With each successive trove of documents released by the Department of Justice related to Jeffrey Epstein, a disturbing picture emerges of how the elite class behaves behind closed doors, and just how connected many were to the late sex trafficker. The lack of accountability in the United States is striking.
A Two-Tiered Justice System?
The list of prominent politicians, media figures, academics, and business leaders who maintained close relationships with Epstein is extensive. Yet, the number of individuals facing meaningful consequences, at least within the U.S., remains remarkably short. Brad Karp, a top Democratic Party fundraiser, was recently removed as chair of the law firm Paul Weiss after his ties to Epstein were revealed. Peter Attia, a celebrity doctor and new hire at CBS News, resigned from a protein bar company after emails surfaced showing him making inappropriate jokes with Epstein. Economist Larry Summers was deemed “toxic” following a previous DOJ disclosure, went on leave from Harvard, and was dropped by numerous institutions. So far, that’s largely the extent of it.
This absence of serious repercussions isn’t accidental; it’s a deliberate choice made by powerful people. Meanwhile, in the United Kingdom, Prince Andrew has been stripped of his royal titles, becoming simply Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor after King Charles removed all remaining honors. The former CEO of Barclays has been barred from the finance industry, and the British ambassador to the United States, Peter Mandelson, was forced out. Prime Minister Keir Starmer faces risks to his leadership over the Mandelson appointment, with his chief of staff also forced to resign. In Slovakia, the national security adviser to the prime minister has also resigned. Accountability, it seems, is possible when there’s a will to enforce it.
Protecting the Powerful
Here in the U.S., elites have actively moved to shield those with connections to Epstein, including themselves. Donald Trump is the most glaring example; for any other president, his relationship with Epstein would have triggered impeachment proceedings. The newly released documents also reveal that many powerful individuals continued relationships with Epstein even after his 2008 conviction for soliciting a minor for prostitution. These include former presidential advisor Steve Bannon, Trump’s Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Tesla CEO Elon Musk, LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman, Palantir co-founder Peter Thiel, and Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates. The Justice Department’s extensive redactions have further slowed progress, but on Tuesday, Rep. Ro Khanna publicly named “six wealthy, powerful men that the DOJ hid for no apparent reason.”
If there’s to be any measure of accountability, the powerful people who palled around with Epstein, asked his advice, or otherwise provided cover for him need to be cast out of polite society forever.
The situation is complicated by the reactions of those implicated in the files. After facing the threat of a contempt of Congress citation, former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton have, under pressure, agreed to testify before the House Oversight Committee. They initially resisted subpoenas, even calling them “invalid and legally unenforceable,” until a bipartisan majority of the committee voted to move the measure to the full House. The expectation that Democrats would close ranks around them, as they have in the past, speaks to a sense of impunity among ruling elites regarding basic functions of the rule of law.
But make no mistake: real accountability demands that those who associated with Epstein, sought his advice, or covered for him be permanently ostracized from public life.
A Disdain for Common Norms
Beyond the salacious details and potential for further investigative journalism, the documents reveal a widespread casual disdain for ordinary people among the elite. Perhaps most jarring is how transparently they communicate a belief that norms, consequences, and even laws don’t apply to them. Countless emails show powerful people seeking Epstein’s advice on handling controversies, ranging from sexual assault allegations to human resources investigations and media scrutiny. Former Arizona State University professor Lawrence Krauss is a prime example; he turned to Epstein for public relations advice, solicited feedback on draft statements, and even received suggested cross-examination questions for his accusers.
The MIT Media Lab, heavily funded by billionaire Hoffman, accepted Epstein’s donations for years after his conviction, even soliciting funds in 2016. Internal staff flagged Epstein’s criminal history in 2013, sending a link to his Wikipedia page when Media Lab director Joichi Ito raised him as a potential donor, according to a university-commissioned report. Ito ignored these concerns, accepted Epstein’s money, and remained in contact until 2019, exchanging text messages just months before Epstein’s death. He even attempted to arrange a meeting between himself, Hoffman, and Epstein during a 2016 conference, promising to bring over “interesting people” from the event.
Similarly, prominent evolutionary biologist Robert Trivers continued to solicit funding from Epstein until at least 2017, receiving a check in January and sending a thank you note in August. Trivers, along with Ito, demonstrates how Epstein remained influential long after becoming a convicted sex offender. In a February 2017 email, Trivers even joked about his association with Epstein being described as a “folly,” referencing his own book, The Folly of Fools. He also credited Epstein with suggesting he expand his speaking engagements, which led to a speaking opportunity in London.
The Epstein saga unfolds against a backdrop of eroding trust in institutions and elites. What it has revealed is that these elites were undeserving of our trust in the first place, and that their interests lie primarily with one another. Rebuilding a healthy public sphere requires reforming the system to be worthy of trust, and that means permanently removing those who lack basic decency from positions of power and influence.
Correction: February 10, 2026, 6:49 p.m. ET
This story has been updated to clarify that Summers went on leave from his teaching role at Harvard voluntarily.
