Statement from Phillip C. Parrish, Candidate for Governor of Minnesota (2026)
July 7, 2025
As a candidate for Governor of Minnesota in 2026, I stand committed to upholding the integrity, transparency, and moral leadership that our constitutional republic demands. Recent revelations surrounding Jeffrey Epstein’s activities, combined with credible evidence of intelligence operations involving honey pots, covert surveillance, and media manipulation, demand our urgent attention. As a concerned citizen and future leader, I feel compelled to address these disturbing allegations and their potential implications for Minnesota and our nation.
The evidence suggests a long-term intelligence operation—potentially involving the CIA, FBI, and even foreign entities like Israeli intelligence—utilized Epstein’s network to compromise politicians, diplomats, and elites. Historical precedents, such as Cold War blackmail tactics and declassified CIA experiments like Operation CHAOS, support the plausibility of such a scheme. Epstein’s private island, equipped with surveillance systems and frequented by powerful figures, appears to have been a hub for gathering compromising material, a tactic consistent with counterterrorism and national security strategies I’ve studied as a professional. The mysterious “data gap” in former U.S. Attorney Alexander Acosta’s emails during the 2007-2008 plea deal negotiations—attributed to a convenient server migration glitch—further fuels suspicion of a coordinated cover-up, a pattern echoed in other high-profile data losses.
While direct ties to Minnesota remain unproven, the potential reach of this operation cannot be ignored. Our state has not been immune to political scandals or the influence of powerful networks. The recent tragic shooting of Minnesota lawmakers Melissa Hortman and John Hoffman in June 2025, as reported by the Department of Justice, underscores the vulnerability of our elected officials to targeted attacks—possibly exacerbated by the kind of blackmail and manipulation Epstein’s network may have enabled. Though no concrete evidence links Epstein directly to Minnesota, the presence of influential figures with national ties in our state raises questions about whether local politicians or bureaucrats could have been ensnared in this web. As Governor, I will demand a full investigation into any Minnesota connections to ensure our leaders are free from such compromising influences.
I strongly condemn the use of honey pot operations, covert surveillance, and psychological operations (PSYOPS) to manipulate and control politicians and career bureaucrats. These tactics erode the foundation of our constitutional republic, where the principles of democracy are a lie without the rule of law. The legacy media’s initial silence on Epstein, followed by selective reporting, suggests a deliberate effort to shape narratives—a betrayal of journalistic integrity and public trust. Such actions undermine the very legal framework that safeguards our freedom and accountability.
If elected Governor in 2026, I pledge to champion transparency, protect our state’s leaders from external manipulation, and work with federal authorities to uncover the full extent of these operations. We must root out corruption, restore the rule of law, and ensure that no Minnesotan—elected official or citizen—is compromised by these despicable tactics. Together, we can rebuild a government where power serves the people, not the shadows, and uphold the true spirit of our constitutional republic.
For Minnesota, for justice, for our children’s future—I ask for your support.
Phillip C. Parrish
Candidate for Governor of Minnesota, 2026