Millions of files on convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein point to the existence of a “global criminal enterprise” operating under the criminal law of crimes against humanity, an independent panel of experts commissioned by the United Nations Human Rights Council has said.
Experts said the crimes described in the documents released by the US Department of Justice took place in a context of hegemonic beliefs, racism, corruption and rampant misogyny. The crimes showed the objectification and dehumanization of women and girls.
“The scale, nature, systematic nature and international reach of these atrocities against women and girls are so serious that many of them could reasonably meet the legal threshold of crimes against humanity,” they said in a statement.
Experts said there was a need for an independent, thorough and impartial probe into the allegations in the files, and an inquiry should also be launched into how such crimes were possible for so long.
The US Justice Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The legislation, passed by Congress in November with broad bipartisan support, would require all Epstein-related files to be made public.
UN experts also expressed concern about “serious compliance failures and botched redactions” that could expose sensitive victim information. More than 1,200 victims have been identified in the documents released so far.
“The reluctance to fully disclose information or broaden investigations has left many survivors feeling left out and subject to what they describe as ‘institutional gaslighting,'” experts said.
Documents released by the Justice Department reveal Epstein’s ties to several prominent figures in politics, finance, academia and business — before and after he pleaded guilty in 2008 to prostitution charges that included soliciting an underage girl.
He died in his jail cell in 2019 after being rearrested on federal charges of sex trafficking of minors. His death was ruled a suicide.
