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Jeffrey Epstein's Society Friends Close Ranks
Alexandra Wolfe is a former contributing editor to Conde Nast Portfolio. She has written for publications including the New York Times, New York magazine, the New York Observer, and the Wall Street Journal, where she wrote design and lifestyle features for the Weekend Journal section. Before that, she was a reporter at the New York Observer. She is currently working on a book called American Coddle, about America's culture of entitlement.
No, back then Epstein was mid-makeover. He had monarchy in-house and famous faces at his table. Former Bear Stearns CEO James Cayne had just endorsed Epstein on his science foundation's website (which has been since removed). It seemed Epstein had joined the ranks of former President Clinton, director Roman Polanski, and former New York Governor Eliot Spitzer, whose sex scandals faded in comparison with their celebrity. The conventional wisdom among his friends was that Epstein has been victimized by greedy, morally dubious teenage girls and unscrupulous lawyers. "I've never condoned paying for sex, but if the young lady lied about her age it's her own fault," explained one socialite, who along with hedge-fund manager Wilbur Ross and real-estate magnate Leon Black hobnobbed with Epstein at a Southampton movie screening just two months after his release from "community control" in Florida.
Much of Epstein's entrée into New York society can be credited to Ghislaine Maxwell, the superbly well-connected daughter of the late press magnate Robert Maxwell. Epstein started dating her in the 1990s. The romantic relationship ended after a few years, but they have remained close ever since. Last week two victims publicly alleged that Ghislaine procured them for Epstein, one at age 15 from a Mar-a-Lago country club locker room. Virginia Roberts, now 27, who was Epstein's sexual plaything for several years, told the Mail on Sunday. "Ghislaine sent me to a dentist to have my teeth whitened and I went for Brazilian waxes. He wanted me to look pre-pubescent."
Now, New York friends are suddenly hesitant to talk about Maxwell. "She's a high-end 'fixer'," and so what? they ask. "No one in café society gives a damn that a 15-year-old girl gives massages," says one frequent charity-benefit guest. "She gets people into parties and runs around for a lot of people." As to the fallout from her association with Epstein, he says, "If you're Mike Huckabee it would matter but not if you're Ghislaine Maxwell."
The crowd at the events top publicist Peggy Siegal has organized for Epstein proves the point, at least behind closed doors. "I and many others that know him describe him as brilliant," says Siegal. "His unique mind is what attracts the world's smartest people to his home." Last September, with Siegal's help, Epstein hosted a Break Fast after Yom Kippur. A group of 120 friends brought their children over for a buffet dinner. One attendee, Jonathan Farkas, a New York real-estate heir, has known Epstein for 35 years and visited him while he was in prison. "The side I've been reading about is a side I don't know," he says. Farkas considers Epstein one of the smartest people he knows and often asks him for investment advice. "Unless I've seen it, I don't focus on it," he says.
"From a cerebral and business side he's worshipped," says socialite Debbie Bancroft. "He's incredibly charming and handsome. He's an extraordinary package so I can see why people don't want to believe what they hear. If people come out of jail and are still successful, people are very forgiving, shockingly so."
Renowned scientists whose research Epstein has generously funded through the years also stand by him. Professor Lawrence Krauss, a theoretical physicist and author of Quantum Man, has planned scientific conferences with Epstein in St. Thomas and remained close with him throughout his incarceration. "If anything, the unfortunate period he suffered has caused him to really think about what he wants to do with his money and his time, and support knowledge," says Krauss. "Jeffrey has surrounded himself with beautiful women and young women but they're not as young as the ones that were claimed. As a scientist I always judge things on empirical evidence and he always has women ages 19 to 23 around him, but I've never seen anything else, so as a scientist, my presumption is that whatever the problems were I would believe him over other people." Though colleagues have criticized him over his relationship with Epstein, Krauss insists, "I don't feel tarnished in any way by my relationship with Jeffrey; I feel raised by it."
Alexandra Wolfe is a former contributing editor to Conde Nast Portfolio. She has written for publications including The New York Times, New York magazine, The New York Observer, and The Wall Street Journal, where she wrote design and lifestyle features for the Weekend Journal section. She is working on a book called American Coddle, about America's culture of entitlement.
