Good post.
This was an open secret in DC for many decades.
Lobbyists who get the big fees must have blackmail files—while politicians can be bought by bribery there is no guarantee the slime stays bought.
Imho there is a “black market” of blackmail files on politicians—the pols are bought and sold like commodities for any special interest (including foreign intelligence services) willing to pay the entry fee.
One old example was J. Edgar Hoover (his own special interest group)—he collected the “dirt” on politicians to assure both ample FBI funding and to assure no President dare fire him.
Yes, the greatest of these is the "Epstien" list. I call it the one-ring (LOTR). Gollum has the one-ring now and will not give it up. The greatest threat to us is the deep state, specifically the intelligence community.