I can’t believe the police didn’t go all out with the theatrics yesterday when taking Peter Mandelson to the station for questioning. They didn’t even do that classic move of putting a hand on the suspect’s head to guide them into the back of the car. No sense of occasion at all.
And honestly, they might as well have. “Misconduct in a public office” is such an old, obscure law and so hard to prove that this public walk of shame might be the peak of legal consequences for both Mandelson and Andrew. The perp walk is the punishment. No disrespect to the Metropolitan Police and other forces finally tackling a rare grooming scandal they can be bothered with, but it’s hard to shake the feeling they’re just going through the motions. Still, we got one iconic royal photo out of it and a clip of Mandelson that makes you wonder, “Is this really his first arrest? It feels weirdly familiar.” For the record, both men deny any wrongdoing.
So, in the UK, two men have been arrested in connection with the Epstein scandal: one famously clever, one famously not. What do they have in common? I have a theory about Jeffrey’s many friends: the more fragile and vulnerable their social circle, the more likely they are to face the law’s lukewarm attention. That might explain why the only arrests we’ve seen—aside from Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell—are from the British monarchy and the upper ranks of its political establishment. Are either of these institutions in robust health? The answer speaks for itself. But if you’re one of Jeffrey’s big names in tech or finance, well, as Holly Golightly said about Tiffany’s, nothing very bad could happen to you there.
In fact, looking at what’s happened so far, I’m not sure much bad can happen to you in the U.S. either when it comes to Epstein ties. We hear a lot about the British establishment, but the American one has covered itself in even less glory. Come on, America—you’ve got to arrest someone. Haven’t you? Even just one, for appearances’ sake? Maybe pick up one of the little people, like someone who cleaned up after the parties, and charge them as an accessory. Again, just for show.
Even conservative estimates of what Jeffrey Epstein was up to for decades suggest an awful lot of people would have to be involved. Even top figures in the Trump administration say so. Billionaire commerce secretary Howard Lutnick recently called Epstein “the greatest blackmailer ever.” Yet apparently this epic blackmail operation needed only one guy (now dead) to run it. No one else had anything to do with it, or even knew about it. Even if we accept that absurd idea, who does Howard think was being blackmailed? Presumably quite a few people, presumably high-profile enough to have something to lose. It would be great if this supposedly fearless U.S. administration, the FBI, or any of America’s countless law enforcement officers or lawyers could name a single person of interest—or even bring someone in for five minutes of questioning. And yet, no one but Jeffrey and Ghislaine has faced justice. For what we’ve long been told was a huge criminal enterprise, Epstein Inc. seems to have been a real mom-and-pop shop.
Not to the women and girls who…Of course, many were victims. When the latest files were released this month, nearly 100 survivors found their identities exposed in thousands of documents and photos, while they pointed out that many of their abusers remain shielded. The Department of Justice later explained that revealing victims’ names, addresses, bank details, and so on was due to “technical or human error.” No doubt about it. Why does such staggering incompetence keep plaguing this landmark investigation?
It’s hard to say. But, with great reluctance, I have another theory about the Epstein scandal: no one else is going to be convicted for the sexual crimes. No one at all. All those women and girls—children?—will go unavenged. Aside from the dead man and the imprisoned woman, no one will be convicted, and almost certainly no one will even be charged, either here or in the U.S. In fact, it’s likely that the most prominent figures—the ones the public is desperate to hear from—will never even be questioned. They will remain powerful, or operate quietly, or simply live without fear of a knock at the door, because they understand exactly how the system works. And they always have.
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of FAQs about the differing legal responses to the Jeffrey Epstein case in the UK and the US framed in a natural tone
BeginnerLevel Questions
1 Whats this about arrests in the UK related to Jeffrey Epstein
In the UK as part of their own investigations authorities have questioned or arrested several highprofile British individuals named in connection with the Epstein scandal including Prince Andrew and former minister Peter Mandelson These are separate from the US case
2 Why is Prince Andrew involved
Prince Andrew was a known associate of Jeffrey Epstein and was accused of sexual assault by Virginia Giuffre He settled a civil lawsuit with her in 2022 His arrestquestioning in the UK is part of the local investigation into potential crimes committed on British soil or involving British citizens
3 Has anyone in the US been arrested for being an associate of Epstein
Not for simply being an associate US prosecutions have focused on individuals directly accused of facilitating abuse or committing crimes Ghislaine Maxwell was convicted for her direct role in recruiting and grooming victims The US investigation has not led to charges against other highprofile friends or clients named in the case
4 So does the US investigation seem weaker
It can appear that way to the public The perception is that while the UK is pursuing figures named in the scandal the US Justice Department has not brought charges against other powerful individuals leading to questions about the thoroughness or political will of the US probe
Advanced Critical Questions
5 What are the main legal reasons for the difference between the US and UK responses
Key reasons include
Jurisdiction The UK investigates crimes committed within its borders The US needs evidence that a crime was committed under US federal or state law
Evidence Threshold Criminal conviction requires proof beyond a reasonable doubt Public association with Epstein or civil lawsuit testimony is often insufficient for a criminal case
Immunity Deals Epsteins controversial 2008 plea deal may have inadvertently provided protection for potential coconspirators at the time
Statute of Limitations Many of the alleged crimes are decades old making prosecution legally difficult
6 Werent names revealed in court documents Why werent those people charged
The released names were from depositions and lawsuits These
