Shattering the Shield of Identity Politics
Friday Flashpoint: February 20 2026
Very few things in life are as simple as assessing the character of Jeffrey Epstein as an individual after the release of the DOJ documents, just as few things are as predictable as the American habit of introducing identity politics to avoid accountability.
With religion, the shield deployed often is persecution or spiritual warfare against a “traditional” Christian. They try to make any criticism or accusations of serious wrong doing are simply attacks by those opposed to their “ministry,” when often the case has been that the problems were allowed to fester until they exploded.
Of course race has been used as an identity shield, such as when former Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon, was investigated for the theft of gift cards intended for the city’s impoverished citizens. Her defenders tried to frame the prosecution as a racially motivated “witch hunt” against a powerful Black woman. This rhetoric attempted to bypass the evidence—retail receipts showing the cards were used for personal electronics—by suggesting that the investigation itself was an act of systemic bias.
And then there the wild case of former Representative George Santos who when confronted with a 23-count federal indictment for identity theft and wire fraud, he consistently claimed he was being bullied by the swamp because he was a conservative threat to the establishment. In this instance, the identity of “Conservative” was used to mask the reality of misleading donors and misusing campaign funds.
“They are coming after me because I am Christian” no it is because you were being a bad leader and mistreating your staff.
“They are coming after me because I am Black” no it is because you misappropriate funds.
“They are after me because I am conservative” no it is because you were scamming.
For accountability to become the norm we have to break the circle the wagon’s mindset. In the case of the Epstein scandal, what should matter is justice, truth, and transparency. The group-identity of the perpetrators should matter only so much as it reveals patterns and motivations for the individual wrongdoer. But whatever it is, it cannot be allowed to be shield. In this regard, we can look to Britain for encouragement.
Former Royal Arrested
The major flashpoint this week is not the Supreme Court overturning the unconstitutional tariffs of 45/47 but the arrest of former Commonwealth Realms prince, Mr. Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.
The British response to the Jeffrey Epstein scandal provides a stark and instructive contrast to the mentality often seen in American identity politics. In the United Kingdom, the most elevated identity group—the Royal Family—has historically represented a level of status that once implied immunity. However, the downfall of Mr Mountbatten-Windsor is the shift in this scandal. If a prince of the greatest monarchy of the modern world can fall, then the elites are not completely untouchable. The UK has decided that the highest identity offers no protection against the pursuit of truth.
The stripping of Mountbatten-Windsor’s military affiliations and the HRH (His Royal Highness) status was the removal of his shield. His Majesty King Charles III was declaring that Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor would not be allowed to hide behind the throne; of all Western leaders it is Charles III who has demonstrated real profound moral leadership. He told the police to do their jobs, and they did. The investigation is on going, which the king made clear is exactly what he wants.
As a society, we must reach a point where the evidence of a crime is no longer obscured by the smokescreen of group grievance, anxiety or tribal loyalty. True justice requires that we see the individual for their actions, ensuring that no identity, whether it be Black, Christian, conservative, progressive, or even royal, is ever allowed to serve as a shield for wrongdoing. For that reason it is irresponsible for the breathless American press to excitedly try to pin Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s alleged misdeeds on the whole royal family. By salaciously trying to tie the monarchy of the king who has done the right thing, to the brother who seems to have done the wrong thing, the media encourages the logic of circling the wagons. And that is the logic we need to break.
Receipts
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/baltimore-mayor-guilty-of-gift-card-theft/
https://www.justice.gov/usao-edny/pr/ex-congressman-george-santos-sentenced-87-months-prison-wire-fraud-and-aggravated
https://www.thetimes.com/uk/royal-family/article/andrew-mountbatten-windsor-arrest-reactions-around-world-xjd258n8v?gaa_at=eafs&gaa_n=AWEtsqdfQKYsRG4AUpoXjVamGFY7aCuhWRCpIC6C3DAmj0hnQ_g9Y2AJk2AhrfvQt78%3D&gaa_ts=699905e1&gaa_sig=GPJvoIRU49Cf4NEb3mvxfZGL3rEsGLPiYvYe117YbLL9ejDYi3EG9fy_ETjAXCziSaBSCp0Z8EkLJxS3Ga7lKw%3D%3D
