On January 30, 2026, the Department of Justice released to the public more than three million previously redacted files from the Federal Bureau of Investigation detailing the crimes and alleged crimes of disgraced late financier Jeffrey Epstein. The inundation of files includes public tips, interviews and testimonies, images, emails, etc. that were used by the DOJ in its prosecution of Epstein and his former partner, Ghislaine Maxwell, who was convicted in December 2021 of six sex trafficking-related counts and later sentenced for her crimes. Maxwell would then appeal this conviction, but the original decision was upheld by three different judges in the Second Circuit of the United States Court of Appeals in September 2024.
The files have resulted in much speculation and theories online about the full extent of Epstein’s crimes, an especially serious and uncomfortable topic given the many rich and powerful names associated with the deceased convicted sex offender. However, there is one issue that these files highlight that has not garnered, in my opinion, nearly enough media attention.
Conspiracy theories about a shadowy cabal of elites have been circulating online almost as long as the internet has been available to the public. These conspiracy theories often allege predatory behavior by these elites, with many believing this recent file release proves all of these allegations true. Though the files are de, but one truth that many seem to be ignoring is this: predatory behavior is not unique to rich and powerful elites. If anything, these files prove how tragically common these acts are.
Is it a coincidence that so many people have been named in these files? Not at all. According to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC), 81% of women in the United States report experiencing some form of sexual harassment. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 25% of young girls and 5% of young boys experience sexual abuse, with 90% of these crimes perpetrated by someone the child knows. Do all of these children personally know someone rich and powerful? Probably not.
“Predators range from family members to complete strangers,” says one student who requested anonymity. “They could be your family members. Sometimes, taking action against someone like a family member who has that type of power over you is a grave act that has scary consequences.”
The student continues, “I don’t know if acts like those could be totally stopped. To prevent it, I think it starts at a grassroots level, and that is incredibly difficult… There should be a wide intolerance towards actions like those, and even more serious repercussions for serious predators.”
“I’m not sure if it could ever be fully stopped,” opines another student who similarly requested anonymity. “It’s an uncomfortable truth that there are a lot of people out there who would do something awful like that.”
The student continues, “The best we can do is look out for warning signs and teach others about warning signs… That includes looking at stuff like body language and mannerisms. We have to recognize things early to prevent any more harm than what’s already been done.”
The contents of the recent file release are undoubtedly horrific. That horror is compounded by those involved: rich and powerful people. It feels intangible to the general public. However, it is anything but intangible. Predatory acts and behavior are far from exclusive to rich and powerful people. It is a pervasive issue in every echelon of greater society.
