Epstein Files: Reckoning or Rite of Passage?
The recent release of Jeffrey Epstein's files, as reported by Axios, has led to a handful of high-profile resignations. From Paul, Weiss chairman Brad Karp to Goldman Sachs counsel Kathy Ruemmler, the narrative suggests that exposure to the disgraced financier's network is finally ending careers, prompting a public reckoning for those previously shielded by power. Yet, a closer look reveals that
this 'reckoning' often targets those deemed expendable, while the architecture of elite impunity remains intact. Compare this to the 2008 financial crisis, where despite revelations of widespread fraud costing ordinary Americans trillions, only one major banker went to jail. The system tends to sacrifice individuals to protect larger networks, much like corporate boards scapegoat a CEO to save the
company brand. This pattern of selective accountability is a familiar one. The names dominating these files reveal a deeply intertwined nexus of finance, law, media, and politics—a power structure that historically co-opts influence and silences dissent. When the Justice Department finally releases these documents, questions naturally arise about why it took so long and who else benefited from
keeping this information hidden for years. The focus remains on individuals, meticulously avoiding any critical examination of the mechanisms that enable such predation at the highest levels. So, while a few careers may indeed conclude, the underlying connections and power dynamics that allowed Epstein to operate for decades persist. We are witnessing not a systemic dismantling, but rather a