Afrasianet - The case of the late American businessman Jeffrey Epstein, accused of running a vast network of sexual exploitation and trafficking of minors, has become a test of the ability of U.S. institutions to hold powerful people accountable and uncover the truth about what happened.
In an article published in the New York Times, author Rachel Louise Snyder argues that the millions of pages released from the case files do not represent the end of the road, but rather evidence of the scale of the collective failure to protect victims and hold those involved accountable.
Snyder begins her article by describing a visit to a temporary exhibit in Washington called the "Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein Reading Hall" near the Justice Department in Washington, where 3,437 volumes of some 3.5 million pages of documents have been released so far. She says the scene painted a shocking picture of the failure of many institutions to address years of crimes.
Accountability of those who did and who failed
The many-provoking slogan "Release all files" is not only a political curiosity, but also a demand for accountability for anyone who actually contributed or failed to continue Epstein's crimes. The U.S. Department of Justice, despite a law requiring it to release the files, has provided incomplete documents full of withheld information, leaving many questions unanswered.
The New York Times quotes survivors of Epstein's network as saying that justice is not served simply by financial compensation or the death of some of the accused. Epstein is dead, and his partner, Ghislaine Maxwell, is serving a prison sentence, while many victims believe that other figures and institutions have come out of the case with minimal accountability.
A number of major banks, including Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase and Deutsche Bank, have paid more than $400 million to settle civil lawsuits filed by victims who accused these institutions of ignoring or facilitating Epstein's financial activities. But she argues that these settlements do not represent real justice, because the profits made by those institutions far outweigh the value of the damages.
Public opinion did not close the file
The article also points out that the case involved public figures who have been associated with Epstein to varying degrees, and that President Trump continues to deny any wrongdoing, as well as accusations of sexual misconduct by some women.
Snyder says Europe appears to be more active in following the leads, with new investigations opened in France and Norway, arguing that international pressure could help uncover those involved who have not yet been held accountable.
Justice in Epstein's case is not limited to the publication of documents or the issuance of reparations, but requires an independent and thorough investigation that includes all those who covered up or facilitated the crimes, whether they were government officials, financial institutions, or influential figures.
She asserts that the American public has not yet closed this file, and that the demand for truth and accountability continues, even if the Justice Department considers that the case is nearing its end.
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Source: The New York Times
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