For what it’s worth, I have an opinion based on a brief review of the most recent Epstein file dump online.
I am not the least bit surprised by the so called “revelations“.
Let’s review:
- A bunch of wealthy people hang out with each other and think they are above the laws, rules and norms of society.
- Some of these people act indecently, distastefully or criminally in private expecting absolutely no consequences.
- Other people who aren’t yet part of the uber wealthy glom on to Epstein and his cohort of wealthy associates, governments leaders and celebrities basically kissing ass to be included in this exclusive group.
- Many people, both in the 1% and not, tolerate questionable conversations, activities and behavior because of their own self-interests. The want to be at the parties, fly on private jets, vacation on a private island, rub elbows with world leaders, have sex with young women and prostitutes, etc.
We already knew all of this long before the sordid details of Epstein ever entered the public conscious. It’s just another example of the Emperor’s New Clothes.
The sexual predation, the abuse, the reported rape and the other criminal allegations just make it even more heinous and atrocious.
As for Epstein himself, based on what I read about him, he’s just like a common grifter and con man. He lied, manipulated, blackmailed, schemed and cheated to achieve his objectives of wealth, power, sex, etc.
His sexual predation, his accumulation of wealth and the level of the people he associated with just make what he did seem so extraordinary and atrocious. But as I thought about it, I thought about Bernie Madoff, Elizabeth Holmes, Enron, Worldcom, The 2008 Mortgage Crisis, The Dot Com implosion… They all share much in common. Con men.
As for the surprises, there were a few for me and undoubtedly there will be more discovered over time as people sift through the overload of documents that Trump’s team clearly released in a flood with the intent to overwhelm the public.
I was surprised to read Peter Attia’s email exchanges with Epstein. His apology was one of the best I’ve read, but I’m disappointed to see some of the sycophantic glommer behavior he displayed during that time. I thought he had higher moral character. Perhaps he does now. Or perhaps he’s like many others, including me at times in my life, who has kissed ass and put up with distasteful behavior from others in order to try to get ahead financially and professionally.
I like to think I have better character. That I’m a better man. That I have a strong inviolable morals. Maybe I do. Or maybe, I was just placed in situations where my own transgressions were not in the public eye or at that level. I’m know this – I know I’m not exceptional. I’m surely not one-in-a-million when it comes to moral character or anything else, no matter how highly I think of myself.
I’ll conclude with this. Of course the Epstein files are attracting attention. Sex. Power. Money. Abuse. Behind closed doors emails of the elite being revealed. Stories like this sell like they always have and always will.
I suspect a few people will go down for this. Some may face criminal prosecutions. Others will have their reputations tarnished or their legacies smeared. Many of these so called scandalous revealings will eventually fade into the background.
As for people’s behavior, I suspect little will change.