OPINION: Is the obsession over the Epstein files going too far?
Amid millions of Epstein-related documents now published by the DOJ, the internet has become a churning slosh of conspiracy theories and disturbing allegations. How can anyone know what the truth is?
Opinion-editorial by Summer Lane | February 9, 2026
There is no question that Jeffrey Epstein was a bad man. His name is inextricably linked to sex crimes, allegations of human trafficking, and a deep cache of what many people theorize was a never-ending blackmail stash against the powerful and wealthy elitists he rubbed elbows with.
One may even astutely conclude that Epstein was a likely intelligence agent, collecting blackmail information on the world’s most powerful people. And while this point is debatable, one thing is clear: Epstein seemed to know nearly everyone, and seemed to have a digital paper trail linking him dubiously to some of the most well-known humans on Earth, from Bill Gates and former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barack to former President Bill Clinton and Prince Andrew.
The millions of documents dumped online recently by the Department of Justice paint an even darker portrait of Epstein’s network than expected. He seemed to have his fingers in everything, everywhere, all the time.
Epstein, like it or not, was more than an unsavory sex criminal. Indeed, he seems to have been something else entirely: the face for what appears to have been a global trafficking network, threaded through all levels of entertainment and politics? It seems likely that he was collecting blackmail from his clients, although the official government assessment on this says otherwise.
To be clear, the DOJ emphatically denies that Epstein had a ‘client list’ that he used to blackmail anyone.
But with everything going on in the world today, is Epstein a relevant topic? Does it still matter what happens in this case?
People just want the truth
The American people have made it clear that Jeffrey Epstein’s crimes – those he was convicted of and those many suspect him of – still matter. Why? Because those crimes appear to have far-reaching implications among the elitists who rule over the nation and the world.
Epstein’s murky dealings with powerful men and women suggest that popularity and status don’t mean that someone is a good person. The assumptions of celebrity “coolness” or the idolization of high-ranking leaders are, so often, nothing but smoke and mirrors. People, it seems, are often not who they purport to be. And if nothing else, the mere hint of associating with Epstein seems enough to destroy one’s reputation in the eyes of the American public. Why? Because people just don’t trust any institution or official narrative anymore, and who can blame them?
From the narratives on Covid to the warmongering lies about war in the Middle East, Americans are sick of being deceived, and they are wary of trusting anyone these days.
There are plenty of people who have taken a hit on their reputation because their name simply appeared in the files.
Bill Gates, for example, has appeared multiple times in the Epstein files. It has certainly muddied the waters in conversations about his character, especially as one odd email within the files alleged that Gates had contracted an STD from Russian prostitutes, presumably acquired by Epstein.
Gates has explicitly denied these allegations and presumptions, and said he simply regretted “every minute” he spent with Epstein and “I apologize that I did that.”
What is the truth about Gates and Epstein’s past relationship? Like so many others, no one will probably truly know. We can only go by what Gates has claimed.
Epstein knew many people, and simply knowing Epstein means nothing. But questions will, of course, persist, due to the scandalous nature of the Epstein files and the distrust the American people have of their own government.
Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, as another example, also appeared in the latest Epstein files drop from the DOJ. Documents in the cache seem to suggest that Lutnick and Epstein were in business together, which has naturally drawn explosive speculation from Americans online.
“According to legal documents and emails, Epstein and Lutnick did business together and Lutnick vacationed on Epstein’s island, LONG AFTER Lutnick claims they parted ways and after LONG AFTER Epstein was a known sex offender,” said Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.).
Massie’s accusatory tone is sharp and dangerous, and it foreshadows radioactive implications that could be completely unfair.
The suggestion of doubt – the link to Epstein, an association that poisons everything it touches – is a bad one, and Americans have proven in the last few years that nothing less than the absolute truth will satisfy them.
Elon Musk, the visionary mind behind Tesla and SpaceX, has recently gone after “War Room” host and former Trump advisor Steve Bannon for the latter’s association with Epstein – a longtime relationship that has drawn more questions from Americans.
Musk also went on a spree this Monday, reposting theories about Bannon on X, which will be alarming and puzzling to many in the conservative moment who enjoy Bannon’s commentary and work.
It seems that Epstein himself is driving wedges between people even from the grave. Both Democrats and Republicans are eager to use Epstein as a bludgeon to suggest wrongdoing and cast doubt on their opponents.
It’s nearly impossible to know what is true and what is not true based on what’s in the Epstein documents, as so much of it lacks robust context. Everyone should be extremely cautious about making assumptions about anyone who appears in the files.
Look for justice, keep moving forward
At what point does the obsession with Jeffrey Epstein end? Until the whole truth is delivered to the American people, the speculation, the conspiracy theories, and the commentary surrounding this globally shocking case will probably continue.
Epstein was, no doubt, just one of many bad men who operate in a very corrupt world and do extremely bad things for money, power, and intelligence. Epstein, at the end of the day, is probably just the tip of the iceberg. He simply got caught, and the American people, in their quest for objective truth, have relentlessly refused to let their pursuit of that truth go.
To maintain unity as a country, Americans must always pursue the objective truth and fair and equally applied justice. They must also be careful not to be so drawn into the dark, depraved abyss of Epstein’s crimes and revolving, shadowy allegations that they forget to look for the goodness and light in the world.
One can never forget the past or what it represents, but it only serves a purpose if it can be learned from and built upon. Americans have to look to the future while demanding even-keeled justice for victims in the Epstein files, and applied justice to anyone who ends up implicated and convicted in crimes that may be uncovered as information continues to see daylight. And right now, there’s a lot of speculation and no hard evidence confirming wrongdoing among third parties being gossiped about.
“Half the battle in life is believing the future looks bright, especially when nothing around you suggests it will,” said Patrick Bet-David in a recent comment. “The easiest thing to do is blame others, assume bad intent, and expect the worst. Those who believe the future looks bright tend to create it.”
He’s right. To build a brighter future, Americans must think brightly. Never forget the crimes of Epstein or the importance of justice, but always, continually, keep moving forward to build a better tomorrow – a world that will block future Epstein-like characters from amassing power and influence.
Justice today is only as powerful as justice delivered tomorrow. Focus on the good, reject the bad, and keep believing in a wonderful future.
Photo: Adobe Stock
