I listened to this on audiobook. I love finding out the true story, based on actual interviews, court proceedings and documentation of an investigation. This book starts in 2004-2005, when Jeffrey Epstein is using high schoolers to recruit other high schoolers to go to his home to give him a massage. He concentrates on young girls, as young as 14 years old, who are poor and vulnerable. He offers them $200 a massage; but he will give them more money if they are willing to do other things. These "massages" are mostly done with Epstein being naked and him encouraging the girls to take off their clothes. He masturbates, uses vibrators and massagers, and touches them with his hands. He does have intercourse with some - and even rapes one of his accusers. He sex-trafficked Virginia Giuffre, and I'm sure she wasn't the only one. He only seeks/wants girls that are thin and attractive. There are beautiful women who assist him with this process. Ghislaine Maxwell, the most well-known thanks to her friendship with ex-Prince Andrew and her prison sentence for sex trafficking for Epstein, is only one woman who helps Epstein lure hundreds of minor girls to his home.
The book then explores Epstein's childhood, family life, journey to wealth through questionable means, high intelligence, connections to people in high places, etc. It's interesting that it's so difficult to track how he actually became a multi-millionaire. He was an expert at manipulating numbers and people. What's most disturbing is the number of people who still considered him a friend or had business dealings with him after his first arrest and conviction for procuring a girl for prostitution of a person under 18. (Which was a despicable plea deal.) What's most disgusting (and there are quite a lot of things to find disgusting about this story) is the attempt to set up Epstein's accusers as extortionists. One of the most difficult things to discover in the book (other than the actual sexual actions of Epstein with young, vulnerable minors), is Alan Dershowitz, the American lawyer and Harvard Law professor, who denied all involvement with Epstein and his sexual activities with minor children. Yet Virginia Giuffre accused him of participating in his own sexual activities with her. I believe Virginia. Dershowitz was on the "dream team" defending OJ Simpson, was a member of Harvey Weinstein's defense team (another scumbag), defended Trump in his impeachment trial, and helped negotiate the non-prosecution agreement on Epstein's behalf. I really despise him.
This investigation is (further) proof that there is no justice if enough money is involved. It was a difficult read in that respect, but I do like to know more of the "truth" about a situation than what we read/hear in the media. This is a man who preyed on the vulnerable. I actually don't care if he committed suicide in prison or was murdered. It's one less criminal that the tax payers have to support. Good riddance.
Wendy's Rating: ****
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