We deserve to know truth about Epstein
A recent letter writer opined “the great majority of Americans could not care less about” Donald Trump’s Jeffrey Epstein connection. I disagree.
Epstein’s Manhattan mansion reportedly had cameras and recording equipment in many rooms. During a July 2019 search of the mansion, FBI agents found his safe contained, among other things, several hard drives, and CDs containing thousands of nude photos of young females, including at least one minor. Epstein had at least four palatial homes, two private Caribbean islands, multiple private jets, and was a known abuser of young girls. He regularly spent time with people of wealth and power — politicians, royalty and leaders in business, academia and science. Our current president was his close friend for years in the 1990s. Our commerce secretary, Howard Lutnick, who was Epstein’s longtime neighbor, recently said Epstein was “the greatest blackmailer ever.”
Now Trump controls the Epstein files, and Republican leadership has worked nonstop to keep them hidden. Americans need to know before the next election if our president, his Cabinet members, other politicians and even their largest donors participated in the abuse of girls.
Linda Reinbold
Bethlehem
Incumbent status should be on election ballots
In order to help voters vote more wisely, election ballots should have the words incumbent or non-incumbent written next to each candidate’s name. For individuals this is valuable information. This information would also significantly speed up the voting process in many overcrowded populated voting areas.
Leo Kurtz
Bethlehem
Official admits appearance plays a role in arrests
On Sept. 30, a WBEZ reporter asked Gregory Bovino, the U.S. Border Patrol commander, the basis for an arrest in a high-class Chicago neighborhood. Was it appearance, he asked? Bovino responded that there were “many different factors.” One of those factors was “obviously” appearance, Novino said, “the particular characteristics of an individual, how they look. How do they look compared to, say, you? What’s your name again?” The very white reporter gave his very white name, “Chip.” To which Novino responded, “Chip? Hey, Chip, you or other folks. How do they appear in relation to what you or other people look like?” So this arrestee of color looked very different in this white neighborhood. So racial profiling is one of the characteristics Immigration and Customs Enforcement uses for arrest. Since that is so, my suggestion is that the immigrant community cover their faces as the ICE agents do, in fact, cover their faces totally with, say, Frankenstein masks or hoods with eyes punched.
Edward J. Gallagher
Bethlehem
Trump’s policies hurting American businesses
I never thought I’d see Republicans oppose free markets and wage economic war on American businesses. But that’s exactly what they and President Trump have done. Many American businesses are suffering under Republican policies, including large import tariffs (taxes); indiscriminate deportations that include farm, meat industry and personal care workers; funding cuts (and a shutdown) that affects private enterprises holding government contracts; and $100,000 H-1B visa fees. Harmful effects of Republican policies have been reported by farmers, who are dealing with immigrant worker shortages plus loss of overseas markets due to foreign retaliation. And by businesses that import and use foreign materials, products: Some say they’re partially or wholly absorbing tariff costs, which they must pay, but how long will that last? Some related product prices are already increasing, auto parts for example. And, as if these GOP policies aren’t bad enough, the president’s punitive funding cuts against “blue” states, cities and counties are making matters worse. Wall Street executive Jamie Dimon is sufficiently alarmed to raise concern about an impending recession. Please contact your legislators and the president to request discontinuation of the policies that are harming American businesses, before it’s too late.
Harold S. Vandegrift
North Catasauqua
Name change fits more aggressive stance
The present administration has recently decided that the Department of Defense should go back to being called the Department of War. In 1969, I joined the Army. When I received my assignment for duty, I was assigned to MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida. The unit I was to report to was called: U.S. Strike Command. The war in Vietnam was going on at that time and there was continuous public dissatisfaction with our involvement there. The Pentagon decided to rename my unit and call it, U.S. Readiness Command. Much less warlike. It seems after a half century, America, under the Trump administration, wants us to become more warlike. This attitude is becoming more and more apparent today. Unfortunately, the United States, in my opinion, is returning to an aggressive nation.
Charles Kochenash
Upper Milford Township
Elaborate party typical of Trump’s indifference to working people
Nothing symbolizes Donald Trump’s vision of a “Golden Age” of prosperity more than holding an elaborate “Great Gatsby” party at Mar-a-Lago while millions of Americans were losing their SNAP benefits.
In 2025, the wealthiest 0.1% of Americans possessed a greater percentage of all U.S. assets than any other time in our history. Since Trump’s inauguration, the 10 richest Americans have become $700 billion richer. Conversely, in 2024, more than 40% of the U.S. population was considered poor or low income. Guess which group received the largest tax breaks in Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill and which group loses Medicaid and SNAP benefits? Hint — the tax breaks go to the group that would be invited to Mar-a-Lago for his party. The other group might be there as servers and kitchen help.
Trump does not care about the working class. He is more concerned about building a gold-plated ballroom to entertain his billionaire donors or wining and dining officials from the United Arab Emirates to solidify a business deal. His definition of a “Golden Age” is simple — more for him and his cronies at the expense of the American people.
Rich Israel
Bethlehem
The Morning Call publishes letters from readers online and in print several times a week. Submit a letter to the editor at letters@mcall.com. The views expressed in this piece are those of its individual author(s), and should not be interpreted as reflecting the views of this publication.
