Clinton and Trump are named in Jeffrey Epstein documents, no wrongdoing alleged
USA TodayJan 02
Jeffrey Epstein-Linked Names Revealed
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The Facts
The first set of unsealed documents — totaling nearly 950 pages — from a 2015 lawsuit connected to alleged sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein were publicly released on Wednesday.
The names identified in the newly released court filings include high-profile figures, such as former US Pres. Donald Trump, the UK's Prince Andrew, billionaire Tom Pritzker, singer Michael Jackson, and physicist Stephen Hawking.
The Spin
Establishment-critical narrative
The records provide a reminder of how Jeffrey Epstein rubbed elbows with famous and influential figures, including royalty, politicians, and celebrities. While they can now minimize their ties to Epstein or distance themselves from his pedophile network, there's no denying the fact that some of the most respected personalities worldwide had a close relationship with a wealthy sex trafficker. The Epstein saga is just the beginning of a massive public awakening about the corruption and crime that plague the world's most powerful institutions.
Pro-establishment narrative
Court papers simply detail Jeffrey Epstein's connections. They neither contain any alleged wrongdoing nor charge them with criminal or civil liability. While unsealing names is good for transparency's sake, it may put innocent people in harm's way because there's a possibility they committed no crimes, had no meaningful contact with Epstein, and knew nothing about his alleged illicit activities. While the documents may reveal Epstein's uncanny lifestyle, they don't answer many questions, including how he could successfully amass a vast fortune.
