New Epstein documents expose elite ties and fuel global demands for justice
Newly released docs and ongoing investigations into Jeffrey Epstein's crimes have reignited global outrage. The revelations expose deep ties between the convicted sex offender and powerful figures in politics, royalty, and business. Meanwhile, fresh scrutiny of misogynistic violence—from Epstein's network to extremist attacks—has sparked demands for accountability.
The Epstein scandal first erupted in 2014, but public fury surged after his 2019 arrest and death. Since then, US courts have unsealed thousands of docs, revealing connections to figures like Bill Clinton, Donald Trump, and Bill Gates. Civil lawsuits against Ghislaine Maxwell, convicted in 2021, continue, while 2024-2025 document releases triggered media frenzies and calls for broader investigations. The UN has even suggested Epstein's crimes—including sexual slavery, torture, and femicide—could qualify as crimes against humanity.
In the UK, Prince Andrew faced intense backlash over his Epstein links. A 2022 settlement with accuser Virginia Giuffre cost him his royal titles and led to parliamentary inquiries. Polls now show declining support for the monarchy amid the scandal. Meanwhile, France has probed Epstein's Paris properties and ties to late modelling agent Jean-Luc Brunel, though progress remains slow. Critics accuse the Macron government of shielding elites from full accountability.
Norway's monarchy also came under fire after 2024-2025 US document dumps revealed Crown Princess Mette-Marit's past correspondence with Epstein. Though she apologised, the revelations reignited debates about abolishing the monarchy. Public support for the royal family dropped from 81% to 61%.
Beyond Epstein, misogyny-fuelled violence has resurfaced in other cases. In 2014, Elliot Rodger—a self-proclaimed 'incel'—murdered six people in Santa Barbara after publishing a manifesto calling women 'a plague.' A Facebook page later hailed him as an 'American hero.' Separately, Frenchwoman Gisele Pelicot revealed she was drugged and raped by her husband and dozens of strangers over a decade, a case rooted in what she called 'millennial-old misogyny.'
The US Defense Department also faced criticism after inviting Doug Wilson, a white Christian nationalist pastor with misogynistic views, to a Pentagon prayer service. Meanwhile, the UN rebuked the Trump-era Justice Department for mishandling Epstein's case files, putting survivors at risk.
The Epstein docs and related scandals have exposed systemic misogyny across institutions. Legal actions in the US move faster than in Europe, where royal families and governments face lingering distrust. Meanwhile, extremist violence and online radicalisation highlight the enduring threat of gender-based hatred. Survivors and activists continue pushing for justice, but accountability remains uneven.
