Why Americans still can’t let go of Jeffrey Epstein’s story

Trump Epstein

Jeffrey Epstein died in a Manhattan jail cell in 2019. But in 2025, his name continues to emerge—on social media, at political rallies, and in new government disclosures. His case, once dismissed as an outlandish aberration of a rich predator, has since become something else: a witness to institutional failure and elite impunity. A recent Justice Department memo stating there's "nothing new" to say has only added to suspicion. In a Reuters/Ipsos survey, 69 percent of Americans reported they believed the government is continuing to cover up information about Epstein's crimes and the powerful individuals potentially connected to them, the New York Times reported.

The perfect storm of scandal and rumour

Epstein's life contained everything for conspiracy: money, political connections, child sex trafficking, a sweetheart plea deal, and an unexpected custodial death. His social circle included former Presidents Trump and Clinton. He was killed while under federal surveillance. And now, despite public promise to reveal more, the officials have closed the case with little fanfare.

The latest statement from the US Justice Department, which said there was no high-profile "client list," no evidence of murder, and no new secrets, spurred anger, particularly from Trump loyalists. The president, having once promised total transparency, fired back by directing the release of certain witness testimonies in Epstein's 2019 trial.

What we know—and what remains murky

Federal prosecutors have compiled dozens of hours' worth of video and computer files, yet US Attorney General Pam Bondi reported that they show no crimes by Epstein's associates. The videos include some showing the sexual abuse of children and are sealed. Epstein's finances were shrouded in mystery, with millions of clandestine payments from powerful figures such as private equity executive Leon Black. And although some of his business relationships have been explained, much of his wealth—and how he used it to manipulate others—is still under investigation or hidden in offshore documents.

Journalists, including at The New York Times, have spent decades following his network and interviewing victims. They documented how Epstein leveraged relationships with tech billionaires, global banks, and high-profile institutions, such as MIT and Victoria's Secret. No other leading player has been charged criminally in connection with Epstein's operation.

A political firestorm that won't abate

Epstein's resurrection in the headlines also revealed cracks within political camps. Former Trump supporters split between affirming the findings of the Justice Department and demanding further investigation. Democrats see the administration's handling of the memo, though, as a failure of accountability and opening new corruption and cover-up allegations.

The issue has served only to strengthen public scepticism of institutions. There are numerous individuals who believe Epstein's 2008 plea deal—shielding all his crimes—was merely part of an extended network to protect the powerful. The same federal prosecutor, Alex Acosta, went on to become Trump's secretary of labour. To opponents, that in and of itself is proof the story was never about one man.

The unanswered questions

Epstein's alleged suicide continues to be suspicious to many. Some believe he was killed. Others believe he faked his death. These because there is hard evidence, no, but because the real facts are so damning: a sex trafficker covered up for decades, aided by lawyers, shielded by prosecutors, and connected to politicians from both sides.

As reporting journalist David Enrich notes, the case has strangely defied conclusion. Suits persist. Public documents leak out. And new witness accounts or money trails may yet surface. In the meantime, the gap will remain filled with guesswork, half-truths, and the nagging impression that America never got the full story.