Justice Delayed is Justice Denied for Victims of Sexual Violence
By Tammy Green
On December 19, the Epstein Files Transparency Act will mandate the release of all unclassified documents related to known sexual offender Jeffrey Epstein. The Department of Justice (DOJ) appears to be running out the clock before the deadline requiring the release of these files.
Why wait? The children, now women, who were trafficked and abused by Epstein and his elite network have either already agreed to the use of their names, and/or have already had their names redacted to protect their privacy when the original case was filed. The federal government has had the case for years, and details have already surfaced in memoirs, journalistic reports, and other places.
The delay will likely be used to achieve political outcomes versus any true pursuit of justice. It is probable that the DOJ will frame things in terms of left versus right. Instead, we should all look up.
Look Up
Why up? Because those with the power, money, and connections see themselves above the outrage of most Americans. They pay for access to young boys and girls, as well as women, and never expect to get caught, much less face any criminal liability for their actions. Justice, when it happens in this country, always prioritizes cases against low-level criminals and seldom the monied class.
Then why not name and shame? The victims of Jeffrey Epstein have connected with each other, compared notes, and know who was responsible. However, those with money will sue if their names are mentioned, and these victims fear for their personal safety as legal remedies become protracted. Imagine the resources multi-millionaires, politicians, and princes can bring to bear against any and all who dare haul them into court. Those abused at 12 are now in their 40s and beyond. The rich will run down the clock before submitting to justice. Or they’ll ask their powerful relatives, business partners, or the President of the United States for pardons.
Justice also leans into the image of throwing the book at “riff-raff” instead of perp walks with business suits or clerical garb. But it is clear that abusers hang out in every sector of our society. As the recent settlement with the New York Archdiocese demonstrates, corruption exists at the top. Abusers count on layers of money and power to protect themselves, and it’s been a very effective strategy for avoiding accountability.
Serve Justice
Three things need to happen:
We must believe victims of sexual violence. Rape is the most underreported and dismissed crime in the United States. As a society, we need to listen, to stop shaming victims, and to stop making them wait decades for justice.
Demand change in how criminal cases are prosecuted. The Epstein case indicates a vast conspiracy and code of silence. At the Federal level, cases should be built by targeting the top of criminal enterprises, not the bottom. Follow the money.
Support victims of violent crime, especially children. I can’t believe this even needs to be stated as a demand, but it does.
I will review what the Department of Justice releases in the coming days, but I won’t accept that as the end of the matter. The real work involves changing how crimes are reported and prosecuted in this country, and admitting that money and power do not equal morality. If anything, excessive wealth should be an indicator of those who see justice as transactional.
If you’re interested in changing how justice is served, I hope you’ll join our efforts at Project 2029 or with other, more focused organizations like Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network to support victims and demand change.
Cover photo from Thomas Leuthard is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
