Epstein: Deep Dive
Character Analysis
Jeffrey Epstein was one of America’s infamous criminals, committing acts that many could not expect from such a wealthy and significant individual. His wealthy position shielded him from the public eye, allowing him to form his pedophilic trafficking business in the shadows. Epstein was a white male around six feet tall, with blue eyes, a forward lip purse, a lengthy face, and maintained a well-groomed, slick back hairstyle that matched his wealthy appearance. He was prideful and manipulative, while using his power to lure innocent women and influence many powerful figures in high society.
Epstein showed an immense sense of pride; law enforcement searched one of his houses, discovering photographs of young girls, a massage table, and explicit items, leading Assistant US Attorney Alex Rossmiller to state, “This is not an individual who has left his past behind” (Orden). Epstein even owned a collection of homes in various countries where he conducted his trafficking business, but the center of his sex trafficking ring was located at his private islands, Little St. James Island and Great St. James (Tognini). Before departing for his island, eyewitnesses spotted Epstein multiple times on nearby island St. Thomas, boarding his private plane with multiple female children (Aguirre). Victims have also come out and shared their experience with Epstein. One victim in particular, Chauntae Davies, notes that, "He bragged about his powerful friends, including our current president, Donald Trump" (Moore). Epstein viewed himself as untouchable, expressing no concern for concealing evidence as he never imagined he would be held accountable.
Epstein was manipulative, maintaining a tight grip on his targets, forcing them into quitting their jobs and working for him (Rumpf-Whitten). Former victim Virginia Giuffre recalled that girls were “At his beck and call, day and night. No exceptions” (Rumpf-Whitten). If she told anyone, he would reinforce his control by threatening her family, saying, “We know where your brother goes to school. You must never tell a soul what goes on in this house” (Rumpf-Whitten). Epstein did not commit these crimes alone; in fact, he had groomed an accomplice, Ghislaine Maxwell, the daughter of Robert Maxwell, who came from a wealthy background that allowed her to associate with elite social circles (Donegan). However, she didn’t have any ambition in her father’s work, mainly existing in the background and benefitting from her family’s wealth (Donegan). Ghislaine met Epstein around the time her father died, where he would shower her with special treatment, receiving around thirty million dollars in gifts (Donegan). Ghislaine treated Epstein as an idol, to the point where journalist Moira Donegan stated, “This seems to have been her posture toward Epstein for the entire time she knew him; slavish, nearly worshipful” (Donegan). Many speculate that the reason for her worship is that Epstein made her feel wanted, and she believed that helping him with his kink would make Epstein love her and feel useful (Donegan). In 2008, Epstein was even able to somewhat control the law (Chappell). Pleading guilty allowed him to serve only thirteen months in county jail under a plea deal negotiated by top-tier lawyers, which gave him a lenient sentence and allowed him to avoid federal prosecution because of a non-prosecution agreement (Chappell). This was faced with backlash as a victim under the alias “Jane Doe” stated that she was “Not informed that the Epstein case was being resolved with a plea deal” (Chappell). This demonstrates Epstein’s manipulative power as he was able to control not only vulnerable women, but his tolerant sentence uncovers the flaws in the legal system, permitting him to evade justice.
Jeffrey Epstein’s actions reveal how his social status gave him an immense sense of pride, believing he was above the law. He was a manipulative and controlling man who abused his power of wealth and influence to groom and abuse vulnerable individuals. Epstein’s abuse shows how the misuse of power can corrupt the mind, resulting in a distorted sense of morality and the glaring failure in our society that has a bias towards the powerful, while being impartial towards the powerless.