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Alexandra Wolfe is a former contributing editor to Conde Nast Portfolio. She has written for publications including the New York Times, New York magazine, the New York Observer, and the Wall Street Journal, where she wrote design and lifestyle features for the Weekend Journal section. Before that, she was a reporter at the New York Observer. She is currently working on a book called American Coddle, about America's culture of entitlement.
dhampton100
What a sad commentary of where we are as a society. We all knew Woody Allen would support him, Woody has been a known pedophile for years but for all these others to stand by his side is despicable. I surely thought more of Katie Couric, not anymore. I can't help but wonder how these people would feel if one of these girls was their daughter.
hockeydog
As a fellow scientist, I too. always judge things based on empirical evidence.
As a dog, I too, always hump anything I can, the younger and more innocent they are, arf-grrrrr-rff'; the fonder their memories will be.
But, as an average, little-people-American I am dismayed at the undeniable fact that our country is being run by a bunch of grunions whose only apparent redeeming value is in the amount of money they float around on.
Finally, as a composite American scientific canine, I have reached the conclusion that the rule of law was a nice achaic concept, but the reality is that the laws only apply to us little folks. The empirical evidence suggests that our rulers view laws as words. Words can be changed. Words can be ignored. Words can be created. I mean, whoever heard of collateralized debt obligations for crissake?
YearsLaterXXI
Hockey hump away but hump concentual adults. We have a filth polluted country led by money leaders thru the years who have shared wives, humped youth in other countries drank their way to the senate,humped sister in laws, sat under the WH desk and had fun and we have unethical corrupt leaders for over 20 years doing and using and abusing all thheir power. the media does little since they need ratings and to be seen with The Winning,no matter how.If, the country does not start to demand throwing out of the bums and bumess ladies that have us funding afghan and socializing and not looking out for us. May I say both parties the same but more open in Dem.Yeak all corrupt and bought by money.
JohnR22
Hedonism has been a fundamental aspect of Hollywood since it began. A good example from the early days is Errol Flynn, but there were many like him. With respect to pedophilia, look at what happened with Roman Polanski. Hollywood largely forgave him; from their persepctive it just isn't a big deal. And these are the people that channel their values into the population 24/7.
YearsLaterXXI
John pedophile one thing, young underage girls in latin countries, wife swapping ,and girfriend sharing,also part of our beautiful leaders histories. Discusting and that is why we are such an infected everything not leading the world in productivity ,family, unity, growth, and moving foward.Yes and the little people,70% of this country has to start to fight for its welfare.
Jeffin90019
Roman Polanski committed a crime. But the prosecutors on LA committed a bigger crime during the Polanski trial. Polanski was prepared to plead guilty until it was clear that criminal collusion between a media obsessed prosecutor and judge made true justice impossible. So Polanski bolter. But don't forget that he had already agreed to plead guilty and accept punishment.
Jeffin90019
If the Catholic Church can keep its pedophiles and their enablers in positions of power and prestige, why should the business world he any better? The sexual innocence of children is something to entertain the rich and well-connected. History proves this lamentable fact.
Beatrix139
Woody Allen is not known as a pedophile, His wife was younger than he, that's all,
noblinders
The Prophet Mohamed married a child of nine if I am not mistaken. Shh, we should not talk of such matters.
menckenlite
Epstein is the type of person that is worshipped by the current President. Obama loves intelligence, credentials, and money. Like most narcissistic Ivy league grads he lacks common sense and integrity just like Epstein.
dalelama
DNC and Soetoro contributors all. ROFL
William D. Perry
Justice is not color blind in this country. It can see the color green (as in money.)
IowaKC
This only reveals that these named celebrities are just as sick as Epstein. The only difference is not that they think there's anything wrong with abusing children, just that they're not into it. Their friends should take note--assuming, that is, that any of them have morals.
cmdriker
A fine piece that highlights the collaboration between media , academia , finance , and government......all run by liberals who crave control and power.
It is a brotherhood of ruling class elites who circle the wagons, or go on the attack, when one of their corrupt members, or their policies gets in trouble. A perfect consortium....
