Document Dump
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has begun to comply with a recently enacted law requiring the release of most of the material related to the prosecution of Jeffey Epstein. The law, passed by Congress and signed into law by U.S. President Donald Trump, requires the protection of certain victim identities but largely mandates the disclosure of all other material.
The DOJ released two tranches of documents over the last week and says there will be multiple additional releases to comply with the law. The initial releases include numerous photographs of former U.S. President Bill Clinton and former Prince Andrew, Duke of York. They also include flight logs and previously released photographs referencing or depicting numerous notable people including U.S. President Donald Trump. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blache indicated additional releases will occur before the end of the year.
Analysis and eternal perspective: The crimes associated with this story are horrific, and the victims of them deserve justice and our care. It is the only appropriate place to begin our analysis of this very troubling story. So much of the coverage of this story is consumed by the powerful social circle that surrounded Jeffrey Epstein. To be certain, it is incredibly important to determine who among that circle participated in these horrific crimes. But in order to heed the instruction of Isaiah 1:17 (to both seek justice and defend the oppressed), we must begin by acknowledging that an honest administration of justice is far more important than any political fallout.
One thing is clear and it is consistent with the track record of human history: The human heart is desperately wicked (Jer. 17:9). It is easy to exclaim shock and acknowledge these crimes as horrific—and they are—but the inclination toward an evil like this runs naturally through your human heart and mine. But by the grace of God go you and I.
From that place of acknowledging we are all prone to a heart condition that makes all manner of evil possible, it is incumbent on us to use our voice to promote the administration of even-handed justice. As we do so, we should be clear-eyed about any narrative that attempts to describe these crimes as wholly the result of one political party or another’s mistakes. The devastation in this story is not rooted in politics but in sin, and sin is a force with which we must each deal.
But there is cause for rejoicing! The finished work of Jesus on the cross has redeemed your sinful heart (Eph. 1:7)! In fact, in a tie back to our previous story, the Bible is clear that our rescue was bought not with perishable things like silver and gold, but with the precious blood of Jesus (1 Pet. 1:18-19)!
So as we stand together in favor of blind justice on behalf of the victims in this case, let us also rejoice in our redemption and humbly posture our sinful hearts before the throne of God’s abundant mercy.