As layer after layer of the Epstein files are prised open to reveal the deprivation of the ruling elite around Epstein and his cronies, whistleblowers and survivors are being retraumatised as they try to divert attention from the guilty. This is intentional. During a US Congressional ‘Oversight’ hearing it was revealed that lawyers had written to Attorney General Pam Bondi with a list of victims, who did not want their names publicised. That very same letter with the same list of victims was then released to the public by Bondi.
Epstein’s crimes were first revealed over two decades ago – since then those involved, and the ruling elite in general, have been involved in a huge cover-up. Even now, only half of the files, heavily redacted, have been released. The mainstream media has been complicit, whitewashing and downplaying the role of business and the ruling elite in these crimes.
This follows a long line of cover-ups. Just ten years ago, release of the “Panama Papers” revealed an immense global network of government, state and business leaders involved in the illegal avoidance of billions of dollars in tax. But once the anger died down, no significant figure was arrested, let alone imprisoned. Now it has been revealed that the FBI covered up an earlier case of a millionaire purchased island, North Fox Island, which was used to establish a network of rich paedophiles and possible child murders.
The failure to act in previous cases, and the more than decade long cover-up to protect the rich individuals linked to Epstein and his collaborators has shown a green light to those involved allowing them to continue their systematic abuse and brutally prolonged the suffering of survivors. If action had been taken as soon as Epstein was first suspected, the pain and agony of hundreds of victims could have been prevented.
The abuse
The cruelty of the ruling elite is demonstrated by, but not only by, the actions of the British monarchy. The former British Queen barely criticized her son Andrew for his relationship with Epstein, calling it “unwise”, before giving her “full support” to her son.
Now, with more information becoming public, the new King was forced to take action – kicking his brother out of the huge stately home he occupied at state expense to a smaller – five bedroom mansion with a huge country estate attached. Andrew still complains there is not enough room for his servants!
Prince William, next in line to the throne and his wife Kate, having kept quiet before, have now issued a public statement expressing their “concern”. Within hours, however, William flew off to Saudi Arabia to meet with the notorious Prince Mohammed bin Salmon, who oversees one of the most oppressive and anti-women regimes in the world.
Bin Salmon showed William around his modernisation project – “Saudi Arabia 2030”, which has a large investment from “DP World” the CEO of which – Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem – has just been named as being involved with Epstein, including sending him tapes of torture! DP World is also a “Founding partner” of Prince William’s charity “The Earthshot prize”. Despite a number of business resignations and businesses distancing themselves from DP World, at the time of writing, the silence from William has been deafening.
Prince Laurent from Belgium and Sweden’s Prince Sofia also found themselves on different occasions in Epstein’s presence. More notoriously, Norwegian ‘Crown Princess’ [whatever that may be] Mette-Marit, whose own son is facing multiple drug, abuse and rape charges, was a long term friend to Epstein.
The Saudi royalty, at the time of writing hosting the “deeply concerned” Prince William, is also involved. Epstein had a photograph of himself with Mohammed bin Salman on his New York sideboard, while bin Salmon’s royal advisor Raafat al-Sabbagh had a close relationship. He wrote letters to Epstein with comments such as “I am sure you are opening so many legs there”.
The fraud
Epstein’s lifestyle was not possible without money? And he had barrow loads. How did once a plain maths teacher become so wealthy? To begin with by working for Bear Stearns, the US investment bank. They turned a blind-eye to his fraudulent resume, and exploited his skills in running scams, ignoring his insider deals and only occasionally questioning his massive expense claims which often included expensive gifts for friends.
After five years he left, using his already large bank account to make more money through his links with the UK arms industry and Ponzi schemes. He earned a reputation advising the rich how to avoid tax. He then returned to Bear Stearns where a senior executive would employ “eye candy”, and send Epstein a stream of young women to ‘’entertain’ him.
Bear Stearns collapsed in 2008, but the corrupt, misogynist culture is an essential part of the culture of banks, tech companies and big business today.
The corruption
When the mainstream media cover the Epstein scandal they barely raise an eyebrow about Epstein’s use of money. He used it to buy favours, undoubtedly influence people, as well as to manipulate events.
