NO PERSON has had so much influence and power over so many high-ranking world figures — politicians, royalty, businessmen, members of the Silicon Valley elite, even foreign intelligence officers — than the late financier Jeffrey Epstein. So much so that it defies explanation.
The United States Department of Justice has so far released to the public about 3.5 million files, among them 180,000 images and 2,000 videos, referring to the contacts of Epstein that gave details of his extensive and close connections to the rich and powerful. These were revealed after the US Congress passed the Epstein Files Transparency Act. These once-secret details include wide networks with Russian figures, Israel’s Mossad and other intelligence-gathering operatives.
Most of these high-profile and powerful people — many of them holding public office —were shocked and embarrassed, and also disturbed that their reputation was negatively impacted, when Epstein was arrested in July 2019 and charged with child sexual abuse offenses for allegedly abusing dozens of underage girls in his New York mansion and in Palm Beach, Florida.
He also had an isolated island home, named Little Saint James, in the US Virgin Islands, and a home in New Mexico. Many underage girls were allegedly kept for sexual abuse and trafficking by Epstein in these homes, which had many powerful people come as his special guests. There is no indication these guests were involved with any wrongdoing.
Epstein’s friends and colleagues were clearly aware of the constant availability of underage girls in these homes and may have welcomed sexual favors. They had no tolerance of any protector or opponent of child sexual abuse. The late pope Francis was an outspoken critic of such abuse and human trafficking.
The documents released by the US Justice Department showed that Epstein discussed with Steve Bannon, a Catholic who served as Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign chief and White House top strategist, how to bring down Francis, whom he considered “the Enemy.” This was rooted in Bannon’s right-wing political ideology and populist nationalism, of which the Jesuit pontiff was a harsh critic.
Bannon worked with Epstein, and he reportedly told European populist politicians that Francis is “the Enemy” due to the pope’s support, compassion and universal welcome for migrants. Epstein had no respect for Francis’ hard stance against child sexual abuse and their perpetrators, and clearly found a common cause with Bannon.
According to the files released by the Justice Department, Epstein sexually abused and trafficked more than 1,200 people, many of them children.
A lawsuit alleged that Epstein trafficked girls as young as 11 years old. Media reports say child sex traffickers and well-paid recruiters brought dozens of girls to Epstein’s New York mansion to give massages and sexual services to friends and visitors.
In 2005, police at Palm Beach began an investigation and identified as victims 36 girls between 14 and 17 years old.
Blaming the victims
Some of the victims tried to speak out, and there were several documented reports of suspected child abuse in his properties well before his first arrest and charges in 2006. But a combination of systemic institutional failures, aggressive legal intimidation, and Epstein’s immense social and financial influence, effectively buried them.
Victims noted that when they tried to report to local authorities, they faced extreme victim-blaming. (To be continued)/PN
