#2447 - Mike Benz

• The discussion begins with the recent release of 3.5 million Justice Department and FBI files related to Jeffrey Epstein, a moment described as an incredible act of transparency.
• The host expresses surprise that these documents, though unclassified, were not made public seven years ago when the case was being litigated.
• The guest explains that these internal documents from a criminal investigation are not normally disclosable.
• A congressional bill was likely required to force their release, similar to the JFK Records Collection Act of 1992, which compelled the CIA to release documents related to the assassination.
• The bill passed the House with an overwhelming 427 to 1 vote, indicating broad bipartisan support, as no one wanted to oppose the release of information surrounding Epstein.

The discussion begins with the recent release of 3.5 million Justice Department and FBI files related to Jeffrey Epstein, a moment described as an incredible act of transparency. The host expresses surprise that these documents, though unclassified, were not made public seven years ago when the case was being litigated. The guest explains that these internal documents from a criminal investigation are not normally disclosable. A congressional bill was likely required to force their release, similar to the JFK Records Collection Act of 1992, which compelled the CIA to release documents related to the assassination. The bill passed the House with an overwhelming 427 to 1 vote, indicating broad bipartisan support, as no one wanted to oppose the release of information surrounding Epstein. The guest clarifies that the one dissenting vote was Clay Higgins, not Randy Fine, correcting an earlier misrecollection.

The guest highlights that the released files implicate individuals and institutions across political parties, foreign countries, major corporations, universities, and scientific institutions, suggesting that nearly every significant player in world affairs was either involved with or adjacent to Epstein's network. For a decade, there was a "mutually assured destruction" dynamic, with each political party accusing the other of suppressing information. The current law only compels the disclosure of Justice Department and FBI files, not CIA-originated files. The guest draws a parallel to the JFK files release in 2025, spearheaded by Tulsi Gabbard, which provided hundreds of thousands of previously redacted documents. The guest believes it is physically impossible that the CIA does not possess Epstein-related files, given his 40-year career in intelligence-adjacent work. It is revealed that Epstein himself twice used the Freedom of Information Act to request records from the CIA in 1999 and 2011. The CIA's response to Epstein's lawyer in 2011 stated no documents were responsive to a search for "open and acknowledged agency affiliations" but issued a "Glomar" response—neither confirming nor denying the existence of classified information—indicating that Epstein's request touched upon classified matters.

The host asks about significant revelations from the JFK files. The guest explains that while most people sought clues about the assassination itself, the files primarily revealed the intricate structure of intelligence work, providing a detailed look at covert operations like Operation Mongoose and Operation Condor. Operation Mongoose aimed to destabilize Cuba, while Operation Condor expanded counter-communism efforts across Latin America. The guest cites a declassified CIA document detailing an authorized attempt to assassinate Fidel Castro through the Meyer Lansky syndicate, involving mob hitmen and detailed logistics. Another document described a CIA-sponsored movie to create a sexual blackmail tape against the president of Indonesia. These documents illustrate the array of options considered by covert operations in the 1960s, including working with organized crime, before congressional oversight of the CIA was established in the mid-1970s.

The guest notes that the CIA's collaboration with the mob predates the agency itself, tracing back to the Department of War's work with the Italian mafia against Mussolini in the 1920s-1940s. This alliance is detailed in the book "Operation Gladio: The CIA, the Vatican, and the Mob," which highlights the funding relationship between a religious institution, an intelligence agency, and an organized crime syndicate. A recently released document shows Larry Summers, then head of the US Treasury, explaining the "deep politics" of the Vatican Bank to Jeffrey Epstein, noting its status as a sovereign country exempt from transparency rules, allowing elite clients to evade scrutiny in money transfers. The Vatican Bank was an early offshore bank, and its alliance with the US Department of War and organized crime during World War II facilitated black market trade and money laundering, creating a "state-sponsored mafia with an untouchable bank." This historical context helps explain the Larry Summers-Jeffrey Epstein exchange.

The guest discusses how offshore banking evolved, with the British Empire transitioning to a financial empire after losing the Suez Canal, establishing hubs like the Cayman Islands. The Vatican Bank's prominence in international finance has since diminished due to market saturation. The conversation then shifts to the more outlandish claims found in the Epstein files, such as George W. Bush's alleged involvement in ritual sacrifice. The guest dismisses these as likely preposterous but acknowledges that the files contain references to "pizza" and "cheese" that appear to be code for something illicit, making it difficult to fully dismiss all "Pizzagate" type theories. However, the guest emphasizes focusing on provable real-world implications.

The guest warns against taking allegations in FBI files out of context, citing a viral post claiming Alan Dershowitz was a Mossad agent based on a confidential human source (CHS) report. The guest reveals that this CHS was allegedly Chuck Johnson, a journalist known for making baseless and extreme claims, including accusing the guest of being a Mossad agent. This anecdote underscores the importance of scrutinizing the credibility of sources within the files.

