There’s something deeply wrong in our politics where the powerful protect predators over children. The latest release of emails between convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and his convicted accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell makes that truth unavoidable. They show new details about Trump’s long relationship with Epstein and the cover-up carried out by his White House, Justice Department, and allies in Congress.

For years, Trump denied knowing anything about Epstein’s trafficking of young girls. He called Epstein a “terrific guy” until the public turned on him, then claimed he barely knew him. But the messages released by Democrats on the House Oversight Committee tell a different story: Trump “spent hours” at Epstein’s home with one of the victims and, as Epstein wrote, “of course, knew about the girls.”

What would you do if you knew or even suspected young girls were being sex trafficked? You would report this information to the authorities immediately. The responsibility to protect kids is so ingrained in our country that states have numerous laws that mandate reporting. But you would do it because we share the moral imperative to stop the abuse and perpetrators from targeting new victims.

Trump did none of this. That silence demands explanation. Why did Trump lie to the American people? What keeps a person from reporting the exploitation of children? What did Epstein mean when he wrote that he had information that could take Trump down?

Now, almost every Republican member of Congress has joined the cover-up.

All 213 Democrats and four House Republicans signed the petition demanding the release of the Epstein files. Mike Simpson, Russ Fulcher, Jim Risch, and Mike Crapo refused to join them. In a blow to democracy, Speaker Mike Johnson delayed swearing in Rep. Adelita Grijalva for fifty days because she pledged to vote for the release of the files. Our delegation stood by in silence.

A Republican can stand on principle, it’s just tragically rare. Tennessee Republican Congressman Thomas Massie said he agrees with his party 91% of the time, but “when they’re protecting pedophiles…I’m sorry, I can’t go along with that.” It appears Idaho’s delegation can.

Idahoans know better. We raise our kids to tell the truth, to do what’s right even when it’s hard, to stand up for those who can’t stand up for themselves. Yet too many elected leaders seem unable to meet even that basic moral test.

Idaho families deserve better. We deserve leaders who tell the truth even when it’s uncomfortable, who value justice over party, and who will never stay silent in the face of abuse.

The moral test of leadership has never been clearer. Will our leaders stand with survivors, or with the man who protected their abuser?

Onward,

Lauren Necochea
Idaho Democratic Party Chair