Sarah Fergusson, ex-wife of Prince Andrew, received $150,000 from Epstein to bail her out after she got into debt due to her sickenly extravagant lifestyle. British Labour Minister and then ambassador to the US Peter Mandelson doesn’t even recall that he received $75,000 from Epstein. The same Mandelson then received several tens of thousands of dollars in compensation from the British taxpayer after being sacked in disgrace . Tens of thousands were donated by Epstein to Rockefeller University, Harvard University and to refurbish the White House during the Clinton Presidency.
It may never be known exactly who, and how many people received donations like these or what influence they bought. After all, organisations such as JP Morgan, which handled over $1billion of Epstein’s money over the years and Deutsche Bank, which after his sentencing opened forty different accounts for him are hardly known for their transparency.
One donation does cry out for investigation. A criminal investigation has been opened into two top Norwegian diplomats, Mona Juul, ambassador to Jordan and Iraq. and her husband Terje Rød-Larsen, former president of the International Peace Institute (IPI), on suspicion of gross corruption. Rød-Larsen was one of the key architects of the Oslo Peace Accords, which have done so much damage to the Palestinian cause. Reportedly, not only did Epstein help the couple buy their luxury home in Oslo at half its market value and lend them $130,000, he also left their children $10 million in his will!
The reactionary agenda
Epstein and his cronies were clearly trying to buy influence by bribing and possibly black-mailing politicians across the mainstream. But they also had their own right-wing agenda. The close links between Epstein and Trump’s now estranged adviser, Steve Bannon are revealed in emails. In these, Bannon explained how progress for their ideas in Europe is being made by supporting far right politicians such as Matteo Salvini, Farage, Le Pen and Orban. The two were encouraging support for Germany’s AfD. When Britain’s Theresa May resigned, he emailed – “now for Macron and Merkel”.
In 1997 Tony Blair won the British election promising that his party was now “New Labour” – a complete rejection of any previous socialist ideology, and committed to restrict any left-wing influence. The key organisers of this project were Alaistair Campbell and Peter Mandelson.
Campbell had been employed by Robert Maxwell – the notorious press magnate and Labour Peer, who stole the whole pension fund from his employees. Campbell was close enough to Maxwell’s daughter Ghisaine to spend an afternoon shopping with her in Paris. She introduced him to Epstein – although he says he only ever met him once for a discussion. Mandelson we now know was completely involved with Epstein. Tony Blair was later recognised as a war-criminal for his role in Bush’s Iraq War.
In 2015, Jeremy Corbyn was unexpectedly elected as Labour leader. This shocked and terrified the ruling elite and the Labour right. Mandelson worked with his acolyte, Morgan McSweeney, an open supporter of the Israeli state, in conjunction with the right wing “Labour Together” group to accuse Corbyn and anyone remotely on the left of “anti-semitism”.
Mandelson clearly coordinated with Epstein. He leaked sensitive financial information to Epstein in 2008, enabling him to further enrich himself in the wake of the Bear Stearns collapse and, in 2010 he was discussing tactics with him to get rid of Gordon Brown as Prime Minister.
Big business
Those named in the Epstein files, even when they claim not to have been involved in his sordid activities, have been exploiting the connections to further their business interests. Already some heads have rolled – including the CEO of Barclays, Chief legal officer at Goldman Sachs, Head of Rothchilds’ bank, and the chief of JP Morgan Chase. This is without the clear business links between Deutsche Bank and the tech moguls.
Once caught up in this poisonous spider’s web, disentanglement becomes impossible. One of Epstein’s closest friends was Peter Theil – who set up PenPal and Palantir. Palentir, in order to gain new contracts with Britain’s NHS worked with the political consultant “Global counsel” set up by Mandelson.
Wes Streeting, UK Health Secretary close to Mandelson, despite now frantically claiming his distance, was amongst those “lobbied” by Global counsel. Streeting is an open advocate of allowing private business into Britain’s state health system. He pushed through a large NHS contract with Palantir despite warnings from his own officials that the “public perception of Palantir would limit its rollout”. Palantir is rightly hated for its role in the Gaza genocide and ICE raids in the US. Now, thanks to Global Counsel it has nearly $700 million worth of government contracts in Britain.
The system is rotten
The tip of the iceberg has barely been uncovered. Trump and the global elite will do all they can to prevent the whole truth being revealed. A few heads will roll, maybe some will end up in ‘white collar’ prison, but the system that created Epstein will remain. The scandal is not simply a blemish on an otherwise healthy system, but is the very essence of capitalism. It can only be dealt with by getting rid of capitalism itself.