The host asks if there is a "Jeffrey Epstein" operating today. The guest asserts there are "millions of them," describing Epstein as a "professional fixer" who operates in the "sticky layer" between government and the private sector. The guest uses the example of Bruce Rappaport, a Swiss billionaire with Israeli government ties, who acted as a private fixer for the CIA and National Security Council during the Iran-Iraq War. Rappaport secretly negotiated with Israel to prevent the sabotage of an Iraqi oil pipeline, a deal that triggered a special prosecutor's investigation into Attorney General Ed Meese. The CIA provided a "limited hangout" on Rappaport, concealing a "dirty dossier" that would have prevented US taxpayer funds from subsidizing the pipeline. This case illustrates the model of intelligence agencies using private fixers, private businesses, and back-channel deals with government officials, a model the guest believes Epstein replicated throughout his career.

The guest explains that Epstein's career began at Bear Stearns in 1976, coinciding with the biggest shakeup in CIA history due to the Church Committee hearings, which exposed numerous covert operations and led to significant cuts in CIA funding and personnel. In response, a "Safari Club" was formed in 1976—an informal covert alliance of intelligence services from Saudi Arabia, Israel, the UK, France, and Iran—to continue "dirty work" outside of formal CIA oversight. Adnan Khashoggi, a Saudi arms dealer and Epstein client, ran this network.

When Reagan came to power in 1981, the CIA still faced restrictions. The Iran-Contra affair emerged as a solution to illegally run guns to Iran (despite an international arms embargo) and fund the Contras in Nicaragua (despite the Boland Amendment prohibiting US government funds). This led to the creation of "the Enterprise," a private, self-sustained entity funded by outside fixers, black market trade, and donor money, primarily from cocaine trafficking. The guest highlights a 1979 clip of National Security Advisor Zbigniew Brzezinski rallying the mujahideen in Afghanistan, an operation Epstein appears to have been involved in financing through BCCI (Bank of Credit and Commerce International), a CIA-backed bank.

The guest details how BCCI, established in Pakistan in 1972, became the CIA's primary vehicle for covertly funding the mujahideen against the Soviets. Bear Stearns, where Epstein worked, was a major clearinghouse for BCCI transactions, moving billions of dollars. Epstein's rapid rise at Bear Stearns is attributed to dating the CEO's daughter and being placed on lucrative deals, likely involving BCCI. The guest suggests that Epstein's expertise in money laundering and his connections to figures like Adnan Khashoggi, who facilitated weapons deals, made him useful within this network.

The guest discusses the "Fast and Furious" scandal during the Obama administration, where the ATF sent guns to Mexican cartels to win a drug war, with alleged interagency approval. This is presented as another example of government involvement in illicit activities. The guest also highlights a US Institute of Peace report from 2022 that advised the Taliban not to shut down the opium trade due to its "devastating negative impact on the local economy," despite the Taliban's previous success in eradicating opium in 1999. This illustrates how geopolitical interests can intersect with drug cultivation.

The guest connects these historical patterns to modern issues, expressing concern about the "slow capture of our democracy" and the conjoining of diplomatic muscle with private finance, particularly in the context of climate policies. The guest suggests that the push for "clean energy" policies may be a geopolitical strategy to kneecap Russia's economy, with private investors, including figures like Bill Gates and George Soros, profiting from government mandates and subsidies. The guest cites examples of US intervention in countries like Bangladesh and Brazil, where regime change or political influence led to the imposition of climate finance reforms that benefited specific private interests.

The guest then discusses the concept of "15-minute cities" in the UK, where digital surveillance and fees are imposed on residents for exceeding a limited number of movements outside designated zones. This is presented as a terrifying example of infrastructure being set up in the United States, warning against division and advocating for unity against such systems. The guest also criticizes the "special relationship" with the UK, citing its role in Russiagate and the US-UK censorship industrial complex, where British censors funded by the US government target American conservative news sites.

The guest concludes by emphasizing the importance of document releases like the Epstein files, as they provide "real Jenga pieces" to understand what actually happened, allowing for informed decisions about societal change. The guest reiterates the call for a congressional bill, similar to the JFK Records Collection Act, to compel the CIA to release all Epstein-related files, arguing that such a bill would be difficult for any member of Congress to oppose. The guest expresses concern about the circumstances of Epstein's death, highlighting the unusual placement with a violent inmate, the complaints of an attempted murder, and the involvement of Attorney General Bill Barr, whose career is deeply intertwined with the very networks Epstein operated within. The guest believes that obtaining direct correspondence between the CIA and Jeffrey Epstein would shed significant light on the allegations of protection by US government intelligence. The guest encourages listeners to remain engaged, viewing the current moment as an unprecedented opportunity for transparency and change.