When evidence from east anglia univ. indicates man-made global warming is a scam , democrat political hacks turned news anchors spin into action to distract and de-construct.
When crooked NY financiers give overwhelmingly to democrats so they can continue to make billions in the sub-prime/ MBS toxic stew of their creation , and not one of the CEO's of the major banks, or very few heads of hedge funds go to jail, you know their system is working perfectly.
When ACORN and Planned Parenthood get exposed for the foul organizations that they are, the messengers get demonized but not much else
And of course when ordinary , decent Americans, see an out of control government that is spending us into bankruptcy, the white house political director mobilizes them all.....the tea bagger references come out , along with agitprop from congressional black caucus to manufacture "evidence" that accuses the tea party of racism.
hoping for their utter defeat in 2012
ModernMediaSucks
Wow, you really hit on all of the right wing extremist buzz words, even ACRORN got a mention in this completely unrelated story. It's funny, you act as if conservatives had nothing to do with running our country into the ground despite the mountain of evidence that they were involved in deregulating the industries that bankrupted us when they weren't busy sending our troops into harms way without any body armor.
I know you think Republicans only hang out with reputable people and only do honest things and have never done anything to undermine America, but wasn't the last President a Republican? Didn't he lie about a war? And didn't he run up a huge debt? Yes, yes he did.
Let's quickly run down some of the other GOP winners. Convicted felon Tom Delay. The Guy from the Minnesota airport bathroom, Senator Vitter who was caught with the prostitutes. Republican BFF Jack Abramoff. And Mark Foley that Republican from Florida who was sending notes to underage pages.
And since you just read from the talking points Saudi-owned Fox News gives you let me remind you of who the Bush family is friends with. The BIN LADEN family! Only AFTER 9/11 did they sever ties with these people. Throughout the 90's while Bin Laden was killing people and threatening death to America, the Bushes were more than happy to hang out with the Bin Ladens.
And why do the Bushes hang out with people like that? Because they, like the Mitt Romneys, Bill Kristol's and Rupert Murdochs of the world, are part of the elite class you always rail against. This elite class doesn't just have Democrats in it. Many, many, many, many, many, many Republicans are part of this elite class as well. Maybe that's why some shady Saudi business man owns so much of Fox News. Gotta keep the money and the MESSAGE in the hands of the elites so they can pull one over on idiots like you. I see it's working.
cmdriker
LOL , are you an MSNBC producer? Yeah I saw the bin ladens hang out with the bushes in the family ranch....that's hilarious
My point was about the media, academia, finance , unions, and government as a great, big-government machine that's out for command and control of society....they protect their own. These institutions are dominated by democrats and leftists.
Of course simpletons like you don't get this deeper point and revert back to Alan Colmes style " republicans are evil too! " arguments. Corruption within politics is widespread......the bigger the government , the more corruption.
I do agree with your second paragraph about bush.....he is a failed president due to the rampant spending started under his administration and the mess he got us into in Iraq....nothing conservative about nation building in the middle east
But behold ! Your messiah Obama has racked up $2.1T in debt in his first 2 yrs and has budgeted trillion dollar deficits for as far as the eye can see...or until we go bankrupt as a nation. Even Keynes would be rolling over in his grave with the expansion of government spending seen under this president. Bush looks like a piker compared to your big spending socialist.
And now your messiah has started his own war in the middle east without congressional approval. And I see the machine is kicking into full gear (including the new republic , and the guardian) that humanitarian wars are ok. Liberal wars ok, republican ones bad.....right
Listen , there's so much lib goo that came out of your head in this response, you'll need some left to watch Rachel Maddow and cavort with your coffee party pussies......preserve some of it , I suspect there's not much left
wsteed
Just like the "holy" Roman empire in its last decadent days.
