The Epstein case mirrors the decline of America's rule of law

Editor's note: Huo Zhengxin, a special commentator for CGTN, is a Professor of Law at China University of Political Science and Law. The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of CGTN.

The release of 3.5 million pages of Jeffrey Epstein-related documents is like a nuclear explosion – its mushroom cloud keeps expanding, drawing more and more powerful figures into its fallout. However, the files have had their most seismic impact not only in the United States, but across the Atlantic. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer faces intense pressure to resign over his appointment of Peter Mandelson as the U.S. ambassador, due to well-documented ties to Epstein. The tentacles of the Epstein files have also reached Norway, France and Poland.

Strikingly, no high-profile figure linked to Epstein – officially died by suicide in a U.S. prison in 2019 – has faced comparable political fallout in America.

The Jeffrey Epstein case stands as one of the most disturbing scandals in modern American history. Legally speaking, the document release has raised far more questions than it has answered. As long as these questions remain unresolved, American democracy and the rule of law will remain mired in a crippling crisis of credibility.

First, while December 19, 2025, was the statutory deadline for the full release of all files, the process was delayed and ultimately extended into early 2026. Is this delay by the Department of Justice (DOJ) an act of obstruction of justice or a blatant disregard for the law?

Second, even as the DOJ has published millions of pages in the name of transparency, the mantra "Epstein Didn't Kill Himself" reflects widespread conspiracy theories and distrust in the official investigation. If the U.S. government dismisses his death as "systemic incompetence" while the public perceives "systemic intent," the case will never be closed in the court of public opinion.

Third, and most critically, for over a decade, Epstein operated a global child sex trafficking and abuse ring, building an exclusive social and business network where money and power were traded, nonetheless, only two people – Jeffrey Epstein and his accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell – have been prosecuted. Is this remotely logical or defensible in a nation that proclaims itself a paragon of the rule of law?

Fourth, the Epstein Files Transparency Act mandates public disclosure with only limited redactions, yet multiple instances in the Epstein files repository show that the faces and names of victims – who were supposed to be protected – have been exposed, while the identities of prominent men have been concealed to spare them "embarrassment." Are these redactions consistent with the letter and spirit of the law?

Last but not least, in a country that claims to be founded on the rhetoric of human rights and "equal justice under the law," why have the survivors of Epstein's abuse, who have come forward for years to tell their stories, been ignored for so long? Where is American justice?

Although these questions beg answers, it is likely they will remain shrouded in mystery forever. The internal tensions of the Epstein case lay bare the chasm between the ideal of American justice and the reality of how power operates. Frankly, when a system claims to deliver "equal justice" yet fails those most in need of protection, it precipitates a crisis of legitimacy.

Furthermore, recent legislative and executive actions in Washington have transformed the Epstein files from a legal matter into a high-stakes political battlefield. The DOJ has sought to weaponize the scandal to target Democrats with Epstein ties, particularly the Clinton family, while the Democratic Party has attempted to shift focus onto Republican figures, including Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. In this way, the Epstein files have been turned into a political cudgel.

At its core, the Epstein case has revealed a sordid and corrupt world: Wealthy and powerful men exploit and abuse underage girls. They know one another, cover for each other, and shield one another from accountability for their vice. This is not merely a child sex trafficking scandal, but a paradigmatic case study in how "super-elite" status creates a shield of impunity. A toxic combination of power, wealth, strategic philanthropy and "kompromat" has allowed these individuals to operate above the law in the self-proclaimed "Beacon on the Hill."

The Epstein case, like a sharp blade, has laid bare the corrupt underbelly of American society beneath its glossy exterior. The tears of victims, redacted files, and endless partisan infighting together paint an absurd portrait of American democratic failure: When an elected government becomes the agent of capital elites, and the judicial system serves as a shield for the privileged, the basic trust and moral consensus of society are disintegrating.

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