The Jeffrey Epstein obsession: Focusing on one criminal, ignoring countless others - opinion

Philosopher Michael Huemer has a neat thought experiment. Suppose a school focused heavily on bad things Jews did throughout history while omitting the good and ignoring others’ wrongdoings. All facts taught are true but selectively presented. Wouldn’t we rightly call this school racist, even if it never explicitly said to hate Jews? Now imagine defenders saying it’s fine because “it’s all true.” That would be a pretty pathetic excuse.

Why does this particular criminal generate endless speculation about global cabals, secret networks, and hidden puppet masters? Why do discussion forums light up with theories about his “real” connections and “true” purposes? Spend an hour on Reddit, 4chan, or certain Telegram channels, and you’ll find thousands of posts dissecting his “connections to the Rothschilds” or his “role in the New World Order.” The answer becomes clear when you examine which aspects of his life and crimes receive the most attention.

Consider how differently we discuss other cases of exploitation by the wealthy and powerful. When corporate executives embezzle millions, we rarely see years of fevered speculation about their ethnic networks. The Enron scandal didn’t spawn endless threads about Kenneth Lay’s ancestry, despite billions in losses. The Wells Fargo fake accounts scandal, Theranos fraud, or Volkswagen’s emissions cheating generated outrage focused on corporate malfeasance, not ethnic conspiracies. Even Bernie Madoff, who ran the largest Ponzi scheme in history and who is also Jewish, receives treatment that differs markedly from Epstein. While Madoff generates some similar conspiratorial speculation about Jewish financial networks, the obsession lacks the sustained intensity and scope of theories surrounding Epstein. The difference becomes stark when comparing the online discourse: Madoff threads focus primarily on his financial crimes, while Epstein discussions inevitably spiral into “questions” about Mossad connections, global control, and “greater agendas.”

When politicians abuse their power, the conversation typically focuses on systemic reform, not ancestral bloodlines. But with Epstein, the discourse takes a more than passing curious turn.

The obsession with this man alone follows a predictable pattern. Discussions begin with his wealth but quickly spiral into speculation about how “people like him” accumulate money. Talk of his connections to powerful figures morphs into theories about which group “really” controls world leaders. Questions about his travel patterns become fodder for dual loyalty accusations. Even his crimes against children get twisted into something larger, something supposedly systematic about “them” versus “us.”

This obsession persists because Epstein’s profile happens to align with society’s preconceived notions about Jews:

The truly insidious aspect of this phenomenon is how rarely anyone explicitly mentions Epstein’s Judaism. Instead, the conversation relies on euphemisms and implications. “Cosmopolitan elites.” “Globalist networks.” “Dual citizens.” “Rootless financiers.” Anyone familiar with history recognizes these codes. Popular podcasters know exactly what they’re doing when they describe Epstein as part of a “certain kind of international elite” with meaningful pauses and knowing looks.

When someone spends hours dissecting Epstein’s connections to “international finance” while ignoring non-Jewish billionaire criminals, the subtext is clear. When forums buzz with speculation about his “true loyalties” and “ethnic networks,” they’re not really talking about his individual pathology. They’re indulging in sanitized versions of ancient bigotries. The Twitter account with 50,000 followers posting daily about “Epstein’s web” while never mentioning Jimmy Savile or R. Kelly knows what game they’re playing.

This fixation on coded ethnic narratives causes concrete harm:

We must be able to examine Epstein’s crimes and the systems that enabled him without falling into malicious and unwarranted patterns:

There is another consideration that deserves acknowledgment. The Epstein case may indeed involve unique elements that distinguish it from other wealthy predator scandals – most notably, the possibility that he possessed compromising information about other powerful figures who visited his properties. If such a client list exists, it would represent a level of potential institutional exposure that could motivate cover-ups and even violent silencing in ways that don’t apply to typical financial crimes or individual abuse cases.

However, this practical difference doesn’t account for why discussions consistently veer into ethnic conspiracy theories rather than focusing on institutional accountability. A rational concern about potential co-conspirators would center on identifying and prosecuting any accomplices, regardless of their background. Instead, we see selective speculation about “Jewish networks” and “Mossad connections” while similar questions about non-Jewish elites in other scandals generate comparatively little interest.

Consider how we might react if a non-Jewish billionaire had died under similar circumstances with similar implications for other powerful figures. Would the conversation focus on ethnic networks and dual loyalties, or would it center on corruption, blackmail, and institutional failure? The difference in framing reveals how legitimate concerns about cover-ups have been hijacked by those promoting antisemitic narratives.

Even if Epstein’s case involved unique elements of potential blackmail or broader conspiracy, this practical concern has been weaponized. The legitimate question “Who else was involved?” has been systematically twisted into “What does this tell us about Jewish power?” The unique circumstances that may distinguish Epstein’s case have become a vehicle for ancient prejudices rather than a path to justice.

The possibility that powerful figures had motives to silence Epstein actually reinforces our central point: When genuine concerns about institutional corruption get filtered through antisemitic frameworks, they serve to distract from rather than advance the cause of justice. The young women Epstein abused deserve investigations focused on all perpetrators and enablers, not ethnic theorizing that obscures the real systems of power and protection that failed them.

Jeffrey Epstein was a predator whose wealth and connections helped him evade accountability. His case may indeed involve unique elements – including the possibility that he possessed compromising information about other powerful figures – that distinguish it from typical financial crimes or individual abuse cases. His victims deserve justice, and any co-conspirators deserve exposure and prosecution. The systems that protected him and may have protected others require comprehensive reform.

These truths stand on their own without any need for ethnic speculation or coded theorizing. The legitimate questions about institutional corruption and potential cover-ups make the antisemitic drift of so much Epstein discourse even more tragic – it actively undermines the very accountability that victims and justice demand.

Those genuinely concerned with protecting children and exposing corruption don’t need to invoke “globalist” conspiracies or speculate about “dual loyalties.” They need only follow the evidence wherever it leads, support survivors, and demand accountability from all who participated in or enabled these crimes – regardless of their background or ethnicity.

The next time you encounter breathless speculation about Epstein’s “connections” or “networks,” ask yourself: Is this advancing justice or indulging prejudice? Would this conversation look the same if his name were Jeffrey Anderson? When Joe Rogan or Alex Jones spend hours on Epstein theories while barely mentioning other trafficking cases, what’s really driving that selectivity?

Even if legitimate concerns about institutional corruption and cover-ups distinguish this case, the ethnic theorizing that dominates so much discourse serves no purpose other than distraction. You’re witnessing ancient hostilities wearing the mask of modern concern for justice.

True justice honors victims, follows evidence, and reforms systems. Everything else is distraction, and some distractions serve darker purposes than others.■