A non-profit organization, the Institute for Primary Facts, has transformed a Tribeca gallery into a physical library dubbed the Donald J Trump and Jeffrey Epstein Memorial Reading Room. The exhibit displays over 3,000 volumes containing 3.5 million printed pages of government-released Epstein investigation files, aiming to provide context to a scandal often lost in the digital news cycle.
Purpose and Presentation
David Garrett, one of the primary organizers, explained that the physical space helps visitors grasp the scale of the evidence, contrasting it with the fleeting nature of doomscrolling. The reading room is free and open through 21 May by appointment, though most visitors cannot browse the documents due to privacy concerns for victims whose personal information may not have been properly redacted by the government. The exhibit also features a timeline of allegations against Trump and Epstein, and a tribute of 1,400 artificial candles representing Epstein’s victims.
Criticism and Controversy
Critics argue the project prioritizes political messaging over utility. Investigative journalist Emma Best noted that binding the files makes them less readable and harder to update, suggesting the funds could have been better spent on research or archival work. Others view the exhibit as a political stunt aimed at keeping Trump’s association with Epstein in the headlines, especially with midterm elections approaching. Garrett acknowledged that the primary goal is attention, and the exhibit has indeed generated significant media coverage.
The Institute for Primary Facts, founded by Garrett, remains opaque about its funding, though its board includes Democratic strategist Jenna Lowenstein and Mary Corcoran of an anti-Trump PAC. Garrett stated that the project is not aligned with any campaign or party but is driven by concern over democratic erosion and Trump’s interference in investigations.
While the exhibit effectively demonstrates the scale of the Epstein case, its lack of utility and focus on Trump may undermine a fuller understanding of the networks that enabled Epstein’s crimes. The reading room stands as a provocative but ultimately unsatisfying exercise in radical transparency.