Money counts for this crowd more than character
clemmieo
One wonders how often this goes on everywhere? It seems to be de riguer now and apparently forever, to take advantage of the young, male or female. I guess it is time we wake up to that fact, and all we can do as individuals, is protect our own children and pray that others are doing the same. The sad fact, is that many children worldwide are sold into sexual bondage. There are so many organizations and people worldwide who are fighting this child abuse, but it seems that money does buy everything. It is indescribably sad and outrageous!
bigking12345
and not a "teabagger" mentioned in the entire story. Just sick corrupt bottom of the barrel liberal NY democrats. They all need to spend 30 years in a cell.
ed parolini
Epstein likes to tell people that he's a loner, a man who's never touched alcohol or drugs, and one whose nightlife is far from energetic. And yet if you talk to Donald Trump, a different Epstein emerges. "I've known Jeff for fifteen years. Terrific guy,'' Trump booms from a speakerphone. "He's a lot of fun to be with. It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side. No doubt about it -- Jeffrey enjoys his social life."
from article by Landon Thomas Jr. New York Magazine
Shefali
It's one thing for an older guy going after 20-somethings. It's a little creepy, but I can shrug my shoulders as long as it's all consensual. But going after pre-pubescents? That's not on the younger side. That's illegal, immoral and just plain WRONG.
For darn sure, this wouldn't fly with any of the people I hang with in Texas, or people I knew when I lived in the Midwest. I seriously think this country is bipolar - there are the coasts, dominated by liberals (both Republican and Dem) who seem amoral and the rest of the country.
ed parolini
To be fair, the quote from Trump was made in 2002. Clinton flew on the jet in 2003. Have either had anything to do with the creep since? Don't know and won't find out from the article. Guilt by association? That's a risky road to take because pics of him with prominent people from across the political spectrum are certain to be coming. As an aside: Dems consign the creepy John Edwards, to political oblivion; Repubs see the creepy Newt Gringrich, as a potential presidentail candidate. What's up with that?
purpleoctopus
king - You're really going to try and make pedophilia a liberal v conservative thing? It's not enough to say anyone who engages in this behavior should be punished and shunned by all?
http://911review.org/Alex/Republican_Pedophiles.html - neither party is clean
ed parolini
Kenneth Starr was one of Epstein's lawyers.
leslee
How sad. But millions will still watch Couric, idolize Clinton and salivate over reports of the latest doings of socialites. I'm far from a prude and believe that what folks do in their bedrooms is pretty much their own business, but when society doesn't draw the line at pedophiles and the people who help them prey, there's something way wrong. Only when public figures pay in personal popularity will they decide guys like Epstein aren't worth the trouble -- no matter how much money they have.
marygard
I wihs I had not read this. I always thought Bill Clinton was a good man at heart, and a great leader, the US was prosperpous under his tenure. Yet now, I cannot condone a friendship with a pedophile, no matter the cost. These are the lowest of the low, and to associate with them is even worse.
PatriceFitz
I think you can judge Clinton on many things, but it looks as though his association with Epstein occurred before the latter's behavior was well-known.
Milton Schwartz
Flouting acceptance of Epstein is evidence of our depraved society. With enough money and connections, anything goes.
Themezas
Curious society the one of the United States of America, we shout around the world to invite them to a perfect democracy. The one like our, the only one that claim is blessed by god, with a reminder in their coins "god bless America" etc etc.
However, it is a society bizarre in numbers, a minority like the one Mr. Epstein belong to, control the country in its most critical aspects, some of our kids died overseas for a cause related to that minority, the America of the famous democracy is so heterogenous that having the last name, Perez, Smith and being Afro American, Ngu Yen or simpy Abdelrahman Samir put you on the spot of those that beg justice; if your name is Osama bin Laden it is another story. Mr. Epstein enjoy the Teens!
writerforhire
All of this leaves me curious to as to the rotting New York judicial system and the talking heads that decide, after they've been told, what news stories hit primetime and which don't.
This guy's, unlike Bill Clinton and Eliot Spitzer and every other caught sex and the politician story, story didn't see the light of day, I guess it's true, money is the key to containing a successful scandal.
So tell me why the attorneys at Hughes, Hubbard & Reed, the
most corrupt law firm of all time, have had a field day with their crimes in 2002? Why were they successful in their cover up? They don't have the money of a billionaire or pedophile crimes of the rich and famous that stop the talking heads from reveling the sordid details from their precarious perches. Why did they get away with rape, attempted murder, conspiracy, fraud, forgery, Intellectual Property theft crimes, interfering with an investigation, bribery, money crimes and the list goes on and on like the Energizer Bunny. Power, I guess.
