# I don't understand just what Jeffrey Epstein was guilty of **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 15, 2025, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-understand-just-what-jeffrey-epstein-was-guilty-of/1024863 "2025-11-15T02:00:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2025, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-understand-just-what-jeffrey-epstein-was-guilty-of/1024863/21 "2025-11-15T18:27:02Z")
My personal theory is that a lot of the girls who aged past appealing to him were “passed along” to others, he may have videoed some encounters providing excellent blackmail material. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2025, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-understand-just-what-jeffrey-epstein-was-guilty-of/1024863/22 "2025-11-15T18:40:40Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > And the power players he was accommodating. That certainly makes it more interesting and newsworthy but not more illegal. (although outing those in power who are preying on children is a worthy goal to be sure…outing anyone who preys on children really) ---
**Author:** ![Drum\_God](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drum_god/32/44_2.png) [@Drum\_God](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drum_God)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2025, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-understand-just-what-jeffrey-epstein-was-guilty-of/1024863/23 "2025-11-15T18:57:12Z")
Okay. First of all, I’m afraid that some people here may have thought I was downplaying Epstein’s crimes. That was not my intent. I am trying to understand what makes him different from others who prey on young girls. So, if I understand correctly, Epstein has: - Himself had sex (while an adult) with minor children. - Paid minor children to have sex with him or perform other sex acts. - Transported (or caused to be transported) children across state and national boundaries for the purpose of engaging in sexual activity. - Possibly accepted large sums of money from third parties in exchange for providing them with children with which to engage in sexual activities. - Possibly accepted large sums of money (or really any money) from third parties in exchange for keeping their activities secret. - These third parties may include the current POTUS, a former POTUS, and other giants of industry and politics. Therefore, records of Epstein’s activities could lead to the prosecution or public shaming of powerful people. So, it’s not so much _what_ he did, but who he did it _with_ that separates him from the typical pimp on the corner. But _why_? He had money and didn’t seem to have a problem finding women who willingly wanted to be with him. Even looking at Trump and Clinton – neither man seems to have trouble finding women on their own. Why spend any time with this fuck-up of a human? ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2025, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-understand-just-what-jeffrey-epstein-was-guilty-of/1024863/24 "2025-11-15T19:04:15Z")
> [@Drum\_God](#): > > But _why_? He had money and didn’t seem to have a problem finding women who willingly wanted to be with him. Even looking at Trump and Clinton – neither man seems to have trouble finding women on their own. Why spend any time with this fuck-up of a human? I am going from memory on this quote (so might well be wrong) and, of course, I can’t speak for those people. Still, this might fit: Charlie Sheen (actor) was asked why he paid for prostitutes when he could have easily gotten women to willingly be with him. He answered something to the effect of, “I do not pay them for sex, I pay them to go away in the morning.” Put another way, if these guys picked up one of these women they likely would think they are liked and special and want to hang around and date them. If spurned, they are likely to be pissed off and could cause a scandal. If paid, they just go away. Also, not sure how adult men would just find underage women on their own to have sex with. That is fraught with problems too. Better to have someone find the girls for you which is what Epstein and Maxwell did. ---
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2025, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-understand-just-what-jeffrey-epstein-was-guilty-of/1024863/25 "2025-11-15T19:15:19Z")
This makes me wonder if Andrew eventually gets tired of being the only rich and/or famous person taking the full weight of the crime of being Epstein’s sex clients. He must know of many others, right? Perhaps Andrew will start singing at some point. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2025, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-understand-just-what-jeffrey-epstein-was-guilty-of/1024863/26 "2025-11-15T19:19:33Z")
I think that would amount to an admission of guilt which Andrew has never done. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2025, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-understand-just-what-jeffrey-epstein-was-guilty-of/1024863/27 "2025-11-15T19:59:37Z")
> [@Drum\_God](#): > > Even looking at Trump and Clinton – neither man seems to have trouble finding women on their own. Why spend any time with this fuck-up of a human? As a NY real estate mogul and a national presidential-level career politician both had a lived experience that _normalizes_ doing business and exchanging favors (both licit and illicit) with various flavors of high-bracket sleazebag (and for the illicit ones you _need_ a sleazebag). Doesn’t HAVE to be that way, there are many in business and politics who **don’t** go for it, but the opportunity IS there for the taking. ---
**Author:** ![Ancient\_Nerd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed655f/32.png) [@Ancient\_Nerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ancient_Nerd)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2025, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-understand-just-what-jeffrey-epstein-was-guilty-of/1024863/28 "2025-11-15T21:29:22Z")
The typical inner-city pimp has enough sense to avoid underage girls. He keeps the clients at arms length as a business deal. He doesn’t get into blackmail. Epstein and el donald got into the whole macho sexual conquest thing together. They had good times and celebrated on the private island. With his second arrest, the blackmail imploded on him. With all of those powerful people after him, he knew that his goose was cooked. He definitely died under mysterious circumstances. ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2025, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-understand-just-what-jeffrey-epstein-was-guilty-of/1024863/29 "2025-11-15T22:17:36Z")
So, who has the “open in case of my death” contents? You _know_ Epstein had his blackmail proof squirreled away in multiple places. Whomever, and likely multiple people, probably use the contents to enrich themselves instead of going public. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2025, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-understand-just-what-jeffrey-epstein-was-guilty-of/1024863/30 "2025-11-16T00:33:43Z")
