Jeffrey Epstein, the disgraced financier and convicted sex offender, has been described as a "diabolical monster" and a "people collector" by an author who helped expose his vast web of powerful connections.
The 'Diabolical Monster' and His Network
Author Barry Levine, who has studied the dynamics of Epstein's social circles, provided the damning characterisation. Levine told the BBC that Epstein was a "diabolical monster, but at the same time he was brilliant in a sense that he was able to maintain this incredible network of some of the world's most powerful individuals."
He elaborated that Epstein possessed a certain charisma that positioned him as a figure to whom people turned. In his book, The Spider: Inside the Criminal Web of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, Levine highlights how far the financier's influence spread.
Epstein's Transactional Relationships
Levine revealed that Epstein considered himself a "people collector" who made connections for purely transactional purposes. "He would use information that he gained... with the intention, at the end of the day, that he was going to bank either favours from them, finances from them, or in a darker sense, I think, blackmail from some of these individuals," Levine stated.
This network persisted even after Epstein's 2008 conviction in the US for procuring a minor for prostitution, for which he was sentenced to 18 months in prison. Levine suggested that some of Epstein's more casual acquaintances may not have known about his abuse, or were sufficiently impressed by his influential connections to overlook his criminal past.
"People forget things," Levine said. "His credentials among power brokers were extremely high, and I think a lot of individuals probably just dismissed the conviction against him."
Scrutiny on UK Connections
The relationships with Prince Andrew and Lord Peter Mandelson have come under particular scrutiny in the UK. Documents released by Congress show that Lord Mandelson maintained contact with the paedophile until late 2016, which ultimately led to him being sacked as the UK's ambassador to the US in September.
Emails have also revealed that the former Duke of York was in contact with Epstein for longer than he had previously admitted. He is believed to have sent a message saying "keep in touch and we'll play some more soon" in February 2011, despite having claimed he had not seen or spoken to him after a visit to his house in December 2010. Prince Andrew has consistently and strongly denied any and all allegations made about him.
The scandal also touched US politics, with President Donald Trump featuring in the Epstein files. In 2002, Trump described Epstein as a "terrific guy," while Epstein would later remark, "I was Donald's closest friend for 10 years." The relationship later soured, and the White House has stated that Trump kicked Epstein out of his club "decades ago for being a creep to his female employees." Trump has denied any knowledge of Epstein's sex trafficking.
Levine concluded that many people whose messages with Epstein were revealed will be left embarrassed, though this does not suggest they participated in his crimes. "Each and every one of course regrets the day they communicated with Jeffrey Epstein or spent time with him," he said. "It is one of the most unbelievable stories of our time - power, privilege, predation."