The law firm doesn't have that much money, although power is a big thing in New York also and with their newly discovered finance connection they seem to be able to successfully manage their cover up in plain sight.
Is it Jewish? Mr. Epstein, thank God Arthur Sulzberger wasn't at the dinner. So we cover [do/don't check the appropriate answer]the crimes of Jewish and billionaires.Just like Larry Hillbloom.
That's one of the reason that the law firm's entourage, those that joined through the recruiting efforts of the pastors of the inner denominational church who have had members of the NYPD covering for them for some time even before Jersey, have taken on traditional Jewish names when they commit their violent crimes which they freely speak of and explain how they are hand-picked and taught to go into intensive care wards and assist those dying by murder or torture them in their last hours. [A recruitee must prove their loyalty after induction by committing violent crime on tape.]
I'm sure those judges in Manhattan had a field day with this case. I can hear them now, "we've got to convict him with something." Or like the 5:00 local desk, "There's a lot of money to be made on this case." "It will never see the light of day."
We all know that permanent damage to a child is minor in our society. Few advocate child safety laws or complete and full prosecution of pedophiles, and the more tony the criminal the greater the odds that the prosecutor will smile, shake their hand, accept their campaign contribution and counsel them on how to live a pedophile's life in the tony suburbs of Manhattan.
JazzDrummer7
I'm a Liberal and this pervert pedophile makes meant to vomit. All of you who seem to think that Liberals are okay with this stuff are dead wrong. There have been plenty of sex scandals from both liberals and conservatives. This is purely a class thing. The upper echelon of wealth truly do believe that the rules don't apply to them.
Shefali
I think people remember that when Bill Clinton was accused of sexually molesting women, liberals pulled the wagons into a circle around him. Conservatives usually aren't nearly as forgiving when a conservative is caught doing this kind of crap. But that doesn't mean there aren't good, decent liberals who are just as upset about pedophilia, and that doesn't mean there aren't conservatives who are just as depraved.
I think, however, if you did a statistical tally, you'd find a LOT more liberals doing this kind of crap - however, it's not because liberals are inherently more evil - it's because of the lack of accountability. Since the media is dominated by liberals (a study showed over 80% of journalism majors identified themselves as Democrats), liberals are not held accountable nearly as much. It's just human nature to be more willing to go after the other side - so liberal news shows, etc., are more likely to condemn conservatives when they stray.
Rich and powerful people are already tempted to do immoral things - their power and money buffers them to some degree. But with conservatives, at least the thought that the media might skewer them if they stray helps them control these impulses.
We need to hold everyone accountable, not just people who are on opposite sides of the political spectrum. And I am speaking for both conservatives and liberals here. Protecting children is more important than winning a particular election with "our" guy.
We also need to condemn a culture that glorifies bad boys like Charlie Sheen and has push-up bras for pre-teens and girls calling themselves hos and blacks calling themselves n*ggers. We teach kids to have no respect for themselves, teach girls to objectify their bodies and then wonder why immorality is so prevalent.
ed parolini
Let's see: John Edwards - political oblivion / Newt Gringrich - possible presidential candidate. Spitzer - gone. Vitter - here/Ensign - here/Craig - served out term/Sanford - served out term. "Conservatives usually aren't nearly as forgiving when a conservative is caught doing this kind of crap." I would contend that conservatives have a wonderful ability to forgive themselves and each other; it's the rest of the sinners they have a hard time with.
purpleoctopus
Ed - haha absolutely. Look how the Republicans nailed Newt to the cross. That's my favorite example - spends months and months railing against immorality and infidelity on the national stage until ... Woops!!! A few mea culpas later and Reps are welcoming him back to the fold. It's the Ted Haggard treatment.
hotair2012
This is what i"ve been saying foe a long time now. The Poor or Average Joe goes to Jail and the ones with Money just keep on partying!!! DO NOT rob a bank or liquor store. Hit The White Collar Crime Big Time and Make Friends and Influence People!!!
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