> [@E-DUB](#): > > he may have videoed some encounters providing excellent blackmail material. I think it’s well past “may have” and “some”. There were cameras all over the place, and there’s no reason why he wouldn’t have blackmailed all of his patrons. > [@Drum\_God](#): > > But _why_? He had money Evidence seems to be that the money he had mostly came from his trafficking business in the first place, in some way or another. ---
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2025, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-understand-just-what-jeffrey-epstein-was-guilty-of/1024863/31 "2025-11-16T01:32:58Z")
Blackmail need not be simply for money. Information, stock tips, etc. In fact the “best” blackmail probably wouldn’t be for money. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2025, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-understand-just-what-jeffrey-epstein-was-guilty-of/1024863/32 "2025-11-16T01:57:12Z")
That’s why I said “in some way or another”. He blackmailed rich and powerful men, and those rich and powerful men either gave him money, or things that could be converted to money. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2025, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-understand-just-what-jeffrey-epstein-was-guilty-of/1024863/33 "2025-11-16T02:22:26Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > Charlie Sheen (actor) was asked why he paid for prostitutes when he could have easily gotten women to willingly be with him. He answered something to the effect of, “I do not pay them for sex, I pay them to go away in the morning.” Did the actor say that, or was it the character he was playing on _2 1/2 Men_? ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2025, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-understand-just-what-jeffrey-epstein-was-guilty-of/1024863/34 "2025-11-16T02:35:06Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Did the actor say that, or was it the character he was playing on _2 1/2 Men_? I honestly do not remember but, IIRC, his character on _2 1/2 Men_ was a womanizer so didn’t pay for prostitutes. ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2025, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-understand-just-what-jeffrey-epstein-was-guilty-of/1024863/35 "2025-11-16T02:44:28Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > I honestly do not remember but, IIRC, his character on _2 1/2 Men_ was a womanizer so didn’t pay for prostitutes. That saying has been around for decades and attributed to many different famous people. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2025, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-understand-just-what-jeffrey-epstein-was-guilty-of/1024863/36 "2025-11-16T02:51:47Z")
IIRC, when Sheen said it, he was attributing it to Cary Grant… ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2025, 7:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-understand-just-what-jeffrey-epstein-was-guilty-of/1024863/37 "2025-11-16T07:10:12Z")
> [@Drum\_God](#): > > But _why_? He had money and didn’t seem to have a problem finding women who willingly wanted to be with him. Even looking at Trump and Clinton – neither man seems to have trouble finding women on their own. Why spend any time with this fuck-up of a human? Even rich, powerful and famous people can’t have sex with everyone. Both Clinton and Trump are publicly linked to a number of women, but not scores or hundreds. Even for the rich, famous, powerful, etc,. usually at least a minimal amount of work is necessary. For ordinary guys, having a handful of no strings attached affairs is more than enough but there are those who want more. Prostitution is a quick way. For people without morals, hanging out with fellow sleezeballs is a feature, not a bug. ---
**Author:** ![md-2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9d8465/32.png) [@md-2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md-2000)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2025, 7:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-understand-just-what-jeffrey-epstein-was-guilty-of/1024863/38 "2025-11-16T07:29:54Z")
I tend to disbelieve the Clinton stories. Bill went pretty much straight from Arkansas to the White House, and so was followed by Secret Service for the rest of his life. Epstein’s target “audience” generally was people in high society in NYC and Washington, Palm Springs, and Arizona. I assume the SS would want to vet any persons he spent time with, and despite ignoring much else would likely question who these young girls were, especially ones from Russia and Eastern Europe. And the last thing someone like Epstein needs would be US law enforcement of any kind wandering around his island. I mean, they probably look the other way on underage drinking or recreational drugs, but can they really ignore obvious statutory rape? There’s a photo of Guiffre giving Clinton a neck massage, which apparently happened on a stopover when Epstein, Trump, and others were taking a private jet to see how a charity group they sponsored in Africa was progressing. Guiffre said later that nothing happened on that trip or anything with Clinton. I think that other than the fact that prominent people appear to have been involved, the real question everyone has is how someone could do this so openly and obviously for more than a decade before being properly brought to justice. It seems to have been an open secret, including the joke about his jet to the Virgin Islands being dubbed the “Lolita Express” - yet nothing happened until someone in NYC decided to do something about it. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2025, 9:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-understand-just-what-jeffrey-epstein-was-guilty-of/1024863/39 "2025-11-22T09:07:13Z")
This article is extremely eye-opening and answers a lot of the questions in the thread. (There’s a paywall, but the first few clicks are free. Unless you’re a frequent visitor you won’t have a problem.) > **[Jeffrey Epstein Was a Warlord. We Have to Talk About It.](https://www.thenation.com/article/society/jeffrey-epstein-israel-foreign-policy-elite/)** > > Mainstream media is ignoring the fact that the late sex trafficker was a power broker who shaped global policy. It turns out Epstein wasn’t just a high-rolling pimp. He was using his network of trust to worm his way into some pretty exclusive circles, not just trafficking victims but exerting political influence. It sounds like overheated conspiracy peddling but the article brings the receipts. It suggests there’s a fairly long list of people who almost certainly welcomed his death in that cell. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-understand-just-what-jeffrey-epstein-was-guilty-of/1024863.md?page=1)