Regardless of the rights and wrongs of his personal conduct, I certainly think he's being used as a distraction from bigger fish who were involved. There were multiple billionaires who suddenly seemed awfully fond of Epstein and giving him access to his riches. And of course we hear nothing more of the mass of incriminating sounds media taken from the man's properties. Sounds like having a perpetual hold on them is more useful than holding them to account.

Holy sh!t. So she's at it too?

Several in Epstein's orbit were under age though, and whether a year this way or that it's of course easy for for us to say 'why didn't they just not get involved' as if to disproportionately cast blame on them. The whole point of grooming is surely to create an atmosphere that is far more manipulative and controlling than it may appear on the surface. The wider context of the fact that he was a prolific pedo for decades is surely pertinent to what these girls went through. The idea that we can extract this one girl from it as some sexed up tart who was playing 4D Chess as a 'long con', would seem to be a very narrow view of the wider realities and power dynamics.

But in terms of Andrews involvement, yes I'd say we should judge it based on the extent of his personal involvement and whatever they legally may mean. He's something of a 'fall guy' for those who have had more unnerving and hand in glove involvement in Epstein's world.

Edited by BlueJay (14 Jan 2022 9.18am)

Most likely. I think Andrew would do almost anything to avoid going to trial though. A big financial settlement with a vague apology of some kind attached if my best guess!

She's certainly cut him loose it would appear. Anything to create distance and protect the institution it seems.

Presumably because out of innate arrogance, hubris, or whatever it is, he thought he was untouchable.
Leaving aside his now former position it’s just such a sleazy situation - he’s a bit younger than me but I genuinely can’t imagine any of my mates claiming he had access to a string of teenaged girls and we could all join in; most of my friends have grandchildren around that age and would find the suggestion quite abhorrent.