mess didn’t need to happen.
The Epstein saga should have been treated with sobriety and professionalism—preferably by allowing access to credible independent journalists who could scrutinize and explain the documents. A full archive. Indexed files. A timeline. Cross-referencing with public evidence. Exactly the way the Twitter Files were handled.
Justice demands clarity, not choreography.
The DOJ had a rare opportunity to do something right. Instead, they chased clicks and handed tragedy over to the algorithm. That choice wasn’t just a mistake. It was the original sin of this latest phase in the Epstein saga.
And it will haunt public trust long after the last binder closes.
🎙️ GUESTS ON TODAY’S SHOW
📚 5:05 AM – Kurt Schlichter
Guest: Kurt Schlichter – Columnist & Author
Discussing his new book American Apocalypse: The Second Civil War and the latest cultural and political battles shaking the country.
🏛️ 6:35 AM – Dan Schneider
Guest: Dan Schneider – Media Research Center
Breaking down the Senate’s passage of the rescissions package and what it means for government spending.
🌿 7:05 AM – Paul Kolonowski
Guest: Paul Kolonowski – Owner, Kollins Landscaping
Reacting to Montgomery County’s new gas leaf blower ban and what it means for small businesses and landscapers.
🌍 8:05 AM – KT McFarland
Guest: KT McFarland – Former Deputy National Security Advisor
Analysis of rising tensions between Israel and Syria and the implications of U.S. weapons shipments to Ukraine through NATO.
💬 8:35 AM – Rep. Brandon Gill
Guest: Congressman Brandon Gill (R-TX)
His perspective on the rescissions fight and the growing effort to defund wasteful agencies like NPR and USAID.
📚 LARRY’S SHOW PREP
🎧 NPR FIGHT
LARRY on X: "David French says defunding NPR is a pernicious attack on free speech. David French... The last true conservative. 🤮"
Western Lensman on X: Chuck Schumer says “public broadcasting” is a matter of life and death during natural disasters. “People will die” is now the defense for NPR/PBS funding.
LARRY on X: “They all say this but never show one concrete example. Meanwhile, @theMRC documented NPR’s failure during Texas floods.”
Jeanine Pirro on X: “Court ruled against 3 CPB board members refusing to leave. It’s time for them to go!”
Curtis Houck on X: “CNN’s Dana Bash defends PBS/NPR as rural lifelines after refusing to read Trump’s post on their bias.”
✝️ DEMOCRAT: 'JESUS WEPT' OVER WOKE USAID CUTS
TheBlaze on X: Sen. Chris Coons: “Jesus wept. Today my Republican colleagues are doing something that would make Jesus weep.”
Terry Schilling on X: “Things I’m pretty sure make Jesus weep: 1. Abortion. 2. Sterilizing and mutilating children.”
☪️ JIHADI AT GEORGETOWN
New York Post on X: Georgetown professor removed as chair after wishing for Iranian symbolic strike on U.S.
⚖️ MEMO: DC JUDGES HAD ANTI-TRUMP AGENDA
Sean Davis on X: “Judge Boasberg deliberately overstepped to provoke Trump admin into ignoring illegal orders. MASSIVE scandal.”
Memo reveals D.C. judges predisposed against Trump admin
🕵️ RUSSIA COLLUSION DOCUMENTS
✈️ AIR INDIA CRASH: PILOT SHUT OFF FUEL?
🧨 EPSTEIN UPDATES: COMEY’S DAUGHTER & SPECIAL COUNSEL
Charlie Kirk on X: “Pam Bondi fired Maurene Comey, daughter of James Comey, from Manhattan U.S. Attorney’s office.”
John Solomon on X: “Trump embraces special prosecutor for weaponization probe and Epstein.”
Charlie Kirk on X: “Trump supports special counsel to investigate Epstein.”
🥊 WINSOME COMES OUT SWINGING
Winsome Earle-Sears on X: “If you’re a criminal and here illegally, we’re going to deport you. Spanberger is too dangerous for Virginia.”
🥤 TRUMP BRINGS BACK MEXICAN COKE
The White House on X: Trump: “I’ve spoken to @CocaCola — they will use REAL cane sugar in the U.S. again. It’s better. You’ll see.”
🚨 ADAM SCHIFF: MORTGAGE FRAUD ALLEGATIONS
Peter J. Hasson on X: “Fannie Mae investigators conclude Adam Schiff engaged in pattern of occupancy misrepresentation.”
FOX & Friends on X: Trump accuses Schiff of decade-long mortgage fraud.
Josh Dunlap on X: “Records show Schiff financed Maryland home as primary residence while claiming California residency.”
RealRobert on X: “Since 2003, Schiff claimed both Maryland and California homes as primary.”
Fox News on X: Federal housing official submitted Schiff criminal referral to DOJ.
🇺🇸 NEW YORKERS HATE COMMUNISM
The Faulkner Focus on X: “We asked NYC residents about Zohran Mamdani’s far-left agenda. The answers speak volumes.”
🔧 MIKE ROWE ON STEM DEGREES
Holden Culotta on X: “Mike Rowe: AI is coming for coders. Not for welders, plumbers, HVAC, or electricians.”
📚 SALENA ZITO’S BOOK IS #1!
🖊️ BIDEN AUTOPEN SCANDAL: WITNESS PLEADS THE 5TH
Oversight Committee on X: Watch Anthony Bernal plead the Fifth repeatedly in deposition on Hunter Biden and White House decision-making.
😂 SPEAKER JOHNSON’S EPIC TRUMP IMPERSONATION
💥 ICE TESTIMONY GOES NUCLEAR
National Immigration Center on X: “Jack of all trades + deportation scientist @MHowellTweets goes off on Democrats for anti-ICE rhetoric.”
Townhall.com on X: Julio Rosas TORCHES Democrats: “I'm here as an American citizen!”