An undated photograph shows Jeffrey Epstein aboard a private plane with a woman whose identity has been obscured, a haunting image from the Epstein Estate released via House Oversight and ZUMA Press Wire. This visual starkly contrasts with the ongoing discourse surrounding the scandal, which often veers away from its grim reality.
The Political Distraction from Abuse
So, the Epstein scandal is fundamentally about politics? This notion seems absurd when considering it revolves around the mass abuse of women and girls. Marina Hyde argues that obsessing over individual figures and political chaos allows society to sidestep confronting deep-seated misogyny. This diversion, she suggests, might be convenient for many, particularly men in power.
Melinda French Gates' Candid Remarks
In a notable move, Melinda French Gates, ex-wife of Bill Gates, recently appeared on a podcast to address the Epstein files. While many men implicated have remained hidden, she spoke openly, stating, "Whatever questions remain there of what I don’t – can’t – even begin to know all of it, those questions are for those people, and for even my ex-husband. They need to answer to those things, not me." She expressed relief at being distanced from the "muck" and pondered if society is truly having a reckoning.
Hyde counters this optimism, asserting that no such reckoning is occurring. In the UK, headlines are dominated by figures like Peter Mandelson, who, while involved in image rehabilitation for Epstein, was not directly accused of sexual abuse. This focus on political fallout, rather than the core issue of male-on-female debasement, is described as "weird" and a displacement activity. Hyde mocks the characterization of the Mandelson affair as "the scandal of the century," emphasising it pales in comparison to the abuse at the heart of the story.
The Dark Reality of Power and Philanthropy
The scandal reveals a disturbing trend where abusive operations are repackaged as philanthropic ventures. Hyde references a clip of Epstein with Steve Bannon, where Epstein claims, "I made my living from old thinking, but the future is for the way women think," while Bannon questions this as a sop for his depravity. Posthumously, Bannon reframed Epstein as "a globalist child molester," yet correspondence shows Bannon once suggested Epstein establish a centre to combat human trafficking, highlighting the hypocrisy.
Hyde speculates that without Epstein's arrest, the world might have seen "The Jeffrey Epstein Underage Sex Trafficking Foundation," a grim parody of charity that could attract wealthy donors turning a blind eye to abuse. This mirrors real-world cases where abusers use philanthropy to access victims, from churches to aid organisations.
Societal Complicity and Avoidance
Emails reveal figures like photographer Andres Serrano expressing disgust over outrage towards Trump's "grab them by the pussy" comments, while Epstein considered mimicking Brett Kavanaugh's denial tactics in Senate hearings. Hyde notes that Kavanaugh's confirmation succeeded, and Trump's presidency endured, underscoring how power structures protect abusers.
She urges moving beyond elite pearl-clutching to examine what actions have been taken to dismantle the attitudes enabling such crimes. Citing journalist Julie K Brown, Hyde agrees that Epstein evaded justice because society allowed it. Each file dump, she argues, perpetuates the same avoidance, with priorities like money, power, and political projects overshadowing the fight against misogyny.
Ultimately, Hyde concludes that abused women and girls are treated as mere plot devices in a world dominated by "pussy-grabbers," with the Epstein files merely laying this reality bare in black and white.
