Will the Epstein files ever be released? Not with dishonest officials | Opinion

Will DOJ release Epstein files?

Will The Department of Justice ever release the remaining Epstein files as required by law? Will any DOJ officials face consequences for the procrastination (admittedly a stupid question)? Who is DOJ protecting?

Is DOJ really investigating ICE/CBP killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, or is the “investigation” a sham because results (goons acted properly) are pre-decreed? If investigation is real, why are Minnesota investigators denied participation or even seeing any evidence? Murder is a state, not federal, offense.

Why is Signal Pete purging senior military officers? Do he and King Grifter (KG) hate competent women and Blacks? Were the purged officers more loyal to U.S. Constitution than to KG personally?

What happened to the seized Venezuelan oil? If sold, who got the money?

During most of 2025, at the behest of KG, Musk’s DOGE doers indiscriminately fired government employees and slashed spending.

At start of KG’s current reign the national debt was about $36.2 trillion. Now debt is $39 trillion and growing. How can this be? Anyone care?

Is it coincidence that nearly all KG’s official actions enrich him personally and also benefit Vladimir Putin?

Brett Menaker, Kennewick

PSD quality gave prof great career

I am a product of Pasco schools — Whittier Elementary through Chiawana High School, Class of 2013. Today I’m a nursing professor, and a doctoral student. None of that would have happened without what this district gave me.

A 7th grade teacher at Ochoa taught me to think critically by analyzing Super Bowl ads — a skill I use every single day as a nurse and educator. My PE teacher told us when we were tired to lean forward, not back, and let our momentum carry us. I still hear her voice.

The district also noticed a small group of us excelling in math and created an advanced track that led me to Running Start — and ultimately to my entire career.

On April 28, Pasco voters decide whether to renew the Educational Programs and Operations Levy. This is not a new tax. Without it, the district loses nearly $50 million per year — meaning fewer teachers, fewer programs, fewer kids getting the start they deserve.

Even if you don’t have children in the district, the nurses and neighbors who will care for this community someday are sitting in Pasco classrooms right now.

Lean forward, Pasco. Vote yes.

Jacob Garcia, Pasco

Trader Joe’s not coming to region

This is my reply to the letter writer last week to help Trader Joe’s make the decision to come to Tri-Cities.

They aren’t coming. I wrote Trader Joe’s a long time ago, and what they replied to me was they have done the market research, and we don’t fit the mold for numerous reasons.

Trader Joe’s market research targets highly educated, high-income urban or suburban areas with high population density and high mobility (parking/access), often looking to enter a market with a single, highly successful flagship location before expanding further.

Some of the reasons we do not fit the mold:

Population is spread out, not dense. We live in a suburban, car-dependent layout. Inconsistent income/demographics. Not enough core target shoppers. Economy doesn’t strongly match their typical customer base. Too geographically isolated for easy logistics. Not part of a store cluster. Retail scene favors big-box over specialty. Growth is recent, not long-established. No ideal site that fits their strict criteria.

They don’t just look at what the store could do. They look at what other stores have done.

Sure, places like Grocery Outlet and Natural Grocers were popular for the first three months. But once the shine wore off, then the popularity faded as with everything else.

Steve Williams, Richland

Missing Trader Joe’s, her top spot

We live in West Richland and moved here 10 years ago from Eugene, Ore. One thing I truly miss is my Trader Joe’s store.

I have actually asked the company several times to please bring a store here! This area is growing so quickly, I just know Trader Joe’s would be accepted here. West Richland needs more store options.

Please come visit and consider our area.

Leslie G. Sessiel, West Richland

Strategy only not enough to win war

General Dwight Eisenhower won battles because he was a brilliant tactician. He won wars because he was a brilliant strategist.

The North African campaign in World War II is a classic example that strategy beats tactical brilliance. Eisenhower and Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery didn’t defeat General Erwin Rommel by outsmarting him on the battlefield.

They defeated him by shaping the entire theater so that Rommel’s great tactical skills no longer mattered. Eisenhower’s and Montgomery’s tactics were born out of strategic thinking. Rommel was not a strategist.

King Trump is like Rommel. He started the war with Iran by directing our military to engage in tactical efforts. In response, militarily weaker Iran uses strategy to prevent Trump from succeeding. The end of this war is not imminent.

Secretary Pete Hegseth follows King Trump’s ideological tactics without strategic plans. He is the opposite of a strategist, as evinced by his firing of generals and admirals who were capable of developing strategic plans and retaining those who won’t argue with King Trump.

Trump and his administration are a bunch of barking dogs; they make a lot of noise.

Also, my thanks to Bill Petrie for his great letters to the editor.

Jim Tow, Richland