By Holly Sample

Jeffery Epstein is everywhere. While Republicans, Democrats, unaffiliated politicians, pundits, survivors and the rest of us all want to know what is in the Department of Justice files, labeling these efforts as bipartisan is misleading. The recent release of 20,000 pages of emails has underscored that the culture of abuse and pedophilia associated with Epstein transcended party lines, demonstrating a truly nonpartisan phenomenon. Powerful men, as well as some ambitious women, felt entitled to exploit over a thousand girls.

Noise from the political class is loud and self-serving. House Speaker Mike Johnson’s use of the government shutdown to obstruct a discharge petition intended to force a vote on releasing the Epstein files highlight these maneuvers. Now that the House is in session and the petition has enough signatures, nobody (regardless of party affiliation) wants to appear supportive of the accused. While Megan Kelly tries to parse whether sexual abuse of pre-pubescent girls is worse than assaulting young teens, Democrats declare this as the issue that will finally bring down Donald Trump. Many believe that widespread outrage over pedophilia, coupled with any evidence implicating Trump—whether as a participant or as someone who ignored Epstein’s crimes—would erode his support.

As I listened to survivors of Epstein’s abuse and considered the involvement and complicity of social elites, I started to think about the important and enduring lessons for this moment that go far beyond politics.

Sexual trafficking and abuse of girls and women have occurred throughout history, typically with the wealthy either acting as perpetrators or turning a blind eye. Too often, society has criminalized victims while protecting those who profit from exploitation. Accusations from groups associated with the MAGA movement about deep state elites secretly preying on children in tunnels have long circulated. It turns out they are not so hidden and not in the tunnels. Recent reporting has described Epstein emails as a window into a vanished era of Manhattan’s elite openly abusing girls for entertainment, though in truth, the passage of time has not brought sufficient accountability. Most of those implicated have not faced investigation or justice.

The #MeToo movement, beginning in 2006, exposed the pervasive nature of sexual abuse in society and started to shift public opinion. It provided a platform for survivors, amplifying their voices and calling attention to long-standing injustices. Today, Epstein’s survivors are at the forefront, demanding the full release of the Justice Department’s files and urging society to listen to their stories.

The very best result of the intense focus on Epstein’s crimes goes beyond politics. The best result would be for us to agree that sex trafficking and sexual abuse of children will no longer be tolerated regardless of the perpetrator’s status, power or wealth, and those who do prey on our children will be held accountable under the law – every single one of them.