A week of disgusting news

The news of the week was, well, interesting. It reminds me of the old Chinese proverb: “May You Live in Interesting Times.”

Some of it was disgusting, some the usual Trump stuff. Here are two news stories :

•The Jeffery Epstein scandal is sickening. It seems that a decade or so ago, Epstein pled guilty to a single count of soliciting a prostitute, and his sentence was — wait for it — 13 months locked up and registration as a sex offender.

Oh, and that lock-up?

He was out during the day, and was required to return to the jail at night. Since then he’s continued to live a decadent lifestyle.

A Miami Herald reporter wouldn’t leave the story alone. She uncovered details of the plea deal that are truly revolting. Like, for example, the clandestine breakfast meeting between prosecutors and defense counsel to work out the details of the agreement.

In the process of good investigative work, the reporter uncovered shocking evidence of Epstein’s continuing involvement with young girls. So far, there are some 75 women who at the time were underage girls with whom Epstein was involved. One of the news outlets characterized Epstein’s operation as a “vast network” of young girls.

At one point in 1992, a party was arranged in Palm Beach. Twentyeight girls — children — were flown in from other parts of the country. There were only two male participants at the event: Epstein and Donald J. Trump.

Before it’s all over — perhaps by the time this is read — we will have the details of that party.

Trump has made it clear that Epstein, like himself, liked beautiful women, and Epstein, according to the then future president, liked them “on the young side.”

Epstein has been indicted yet again. As more and more girls (now women) talk about their encounters with Epstein and his filthy rich friends, it’s going to be a political powder keg.

I must ask again, and will continue to ask, is this the public image of influential friends of the president that we want our kids to see and emulate?

Is this setting an example not only for children, but for everyone?

I cannot imagine Presidents Roosevelt or Truman or Eisenhower or Carter or either of the Bushes or Obama keeping the company of a horrible man like Jeffrey Epstein. The press has done a great service in pushing this story. Epstein needs to go to prison for the rest of his life.

•And speaking of pushing a story, the press (free and independent) has done a great service in keeping the border mess alive and on the front burner.

Republicans like Mitch Mcconnell (the worst Senate Majority Leader in American history) just don’t get it. They are totally obsessed with the nomination of federal judges that fit their mold.

And, in the throws of their obsession, they are willing to look the other way as children suffer in what are now, finally, being called concentration camps.

In at least one location, they have no running water, so must drink from toilets. They have not been given a bath in months. There are no toothbrushes or soap available. The kids are required to sleep on a concrete floor. In some cells, they cannot lie down at one time, so they must try to sleep standing up. And that’s just the physical part.

The mental and emotional impact cannot be described in words.

A 10-year-old is told by a detention officer that he or she is in charge of taking care of a 1-year-old. That brings about severe traumatic stress for both those kids, according to the American Pediatric Association.

But Trump and the Congressional Republicans seem not to care. In fact, it appears that they think it helps their immigration cause.

Sickening, I say.

George D. Ellis is a Benton attorney. He can be contacted at gellisinbenton@swbell.net.