THOMPSON: Epstein files proof rich, powerful men get their way

“This is a man’s world…
But it would be nothing…
Nothing without a woman or a girl.”
– James Brown, 1966

James Brown knew…even 60 years ago…that men ruled the world. Precisely, old, white men. Of course, that’s not the way it should be…but fact and truth are undeniable.

While Brown meant it as a tribute to womanhood…the compliment was a man’s perspective. The prevailing attitude and a hard one to die…men are in control. I wonder, after millennia, why women should not have more control over how and why and when countless aspects of life unfold?

Nowhere are the words of this song from the “hardest working man in show business” more true than when it comes to power and money. The Epstein Files are proof that rich, powerful men pretty much have their way…with everything they touch…including women or more accurately…young girls.

Jeffrey Epstein was a perfect storm in a long-standing sense that rich, powerful men can pretty much do as they please. It’s difficult to find in history a better example of men’s sense of entitlement than the illegal and immoral sex trafficking that Epstein and his associate, Ghislaine Maxwell, perpetrated on hundreds of young girls over decades.

The powers that be – again, mostly rich, powerful men – have long protected men that chose to violate the rule of law and abuse others for their enjoyment. American men are among the worst…Republicans or Democrats or Independents…when it comes to owning their bad behaviour.

Others around the world – guilty of using and abusing young girls – are beginning to pay the price. In America, Trump and his Department of Injustice are doing everything possible to cover up decades of not just sins…but behaviours so objectionable that should they come to light…no decent man or woman would let them stand without punishment.

In the U.K., Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor — the Andrew formerly known as Prince — was arrested on Feb. 19 on suspicions of misconduct in public office after accusations that he shared confidential government information.

Bittersweet…in that even with evidence of his illegal and immoral sexual behaviour, the British police went after him on another charge. It’s kind of like convicting Al Capone — who killed several people or had them killed — of tax evasion. Justice? A rose by any other name smells as bad to me.

Elsewhere, Thorbjorn Jagland, former prime minister of Norway, was charged with “gross corruption” in connection with his ties to Epstein…and “whether gifts, travel, and loans were received in connection with his position.” Okay, again, sort of justice perhaps, but why can’t the old, powerful — often rich — men in charge simply say, “we’re investigating whether this guy sexually assaulted a young girl?”

Another Norwegian, Mona Juul, was fired as ambassador to Jordan and Iraq after disclosures of financial dealings between her, her husband, and Epstein. Terje Rod-Larsen, Mona Juul’s husband, was left $10 million in Epstein’s will. Why? How good of a friend do you have to be to get remembered for that amount? Perhaps, we’ll see whether this and other cases reflect justice…or justice denied?

Peter Mandelson, Britain’s Ambassador to the U.S., was fired last September, and Morgan McSweeney, chief of staff to Prime Minister Keir Starmer of Britain, resigned under pressure on Feb. 8 over his role in Mandelson’s appointment. Mandelson has since resigned from both the Labour Party and the House of Lords, and is under investigation by London’s Metropolitan Police.

In Sweden, Joanna Rubinstein resigned as chair of the U.N. High Commission for Refugees after unsealed documents revealed she and her family visited Epstein on his private island in 2012.

The point of mentioning those accused in other countries is that — by and large — they resigned. In contrast, not a single person in the U.S. has done the right thing. Rather, they have denied, denied, denied…waiting for…the judgment of the courts?

Some in the U.S., like Thomas J. Pritzker, billionaire heir of the Hyatt Hotels fortune, have stepped down from executive positions. But Pritzker’s resignation — at 75 years old — was as much a public relations move to save the hotel chain a black eye as it was a matter of doing the right thing. He gave up little.

Some other business folks around the world resigned their positions. Casey Wasserman, whose flirtatious emails with Ghislaine Maxwell came to light, sold his Hollywood talent agency…but still serves as chairman of the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.

Sultan bin Sulayem, the head of the Dubai-based company, DP World, resigned on Feb. 13 after public documents showed attempts by him and Epstein to arrange mutual business, as well as lewd exchanges about women.

Dr. Peter Attia stepped down from his position as chief science officer for David, a protein bar company, after documents showed he had close contact with Epstein, visiting him, sharing medical advice, and exchanging crude emails about women for years.

Two other businessmen, James Staley, CEO of Barclays, and Leon Black of Apollo Global Management, resigned back in 2021. Staley maintained a relationship with Epstein long after his 2008 plea deal. Black paid Epstein $170 million for tax and estate advice — that must have been some advice. Black has since stepped down as Chairman of the Museum of Modern Art in New York City.

Members of academia and lawyers also have resigned from positions. Dr. Letty Moss-Salentijn and Dr. Thomas Magnani, both of Columbia University, left after accusations of helping an Epstein girlfriend get into the university’s dental school.

David Ross, a leader in the contemporary art world and past head of some top museums in the United States, resigned from his position as department chair at the School of Visual Arts in Manhattan when emails to Epstein revealing a friendship that spanned decades became public.

Larry Summers – a former Harvard president and Secretary of the Treasury in the Clinton administration – resigned from a couple of think tanks, and the New York Times no longer accepts his articles. Likewise, Arizona State University cut ties with Elisa New – Summers’ wife – when it discovered funding for her PBS program was due to Epstein.

Finally, Alexander Acosta resigned as Labor Secretary in 2019…the result of a ridiculous plea deal by Epstein in 2008…one of the first signs of an Epstein cover-up. George J. Mitchell, a Democrat politician, diplomat, and lawyer, who at 92, resigned from public life earlier this month…he corresponded with Epstein for more than a decade.

Let me make this perfectly clear…there have been repercussions for some…resignations are fine. But that’s not justice. Hundreds of young girls were violated…for decades. None of those perpetrating the crimes…rapes, illegal, and immoral acts – except Epstein, who’s dead, and Maxwell, who’s serving prison time – have been brought to justice.

It seems justice is something for the masses, for ordinary citizens, but not for the rich, white and powerful. The hundreds of young girls violated by Epstein and his “friends” have long suffered…then…and now. How they can believe in justice is anyone’s guess.

Sadly, James Brown knew…it’s a man’s world…then and even now.