Sidebar: The road to nowhere

As Congress and the courts attempt to untangle the complex web of human trafficking investigations related to the late billionaire Jeffrey Epstein, members of the Trump administration, some of whom trumpeted the push for disclosure as pundits and podcasters before being appointed to the inside, are now pleading with the MAGA faithful to move on. 

But now that they’ve lived through more than a decade of intense speculation of who flew on Epstein’s plane or went to his island of unthinkable debauchery, will they be satisfied with Trump’s explanation that the whole thing is just a hoax perpetrated by his political opponents? How do conspiracy theories like this one become so sticky? 

Join us for the next episode of Sidebar, where we look into how the different arms of the government are handling the unhealable sore of the Epstein files. Is there any hope for justice for the lives destroyed by human trafficking beyond a prison suicide, or is this all political fodder for the next election cycle?

Special thanks to Melina Tsapos and Courthouse News reporters Ryan Knappenberger and Benjamin S. Weiss.

Sidebar tackles the top stories you need to know from the legal world. Join reporters Hillel Aron, Kirk McDaniel, Amanda Pampuro, Kelsey Reichmann and Josh Russell as they take you in and out of courtrooms in the U.S. and beyond and break down developments to help you understand how they affect your day-to-day life.

This episode was produced by Kirk McDaniel. Intro music by The Dead Pens.

Editorial staff is Ryan Abbott, Sean Duffy and Jamie Ross.