Epstein & Summers: A Case Study in Power & Influence

The Jeffrey Epstein files will roll out from the Justice Department in the coming weeks, and the press will broadcast every name that appears. So it’s worth keeping in mind that, whatever the virtues of transparency, the files are being used as a weapon to take down political enemies.

Democrats hope the files will tarnish President Trump, while Republicans will trumpet anything about Bill Clinton. But notice that so far the single most conspicuous target has been Larry Summers. Democrats took aim at Donald Trump, fired and missed, but hit the Harvard economist.