A video posted on Instagram by Father David Gierlach, an Episcopal priest in Hawai‘i and member of a diocesan social justice task force, has drawn attention for its pointed commentary on national legal and political issues.
The video touched on President Donald Trump and his administraiton’s handling of the Epstein files, and other high-profile investigations.
Father Gierlach, who serves as the Vicar of Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Kailua and has a long background in community ministry, including social justice work in Honolulu, addressed what he described as a “pattern of chaos coming out of Washington” in a brief Instagram video.
In the video he referenced a series of controversies — from investigations involving state officials to foreign policy disputes — and posed a rhetorical question about the connection between them.
According to Gierlach, this purportedly serves as a distraction from public scrutiny of seized materials from Jeffrey Epstein’s estate, which he claims contain “damning information” linked to Trump. He argued for the appointment of a special master to assume control of those files and release them in accordance with the law.
The priest’s commentary reflects broader public debate over classified materials investigations involving Trump and ongoing questions by some commentators about the contents of evidence related to Epstein that became government property. However, there is no verified public evidence that the Epstein materials contain information implicating Trump in criminal conduct, and legal experts caution against speculating about evidence that remains under judicial control.
What Gierlach Said
In the Instagram video — shared on the account @davidgierlach — Gierlach questioned motives behind what he called “complete chaos” in federal and international affairs, linking it to efforts to keep the Epstein-related files from public view.
“I’ve been wondering what is motivating the complete chaos coming out of Washington from the former Department of Justice, now known as the Trump law firm, investigating the governor of Minnesota and the mayor of Minneapolis, to the embarrassment of the opposition leader in Venezuela handing over her Nobel Peace Prize to the ‘child in chief’ so that he can do something with it, to the continued insanity of threatening our NATO ally Greenland with a US invasion, to the investigation of the chair of the Federal Reserve because he won’t do Trump’s bidding. What does all of this chaos have in common?
“Well, it keeps us from asking about when are those Epstein files going to be released, and there must be some incredibly damning information against Trump in those files to go to these lengths to keep them secret,” he said.
He urged Congress to demand that a special master be appointed to oversee and release those materials. He also characterized Trump as “scared to death” of the files and suggested that their release could hasten his removal from office. The remarks conclude with a blessing for the audience.
Legal and Ethical Considerations
While American citizens — including clergy — have broad First Amendment protections to express opinions on political and legal matters, professional commentators and legal analysts stress the importance of distinguishing opinion from fact, particularly when discussing ongoing investigations and unverified allegations. Calls for a special master over classified or sensitive materials have arisen in various legal contexts, but such appointments are governed by statute and judicial discretion rather than unilateral executive or legislative fiat.
Context on the Speaker
Father Gierlach is known in Hawai‘i Episcopal circles for his ministry and advocacy on social issues. He previously led St. Elizabeth’s Episcopal Church in Honolulu before serving at Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Kailua and has been recognized for community efforts addressing homelessness and social justice concerns.
Editorial Note
This article reports on public statements made on social media and places them in a legal context. It does not independently verify speculative claims about the contents of specific investigative materials or ongoing legal matters. Readers are encouraged to follow developments from official court filings and credible news sources for updates.
