The international media has been dominated by revelations from millions of pages of documents related to convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, released by the US Justice Department. These files have exposed numerous scandals, prompting the resignation of long-serving British politician Peter Mandelson and even implicating figures like Bill Gates and Elon Musk, who have since offered apologies or denied involvement in Epstein's more heinous activities. The scandal, while seemingly distant, serves as a stark reflection of how extreme wealth and high-level social connections can enable individuals to circumvent legal and ethical boundaries, continuing relationships even after convictions.

The Epstein saga highlights significant institutional failures across multiple sectors. The justice system's initial inaction on victim complaints dating back to 1996, with files activated a full decade later, and a lenient 2008 plea agreement that shielded co-conspirators, demonstrates a disturbing disinterest in investigating the wealthy and powerful. The media also showed complicity, largely ignoring these systemic failures for years until courageous investigative journalists like Julie K Brown, Emily Maitlis, and John Connoly brought the full scale of abuse to light. Financial institutions such as JPMorgan Chase overlooked compliance red flags, and academic entities like the Massachusetts Institute of Technology continued to accept donations from Epstein even after his conviction. Furthermore, various political administrations, including those of Clinton, Obama, Biden, and even Trump's first term, initially failed to pursue comprehensive investigations, with the current file release occurring only after pressure from political bases and members of Congress.

Amidst these revelations, there is a widespread public demand for accountability and justice for the victims. It is crucial not to lose sight of the hundreds of young women and girls who were sexually exploited and trafficked, whose stories were often discounted or sidelined for decades. The legal system's focus on protecting high-profile reputations frequently came at the cost of retraumatizing these victims, overlooking