I understand the fascination with the Epstein files, but the major concern for me is finding justice for the 1,000-plus women who were raped and trafficked.
We are not sure where all the trafficking and sexual assaults took place and therefore cannot determine what the statutes of limitations in the various jurisdictions are, nor do we know what crimes may have been committed and by whom. The release of all the information is crucial to see if further charges can be brought, whether for sexual assaults, Mann Act violations, state sex trafficking charges, coverups, bribery, or any other charges or claims, civil or criminal.
The object should be to criminally prosecute the perpetrators and anyone who subverted justice on behalf of Epstein and his friends and to seek compensation for the victims. Certainly the conduct of the various law enforcement officials and prosecutors should be closely scrutinized to see if they acted legally and competently and without undue political or corrupt influence.
All that said, humans are preternaturally interested in the salacious details of the rich and powerful acting badly. Actually, that is probably the norm for us. Perhaps schadenfreude, but I think that fascination about the sex life and misdeeds of celebrities is perhaps the key driver for the inundation of stories about what Trump did or may have done—or Clinton, ex-Prince Andrew, etc.
I am troubled by the drumbeat of speculation and innuendo about the individuals who spent time with Epstein. They may deserve opprobrium if they continued to party and treat Epstein as a friend or business colleague once they knew he acted criminally, but that is different from a broad belief that anyone associated with him participated in criminal sexual assaults or helped protect him from criminal prosecution.
I learned a long time ago that if you lie down with dogs, you get fleas. But having no sense of ethics and being willing to continue a relationship knowing that your friend is a sexual predator and a pimp is different from participating in those acts. That is not to say that Epstein’s knowing associates and friends should not suffer for their conduct—they should, and if their reputations are destroyed by this knowing association, so be it. I think I would have a hard time accepting a lift on a plane or a donation to my university research lab from a sex trafficker and a pedophile.
Perhaps one lesson to be gleaned from all this is how accepting so many people were of Epstein’s largess and friendship after they knew who and what he was. Maybe money, and what someone can do for you to help you get more of it, is the deeply corrupting influence it is supposed to be.
“For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil,” says 1 Timothy 6:10. If it was not the love of money or the lift by private plane or the parties in New York that caused those relationships to endure, it may have been the love of what Epstein could do for them by providing them with other services. The released documents may illuminate the motives of lots of Epstein’s associates.
I have looked at the summary of documents so far released. What is conspicuous is the lack of so much relevant documentation, from the proposed indictment, the detailed emails of Epstein, and the actual contents of so many sources of information, as well as the often strange redactions. As I write this, the Justice Department has just said there are a million more documents that will be released.
As a trial lawyer, I understand the difficulty of providing documents in lawsuits. Everything from privilege issues to content review and proper redactions have to be done carefully and pursuant to a courts order or, in this case, a statute. That said, I get the feeling that the Justice Department is treading very carefully in order to not upset the president.
Unfortunately for him, he signed the bill requiring the release and would be hard pressed to complain about it. The bill is broad and comprehensive, and the bi-partisan House of Representatives committee heads are ready to make sure it is enforced either by contempt or through litigation.
We will get answers, perhaps because of the public’s interest in the titillating nature of the subject, but whatever the reason may be, we must get justice for the victims and punish those who committed the crimes and perhaps corrupted the justice system on behalf of the rich and famous.
