Former Republican strategist Rick Wilson launched a scathing critique of former President Donald Trump's administration this week, accusing it of inflicting further pain on the survivors of Jeffrey Epstein. The condemnation followed the Justice Department's failure to release a full, unredacted batch of documents related to the late convicted sex offender by a court-ordered deadline.
A "Betrayal" and a "Knife-Twist" for Victims
In his newsletter, Rick Wilson’s Against All Enemies, Wilson, a co-founder of the anti-Trump Lincoln Project, did not mince words. He framed the department's actions as a profound betrayal of the women who survived Epstein's predation. "That’s the betrayal. That’s the knife-twist for the victims," Wilson wrote. He argued that survivors endured a system that once ignored or mocked their claims, only to see that same system now obfuscate the truth in a very public, branded manner.
The Justice Department was legally required to disclose the documents on Friday. Instead, it opted for a partial, heavily redacted release, signaling it would publish more files on a rolling basis in the coming weeks. This initial disclosure was marred by unexplained blackouts on the DOJ's website and reports of missing files and removed pages, which were later restored.
Cover-Up Attempts and the "Streisand Effect"
Wilson specifically called out Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche for asserting that the temporary removal of a photograph featuring Trump was unrelated to the former president. Wilson likened the administration's efforts to the Streisand effect, where attempts to suppress information only guarantee it will be found and spread more aggressively.
"Congratulations, geniuses. You just rediscovered the Streisand effect: the harder you try to bury something, the more you guarantee the Internet will dig it up with a backhoe and a marching band," Wilson wrote. He stated that pulling files only spurred more intense public scrutiny, and restoring them didn't end the story—it proved a cover-up was attempted. "This cover-up will not survive. They never do," he added.
Widening Crisis and a "New Form of Abuse"
Wilson contended that the DOJ's handling of the documents, which he derided as a "Sharpie-fest," has backfired spectacularly for Trump's circle. What was intended to contain the scandal has instead amplified it. "The administration wanted a lid on the pot... Instead, they turned the heat to high and walked away," he wrote.
Most powerfully, Wilson framed the act of redaction itself as an extension of the abuse suffered by Epstein's victims. "That’s why the black marker isn’t just ink. It’s power. It’s a new form of abuse, striking the lives and hearts of women who have suffered far, far too long," he concluded. The partial release has drawn condemnation from Epstein survivors and prompted calls for legal action, including from Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.).
